Literature in VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous)

Tone, Mood and Purpose

1. Tone tells us how the author thinks about his or her subject. It is the author’s attitude toward the
story and the reader.

The tone influences the story’s mood /atmosphere.

Tone is not stated directly. You must read between the lines to see what the author’s attitude is on the
subject.

Tone can be revealed through:

• dialogue between characters

• descriptions

• author’s diction (word choice)

The themes that emerge Tone can be:

• positive negative

• neutral

Hint:

When trying to find the tone of a passage, read the passage and decide if it is being told in a positive,
negative, or neutral way first, then look at your answer choices and decide.

Ask these questions: Is the author happy? Is the author angry? Ask for authors‟ feeling and explain why
you think so using context clues in the statements.

Some adjectives to describe tone: formal, informal, serious, humorous, amused, angry, playful, neutral,
satirical, gloomy, conciliatory, sad, resigned, cheerful, ironic, clear, detailed, imploring, suspicious and
witty.

2. Mood is how the writer’s words make us feel. It usually is associated with the setting.

Mood is the emotions that you (the reader) feel, so to find mood, you need to look at what emotions
you are going through as you read the text.

Ask this: How does the story make me feel?

Some adjectives to describe mood: fictional, imaginary, fanciful, idealistic, romantic, realistic, optimistic,
pessimistic, gloomy, mournful, sorrowful.
Beware: Tone and mood can very easily be confused.

3. Purpose is the author’s reason in writing the text.

An author writes to share a main idea about a topic. An author’s main idea is directly related to the
author’s purpose.

One of the three following purposes will drive a main idea: to inform, to entertain, and to persuade.

Purposes

a. To inform is to give information about a subject. Authors with this purpose wish to provide facts that
will explain or teach something to readers.

Example: Pain is a normal part of a physical process that lets us know something is wrong.

b. To entertain is to amuse and delight; to appeal to the reader’s senses and imagination. Authors with
this purpose set out to captivate or interest the audience.

Example: “Yes, I have gained weight. I weighed only 8 pounds when I was born.”

c. To persuade is to convince the reader to agree with the author’s point of view on a subject. Authors
with this purpose may give facts, but their main goal is to argue or prove a point to readers.

Example: The death penalty is deeply flawed and should be abolished.

Note: An author may have a more specific purpose in mind other than to inform, entertain, or persuade.

General and Specific Purposes

3. a

4. c

5. d

Directions: Write (+) next to the words that express positive feelings; write (-) next to

the words that express negative feelings; and write (=) to the words that are neutral.

1. disappointed -

6. irritated -

2. mournful -

7. optimistic +

3. bored -

8.uncertain =

4. relaxed +

9. skeptical -

5. heartbroken -

10. passionate+
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abode- home

solitude-loneliness

Exercise:

Test A: Identify author’s attitude in the following lines. Use the underlined word/s

as your guide.

1. “You are a liar! Your betrayal will never be forgiven by my furious heart.” a

A. angry

B. cautious

C. cheerful

D. romantic

2. “In this world filled with ambiguity, you are the sunshine that enlightens my

path. I really do love you!” c

A. humorous

B. ironic
C. romantic

D. satirical

3. “I have doubts about her sincerity. I once caught her calling a man.” d

A. gloomy

B. ironic

C. sad

D. suspicious

4. “Your death killed my dreams. I lost my hope! I am grieving!” c

A. cheerful

B. delightful

C. gloomy

D. violent

5. “I am sorry. My intention is not to hurt anyone but I failed in my plans.” a

A. conciliatory

B. exciting

C. happy

D. silly

6. “The calmness of the breeze, the sweetness of the wind and the soft whisper

of the birds made me feel home.” What feeling does the line bring to the

readers? c

A. annoyed

B. excited

C. relaxed

D. sad

7. Father: “We are going to the cinema. We will watch a wonderful movie”

Son: “Yehey! My favourite movie sequel is now on showing.” b

A. annoyed

B. excited

C. irritated
D. lonely

8. “Have mercy on them. They are victims, they are not terrorists. d

A. angry

B. cheerful

C. suspenseful

D. sympathetic

9. “I saw him! He‟s holding a knife. He is trying to kill me!” a

A. frightened

B. sentimental

C. sorrowful

D. sympathetic

10. “You should follow the choice of the majority. Buy this product now and be on

trend.” d

A. to argue

B. to inform

C. to express

D. to persuade
Quiz 2

Test A: Identify author’s attitude or feelings in the following lines.

1. “Today is your birthday so let us be happy and celebrate!”

A. angry

B. cautious

C. cheerful

D. romantic

2. “Thank you for that great humiliation!”

A. humorous

B. ironic
C. romantic

D. sarcastic

3. Father: “When are you going to introduce me to your boyfriend?”

Daughter: “Dad, how many times do I have to tell you? I don‟t have a boyfriend.

Enough of tease, please! ”

A. cheerful

B. excited

C. irritated

D. lonely

4. “Get out! Your face is pissing me off!”

A. annoyed

B. excited

C. relaxed

D. sad

5. “With just a boom, thousands of lives had ended!”

A. cheerful

B. delightful

C. gloomy

D. serene

5. “Today is the day! Today, I am officially Mrs. Reyes!”

A. conciliatory

B. excited

C. satirical

D. silly

Identify the reader’s feeling while reading the following lines.

6. “Sorrow has filled my heart. My lamenting soul is in misery. ”

A. gloomy

B. grieving

C. ironic
D. Sympathetic

7. “ I believe they will have a happy-ever-after.”

A. cheerful

B. fearful

C. lonely

D. mellow

8. “...and the handsome prince died in the hands of the monster.”

A. cheerful

B. fearful

C. refreshed

D. relieved

9. “In a cold and noiseless place, I take my rest.”

A. cheerful

B. embarrassed

C. peaceful

D. playful

Test B: Analyze the purpose of the following lines.

10. “I believe you have the power to be a steward of change. Your influence can make

our world better.”

A. to argue

12

B. to inform

C. to explain

D. to persuade

11. “I don‟t believe in you! You said that we only live once? No, we live everyday and

only die once.”

A. to argue

B. to amuse

C. to express
D. to entertain

12. “This pandemic has brought changes in our lives. The minimum health standard

has become part of our routine.”

A. to argue

B. to inform

C. to express

D. to persuade

13. “I can be everybody‟s friend. You can trust me always!”

A. to amuse

B. to inform

C. to persuade

D. to argue against

When I Was One -and Twenty

A.E Housman

When I was one- One and-twenty

I heard a wise man say,

“Give me crowns and pound and Guineas

but not your heart away;

Give me pearls away and rubies

but keep your fancy free.”

But I was one -and twenty

No use to talk

to me.

When I was one -and twenty,

I heard him say again,

“The heart out of the bosom

Was never given in vain;

„Tis paid sighs aplenty

And sold for endless rue.”

14. What is the mood of the poem?

a. enthusiastic

b. nostalgic

c. peaceful

d. sympathetic

15.What is the attitude of the author in the line “But I was one-and twenty No

use to talk to me.”

a. bitter

b. conceited

c. greedy

d. uncertain

14purpose

15. tone
16. mood

17. entertain

18. inform

19. persuade

20. word choice