Silas Marner

by George Eliot

Silas Marner: 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
Tone
Explanation and Analysis:

The tone of this novel is always thoughtful, as Eliot's narrator recounts the emotional and social changes the protagonist undergoes. However, it's not always serious, as there are many points in the book where the narrative voice is amused, reflective, or forceful depending on what's being discussed. Much of the body of Silas Marner is made up of the narrator describing interactions in detail, and then returning to them to wryly observe things or give an additional moral context. The reader is given a sense that everyone and everything has a side that Eliot can either poke fun at, or invest with additional ethical and allegorical significance. The narrator in Silas Marner is smarter than the reader; they see everything from every angle, and suggest new readings and new nuances in events ranging from Silas's exile from Lantern Yard to Eppie's wedding in the Conclusion.