The Beekeeper of Aleppo

by Christy Lefteri

The Beekeeper of Aleppo: 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 10 
Explanation and Analysis:

The tone of The Beekeeper of Aleppo is somber, solemn, and impassioned. Nuri, the first-person narrator, is a heartfelt individual who describes the world around him with fervor. Moreover, as he is a refugee living with crushing uncertainty on a day-to-day basis, his circumstances are often dire enough to merit a level of gravity that might otherwise seem excessive or dramatic. Take this passage from Chapter 11, where Nuri's precarious mental state is reflected with emphatic language:

 Pedion tou Areos was becoming like a new home to people: shoes lined up next to the blankets and tents, clothes hanging from trees, games of cards, and music and singing, and although I should have found some comfort in this, instead I felt suffocated by these glimmering remnants of an old life.

I pulled the backpack close to my chest. This money was our only way out, and the next day we would be meeting the smuggler. Because of this I could not sleep. Instead I sat up all night beside Afra, listening to the sounds in the woods, waiting for the sun to rise and turn the leaves gold.

Chapter 11 
Explanation and Analysis:

The tone of The Beekeeper of Aleppo is somber, solemn, and impassioned. Nuri, the first-person narrator, is a heartfelt individual who describes the world around him with fervor. Moreover, as he is a refugee living with crushing uncertainty on a day-to-day basis, his circumstances are often dire enough to merit a level of gravity that might otherwise seem excessive or dramatic. Take this passage from Chapter 11, where Nuri's precarious mental state is reflected with emphatic language:

 Pedion tou Areos was becoming like a new home to people: shoes lined up next to the blankets and tents, clothes hanging from trees, games of cards, and music and singing, and although I should have found some comfort in this, instead I felt suffocated by these glimmering remnants of an old life.

I pulled the backpack close to my chest. This money was our only way out, and the next day we would be meeting the smuggler. Because of this I could not sleep. Instead I sat up all night beside Afra, listening to the sounds in the woods, waiting for the sun to rise and turn the leaves gold.

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