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Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Tone
Explanation and Analysis:
Kincaid never explicitly states the relationship between the speaker and the girl, but the tone, as well as the subject of the advice and references to "your father," leave no doubt that these two characters are mother and daughter. The speaker, Mother, is didactic, chiding, and brusque. She expects only disappointment from the girl (“the slut I know you are so bent on becoming”). Her tone, as she lays out the rules for womanhood, brooks no argument; most of her sentences begin with “Don’t […]” or “This is how [...].” The girl’s first interruption (“But I don’t sing benna on Sundays”) is ignored, and her second and final interruption is met with incredulity:
You mean to say after all that you are really going to be the kind of woman the baker won’t let near the bread?
Related Themes:
