Tone

The Awakening

by Kate Chopin

The Awakening: 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
Chapter 2
Explanation and Analysis:

The narrator’s tone in The Awakening is formal, solemn, authoritative, and sympathetic to Edna. When the narrator describes Edna’s appearance for the first time in Chapter 2, it is in positive terms:

The charm of Edna Pontellier’s physique stole insensibly upon you [...] a casual and indiscriminating observer, in passing, might not cast a second glance upon the figure. But with more feeling and discernment he would have recognized the noble beauty of its modeling, and the graceful severity of poise and movement, which made Edna Pontellier different from the crowd.

Chapter 17
Explanation and Analysis:

The narrator’s tone in The Awakening is formal, solemn, authoritative, and sympathetic to Edna. When the narrator describes Edna’s appearance for the first time in Chapter 2, it is in positive terms:

The charm of Edna Pontellier’s physique stole insensibly upon you [...] a casual and indiscriminating observer, in passing, might not cast a second glance upon the figure. But with more feeling and discernment he would have recognized the noble beauty of its modeling, and the graceful severity of poise and movement, which made Edna Pontellier different from the crowd.

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