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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 The Age of Innocence
Chapter 6
Explanation and Analysis:
The tone of The Age of Innocence moves between ironic and earnest as Archer shifts from being a detached observer of his rule-oriented society to a man deeply feeling the effects of society’s restrictive rules (after he falls in love with Ellen and can’t be with her). The following passage captures the ironic tone present at the beginning of the novel, as Archer analyzes the social dynamics of New York society in Chapter 6:
In reality they all lived in a kind of hieroglyphic world, where the real thing was never said or done or even thought, but only represented by a set of arbitrary signs; as when Mrs. Welland, who knew exactly why Archer had pressed her to announce her daughter’s engagement at the Beaufort ball (and had indeed expected him to do no less), yet felt obliged to simulate reluctance, and the air of having had her hand forced, quite as, in the books on Primitive Man that people of advanced culture were beginning to read, the savage bride is dragged with shrieks from her parents’ tent.
Related Themes:
Chapter 18
Explanation and Analysis:
The tone of The Age of Innocence moves between ironic and earnest as Archer shifts from being a detached observer of his rule-oriented society to a man deeply feeling the effects of society’s restrictive rules (after he falls in love with Ellen and can’t be with her). The following passage captures the ironic tone present at the beginning of the novel, as Archer analyzes the social dynamics of New York society in Chapter 6:
Unlock with LitCharts A+In reality they all lived in a kind of hieroglyphic world, where the real thing was never said or done or even thought, but only represented by a set of arbitrary signs; as when Mrs. Welland, who knew exactly why Archer had pressed her to announce her daughter’s engagement at the Beaufort ball (and had indeed expected him to do no less), yet felt obliged to simulate reluctance, and the air of having had her hand forced, quite as, in the books on Primitive Man that people of advanced culture were beginning to read, the savage bride is dragged with shrieks from her parents’ tent.
Related Themes:
