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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
Part 2, Chapter 1
Explanation and Analysis:
The tone of White Fang is straightforward, scientific, and highly descriptive. The third-person omniscient narrator—although primarily focusing on White Fang and giving some basic insight into his thoughts and emotions—generally sticks to relaying what can be observed through one’s senses, creating an objective and scientific tone. This gives the novel a similar effect to that of a nature documentary, with the narrator playing an observational role. Also similar to a documentary film, the vivid descriptions of nature in the novel are often precise and detailed to a point that verges on photographic. This reveals Jack London’s own careful observation of the natural world and interest in representing it realistically, as well as his intimate familiarity with the Yukon wilderness, born of his time spent there as a young man during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897.
An example of this scientific, documentary tone can be found in Part 2, Chapter 1, when three male wolves fight to mate with White Fang’s mother, Kiche:
Together, old leader and young leader, they attacked the ambitious three-year-old and proceeded to destroy him […] But the elder leader was wise, very wise, in love even as in battle. The younger leader turned his head to lick a wound on his shoulder. The curve of his neck was turned toward his rival. With his one eye the elder saw his opportunity. He darted in low and closed with his fangs. It was a long, ripping slash, and deep as well. His teeth, in passing, burst the great vein of the throat. Then he leaped clear.
Related Themes:
