Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Tone refers to the author's attitude or feelings towards the subject matter of a text. It sets the overall mood and atmosphere of a piece of writing.
Related terms
Mood: The mood is the emotional atmosphere created by a literary work. It is closely related to tone but focuses more on how readers feel while reading.
Connotation refers to the implied meaning or associations that certain words carry beyond their literal definitions. It can greatly impact the overall tone of a text.