Robinson Crusoe
by Daniel Defoe
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Robinson Crusoe: Mood 1 key example

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

Key Examples in Robinson Crusoe

Mood
Explanation and Analysis:

The mood remains somber in large parts of the novel's early chapters. Defoe gives the reader an overwhelming amount of foreshadowing in the narrative's exposition, which makes the reader proceed with trepidation, anticipating all the mistakes and misfortunes that are to come. At the same time, however, there is an adventurous mood that underlies the entire narrative, even in the grimmer parts of the story. The fact that their narrator lived to tell his tale allows the reader some respite from the heavy mood, which is bolstered by the matter-of-fact tone he rarely strays from in his narration of these experiences.