This week: The Difference Between Tone and Mood Edited by: b.meridith
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| According to Wikipedia, Poetry (from the Greek word poiesis, "making") is a form of literary art that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meanings in addition to, or in place of, literal or surface-level meanings. Thank you for reading this NL. |
What's the difference between tone and mood in a poem?
Tone in a poem refers to the poet's attitude or emotional stance toward the subject, characters, or audience. It's essentially how the poet feels about what they are writing about. Think of it as the poet's "voice" or perspective.
Mood, on the other hand, is the emotional atmosphere or feeling that the poem creates for the reader. It's how the poem makes the reader feel. Mood is often described in terms of atmosphere or the emotional landscape evoked by the poem.
Think of it this way:
Tone = Poet's attitude
Mood = Reader's feeling
How is it created? Tone is conveyed through the poet’s choice of words, their imagery, and their style. Mood is created through various literary devices like setting, imagery, diction, and even tone itself.
Can they be different? Definitely! Tone and mood don't always have to be the same.
One excellent example where they can differ is in satirical poetry.
Tone: The poet might employ a sarcastic, witty, or mocking tone to critique a particular subject or idea. The poet's attitude might be one of contempt or amusement at the subject.
Mood: However, the mood elicited in the reader might be irritation, anger, or even disgust, rather than the humor that one might expect from a satirical tone.
Why do tone and mood differ in this case?
The poet's sarcastic tone is meant to highlight the absurdity or injustice of the subject matter. While the poet's attitude is conveyed through sarcasm, the reader's reaction is shaped by their interpretation of the satire and their own emotional response to the issues being addressed. The poet's satirical tone serves to emphasize the seriousness of the subject, creating a mood of frustration or indignation in the reader.
In summary, tone is the author's expression of feeling, while mood is the feeling evoked in the reader. They work together to shape the overall meaning and emotional impact of a poem.
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Feedback from "Poetry Newsletter (June 18, 2025)"
centurymeyer35 shared-
On "The Color of Noise:"
May I just offer, as one that has tinnitus, Violet Noise is not conducive to writing. It's like trying to write with the fire alarm going off. Perhaps a follow-up newsletter of the mean opinions on the positive and negative impacts of different types of background noise on the process of writing?
That is a great idea. I actually didn't know that, and it's great information as I too have tinnitus and that sounds pretty horrible  I was just talking to my son about the different colors of noise because I thought perhaps one of them may help his toddler sleep better. I guess I should test some of these and use your idea! Thanks again for the info, much appreciated.
oldmonty complimented -
Great picks highlighted.
Thank you for your kind comments. It's nice to know other readers enjoyed them. :) |
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Poetry: July 16, 2025 Issue [#13243]
