A Vocabulary of Attitudes to Identify Tone



A Vocabulary of Attitudes to Identify Tone | |

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|Students sometimes feel vaguely the correct attitude toward what they are reading, but are unstable to clarify and intensify the mood because they lack |

|vocabulary adequate to describe. Here is a list of attitudes, which should prove helpful when trying to identify tone in a piece of writing.  |

|Attitudes chiefly rational: |

|            Explanatory, instructive, didactic, admonitory, condemnatory, indignant, puzzled, curious, wistful, pensive, thoughtful, preoccupied, deliberate, |

|studied, candid, guileless, thoughtless, innocent, frank, sincere, questioning, uncertain, doubting, incredulous, critical, insinuating, persuading, coaxing, |

|pleading, persuasive, argumentative, authoritative |

|Attitudes of pleasure: |

|            Peaceful, satisfied, contented, happy, cheerful, pleasant, bright, sprightly, joyful, playful, jubilant, elated, enraptured |

|Attitudes of pain: |

|            Worried, uneasy, troubled, disappointed, regretful, vexed, annoyed, bored, disgusted, miserable, cheerless, mournful, sorrowful, sad, dismal, |

|melancholy, plaintive, fretful, querulous, irritable, sore, sour, sulky, sullen, bitter, crushed, pathetic, tragic |

|Attitudes of Passion: |

|            Nervous, hysterical, impulsive, impetuous, reckless, desperate, frantic, wild, fierce, furious, savage, enraged, angry, hungry, greedy, jealous, |

|insane |

|Attitudes of self-control: |

|            Calm, quiet, solemn, serious, serene, simple, mild, gentle, temperate, imperturbable, nonchalant cool, wary, cautious |

|Attitudes of friendliness: |

|            Cordial, sociable, gracious, kindly, sympathetic, compassionate, forgiving, pitying, indulgent, tolerant, comforting, soothing, tender, loving, |

|caressing, solicitous, accommodating, approving, helpful, obliging, courteous, polite, confiding, trusting |

|Attitudes of unfriendliness: |

|            Sharp, severe, cutting, hateful, unsociable, spiteful, harsh, boorish, pitiless, disparaging, derisive, scornful, satiric, sarcastic, insolent, |

|insulting, impudent, belittling, contemptuous, accusing, reproving, scolding, suspicious |

|Attitudes of comedy: |

|            Facetious, comic, ironic, satiric, amused, mocking, playful, humorous, hilarious, uproarious |

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|Attitudes of animation :Lively, eager, excited, earnest, energetic, vigorous, hearty, ardent, passionate, rapturous, ecstatic, feverish, inspired, exalted, |

|breathless, hasty, brisk, crisp, hopeful |

|Attitudes of apathy: |

|            Inert, sluggish, languid, dull, dispassionate, colorless, indifferent, stoic, resigned, defeated, helpless, hopeless, dry, monotonous, vacant, |

|feeble, dreaming, bored, blasé, sophisticated |

|Attitudes of self importance: |

|            Impressive, profound, proud, dignified, lofty, imperious, confident, egotistical, peremptory, bombastic, sententious, arrogant, pompous, stiff, |

|boastful, exultant, insolent, domineering, flippant, saucy, positive, resolute, haughty, condescending, challenging, bold, defiant, contemptuous, assured, |

|knowing |

|Attitudes of submission and timidity: |

|            Meek, shy, humble, docile, ashamed, modest, timid, unpretentious, respectful, devout, reverent, servile, obsequious, groveling, contrite, obedient, |

|willing, fawning, ingratiating, deprecatory, submissive, frightened, surprised, horrified, aghast, astonished, alarmed, fearful, terrified, trembling, |

|wondering, awed, astounded, shocked |

|SOME MORE TIPS ON TONE |

|            Tone reveals the attitude the writer has toward a subject. Word choice (Diction) and syntax allow a writer to vary the way the audience understands |

|and responds to the feelings the writer incorporates in the passage. Consistency of tone is how a writer creates unity within a piece. When analyzing tone you |

|are analyzing the writing the way you would a speaker’s voice. |

|EXAMPLES: Read the following murder confessions and try to pick out what the writer used to convey the corresponding tone. |

|“I just shot my husband five times in the chest with his tek9” TONE: matter-of-fact, objective |

|“How could I ever have killed him? It just isn’t possible.” TONE: shocked, disbelief |

|“I’ve murdered my husband. How can I ever be forgiven for this dreadful act?”  TONE: remorseful, regretful |

|“That dirty rat. He’s had it coming for years. I’m glad I finally did it.”  TONE: revengeful, triumphant |

|When analyzing tone the basic elements can be analyzed using the LIDDS acronym. |

|L anguage        overall use of language, such as formal, informal, jargon, etc. |

|I  mages           vivid appeals to understanding through senses (metaphor, simile, etc.) |

|D iction           the connotation of word choice |

|D etails            facts that are included or those omitted for a purpose |

|S  yntax            how structure affects the reader’s attitude |

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