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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Section 5
Explanation and Analysis:
The mood of “The Blue Hotel” is primarily ominous and tense. It is clear from the beginning of the story that the three travelers (the cowboy, the Easterner, and the Swede) who find their way to Scully’s hotel do not trust each other. As tensions between the men increase, the blizzard outside also becomes more severe, contributing to the eerie and edgy mood of the story.
The tension in the story is punctuated by several moments of violence when the men come to blows and the mood becomes more frenzied and heated. Take the following passage, for example, when the group of travelers attack each other after the Swede accuses Johnnie of cheating at their card game:
The men found tongue together, and hoarse shouts of rage, appeal, or fear burst from every throat. The cowboy pushed and jostled feverishly at the Swede, and the Easterner and Scully clung wildly to Johnnie; but through the smoky air, above the swaying bodies of the peace-compellers, the eyes of the two warriors ever sought each other in glances of challenge that were at once hot and steely.
Related Themes:
