美国文学 背景知识美国文学 背景知识.doc

What is Tone Tone refers to the methods by which the author conveys attitudes. Or: Whatever leads us to infer the author’s attitude is commonly called tone. To be specific, a manner of speaking or writing that shows a certain attitude on the part of the speaker or writer, consisting in choice of words, phrasing, etc. Misunderstanding about Tone Wrong: Tone is the attitude of the author. Clearification: Tone does not refer to attitudes but to those techniques and modes of presentation that reveal or create these attitudes. Why tone is important Tone in fiction is frequently a guide to an author’s attitude – angry，ironic，humorous，whatever—toward the subject or audience and to his or her intention and meaning. Author influences us through tone. How to infer the author’s tone Make a close and careful study of the various elements within the work, including plot, character, setting, point of view and style. What is style? Style refers to: The revelation of individuality: the individual traits or characteristics of a piece of writing The revelation of a writer’s uniqueness: a writer’s particular ways of managing words that we come to recognize as habitual or customary. Some basis elements of style: Basically, diction and syntax Diction：choice of words; the use of words in oral and written discourse. Syntax: construction of sentences, in other words, the arrangement of those words and phrases, clauses and sentences. Other devices: i.e. rhythm and sound, allusion, ambiguity, irony, paradox, and figurative language. The functions of Diction In characterization: the vehicle to express a character’s ideas, attitudes, and values In dialogue: to reflect the speaker’s intelligence and sophistication, general level of conscious awareness, and socioeconomic, geographical, and educational background In description of incidents: to convey the narrator’s (or the author’s) attitude and the characters’ involvement. In setting: to create and sustain an appropriate atmos