The Tempest

by William Shakespeare

The Tempest: Tone 1 key example

Read our modern English translation.

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
Act 1, scene 2
Explanation and Analysis:

The tone of The Tempest undergoes an enormous change from beginning to end. At first, the tone is threatening. A big storm plunges the characters into chaos. Miranda begs her father to stop the storm in Act 1, Scene 2 by saying:

Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.
The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch,
But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek,
Dashes the fire out.