Parable of the Sower
by Octavia E. Butler
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Parable of the Sower: Mood 1 key example

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

Key Examples in Parable of the Sower

Chapter 2
Explanation and Analysis:

The overall mood of the novel is bleak, apocalyptic, and even fatalistic. With Lauren as first-person narrator, the reader witnesses how Lauren and her community face relentless crises: the death of three-year-old Amy Dunn, Keith's disobedience and eventual death, continual robberies, the sudden disappearance of Lauren's father, and so on. The novel reads as a set of Lauren's journal entires, and thus, any misfortune she faces is recounted in detail. The unpleasantness of her daily life—the sheer misfortune in the content of her stories—renders the novel's overall mood as one of unavoidable despair.