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Style
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
Main Story
Explanation and Analysis:
The narrator of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Diedrich Knickerbocker, adopts a gently mocking, tongue-in-cheek tone toward the characters in his tale. One of Knickerbocker’s primary targets is his hapless hero, Ichabod Crane, whom he ridicules for everything from his lanky body to his eating habits. After going into a detailed description of the dinner spread at the Van Tassel party, Knickerbocker states:
I want breath and time to discuss this banquet as it deserves, and am too eager to get on with my story. Happily, Ichabod Crane was not in so great a hurry as his historian, but did ample justice to every dainty.
Related Themes:
Postscript
Explanation and Analysis:
The narrator of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Diedrich Knickerbocker, adopts a gently mocking, tongue-in-cheek tone toward the characters in his tale. One of Knickerbocker’s primary targets is his hapless hero, Ichabod Crane, whom he ridicules for everything from his lanky body to his eating habits. After going into a detailed description of the dinner spread at the Van Tassel party, Knickerbocker states:
Unlock with LitCharts A+I want breath and time to discuss this banquet as it deserves, and am too eager to get on with my story. Happily, Ichabod Crane was not in so great a hurry as his historian, but did ample justice to every dainty.
Related Themes:
