The Beast in the Jungle
by Henry James

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The Beast in the Jungle: 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

Key Examples in The Beast in the Jungle

Chapter 1
Explanation and Analysis—Neurotic & Hesitant:

The neurotic, hesitant tone of The Beast in the Jungle reflects the mindset of its protagonist, John Marcher. These tonal qualities become clear in Chapter 1 when the narrator describes Marcher's vague memory of May:

It led, briefly, in the course of the October afternoon, to his closer meeting with May Bartram, whose face, a reminder, yet not quite a remembrance, as they sat much separated at a very long table, had begun merely by troubling him rather pleasantly.