The atmosphere or feeling that is created by a story. This can be accomplished through the use of words, imagery, and other literary devices.
Mood Definition: An understanding of what mood is in literature is the first step to learning about this literary device. Mood refers to the emotional state created in the reader or audience by a particular work of literature.
Setting: The setting of a literary work plays a major role in setting the mood for the reader. The location, weather, and time of day can all create an emotional reaction in the reader.
Tone: The tone of the literary work establishes the writer's attitude towards the subject matter. It is an important factor in setting the mood: A humorous tone will create a different mood than a serious one.
Language: The choice of language can greatly affect the mood of a literary work. The use of vivid and descriptive language can create a vivid and emotional response in the reader.
Imagery: Imagery refers to the use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory experiences for the reader. Powerful imagery can be used to create a particular mood.
Symbolism: Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or emotions. Symbols can be used to create a particular mood and convey deeper meanings.
Foreshadowing: Foreshadowing is the use of clues or hints to suggest what may happen later in the story. Foreshadowing can create a sense of suspense, anticipation, or dread that contributes to the mood of the story.
Irony: Irony is the use of language to convey a meaning that is opposite to its literal meaning. The use of irony can create a range of emotions in the reader, from humor to sadness.
Point of view: The point of view that a story is told from can greatly affect the mood of the story. The use of different perspectives can evoke different emotional responses in the reader.
Characterization: The way characters are portrayed in a story can affect the mood of the reader. The use of sympathetic characters can create a positive mood, while unsympathetic characters can create a negative mood.
Atmosphere: The emotional or overall feeling created by the setting or tone of a literary work.
Tone: The author's attitude toward the subject matter or audience.
Emotion: The feeling or affect created by word choice and sentence structure.
Diction: The author's choice of words, which can contribute to the mood of a passage.
Imagery: Vivid and descriptive language that creates sensory details and helps to contribute to the mood.
Foreshadowing: Hints or clues in the text that suggest future events and can contribute to a sense of foreboding or unease.
Symbolism: The use of symbols or objects to represent ideas or concepts, which can contribute to the mood by evoking emotions associated with those symbols or objects.
Irony: A contradiction between what is expected and what actually happens, which can contribute to the mood by creating tension or surprise.
Personification: Attributing human qualities to non-human objects or animals, which can evoke empathy or a sense of familiarity.
Metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things that can contribute to the mood by creating an association between the two objects or ideas.