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Style
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 Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks
Chapter 1: Ragged Dick Is Introduced to the Reader
Explanation and Analysis:
Ragged Dick's tone is upbeat, rational, and often didactic. Alger writes about some of New York's poorest and most disadvantaged residents: Dick is homeless at the beginning of the book and was orphaned at the age of seven. But he glosses over the harsh details of life on the streets, instead presenting Dick's initial life as one happy—if fiscally irresponsible—adventure. For example, in describing Dick's poverty in Chapter 1, Alger focuses on his habit of going to shows and treating his friends to dinner:
He was fond of going to the Old Bowery Theatre [...] and if he had any money left afterwards, he would invite some of his friends in somewhere to have an oyster stew; so it seldom happened that he commenced the day with a penny.
Related Themes:
