How do I detect the tone of a piece of poetry or prose?

Tone should be one of the first pieces you look for when you get a passage of poetry or prose. Tone isnt always the best descriptor- mood is another way of looking at it. Read the passage 2-3 times and each time think what kind of mood did you detect from the author? This can be found in the language chosen by the author, the length of the sentences or the images created. 

Ways of working this out are with each reading jot down the "mood" you detected. After having read it 2-3 times carefully run back through the moods you found. With IB graders you can often have a a few tones that seem to come up often and eventually you'll be able to rattle of the tone with no issue. 

EO
Answered by Emer O. English Literature tutor

2135 Views

See similar English Literature IB tutors

Related English Literature IB answers

All answers ▸

How should I approach the unseen commentary (IB English Paper 1)?


What is a simple but effective way to structure my analysis of a piece of literature?


How to answer: 'Discuss and compare the role of the speaker or persona in poems you have studied. You must refer closely to the work of two or three poets in your study and base your answer on a total of three or four poems.'


What are the most effective ways in studying for an unseen extract (Paper 1)


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences