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Irony
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Part 2
Explanation and Analysis:
The mood of “Odour of Chrysanthemums” is depressing and bleak. The story opens with a wife (Elizabeth) feeling abandoned by her husband—who she believes went straight to the pub after work rather than coming home for dinner—and only gets more dismal, as she learns that he actually died in a mining accident and ultimately receives (and cleans) his dirty coal-covered corpse.
The following passage, which comes as Elizabeth and her mother-in-law receive Walter’s body, captures the bleak mood:
He was still warm, for the mine was hot where he had died. His mother had his face between her hands, and was murmuring incoherently. The old tears fell in succession as drops from wet leaves; the mother was not weeping, merely her tears flowed. Elizabeth embraced the body of her husband, with cheek and lips. She seemed to be listening, inquiring, trying to get some connection. But she could not. She was driven away. He was impregnable.
Related Themes:
