Analyzing Mood in Literature

Analyzing Mood in Literature

Read each passage or question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Pay close attention to word choice, imagery, setting, and tone to determine the mood of each excerpt.

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

The old house stood on a desolate hill, its skeletal trees clawing at the perpetually gray sky. A cold, persistent wind whispered through broken window panes, carrying with it the scent of decay and forgotten dreams. Shadows stretched long and distorted across the overgrown lawn, where rusted gates groaned on their hinges, guarding secrets no one dared to uncover. Inside, dust motes danced in the sparse shafts of moonlight that pierced through grimy glass, illuminating peeling wallpaper and furniture draped in white sheets, like ghosts awaiting their resurrection.

1. What is the predominant mood created in the passage?

2. Identify three specific words or phrases from the passage that contribute to the mood you identified in question 1.

3. The author uses imagery of "skeletal trees" and the "scent of decay" to create a   mood.

4. When an author describes the setting with words like "vibrant," "bustling," and "lively," they are likely trying to establish a   mood.

5. Mood refers to the author's attitude toward the subject matter.

6. Setting plays a significant role in establishing the mood of a story.

7. How does an author's word choice (diction) influence the mood of a text? Provide an example.

8. Write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) describing a scene that evokes a feeling of anticipation or excitement. Underline the words and phrases you used to create this mood.