If Beale Street Could Talk
by James Baldwin
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If Beale Street Could Talk: Tone 1 key example

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

Key Examples in If Beale Street Could Talk

Troubled About My Soul
Explanation and Analysis:

Tish's tone as narrator is unique and compelling, one of the most memorable features of the book. She is a teenager  forced into maturity, a child forced to be a mother without her beloved, and she narrates the novel from this perspective. As a result, her tone moves between the dramatic sass and emotional self-pity of a teenager and the studied understanding and tact of a woman much older than she is.