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Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Tone
Explanation and Analysis:
In this book, which is written from a third-person omniscient perspective, the narrator’s tone draws the reader into the mysterious world of the “Jungle.” The solemn, serious timbre of the narrative voice, the presence of extended allegory, and the writing’s didactic qualities often make the collected stories feel like myths or fables. As the narrative moves through different tales, the narrator's tone also shifts to match the animals and events depicted.
For example, the atmosphere of Kotick's story differs from that of Baloo's. Baloo’s character is warm and paternal. The language of stories involving him tends to reflect this. Kotick's narrative—set in an unforgiving world of hunting grounds and icy seas—is delivered with a bolder tone of defiance and discovery. Each of the stories promotes “virtuous” behavior and discourages cowardice and indecisiveness. Although the tone changes for every story, the work as a whole feels instructive.
The narrator's perspective remains high-handed and often seems detached, observing the events from a distance. There are some points where it seems almost patronizing, as the narrator directly addresses an audience that they soothe and explain things to. However, as this perspective remains consistent across the various tales, it also provides a unifying narrative thread.
Moreover, especially in moments of danger or bold action, the narrator maintains a neutral tone. This allows the events to unfold without overt judgments or biases, “speaking” for themselves. This is in itself a biased tactic, as the narrator’s version of events is privileged. However, it also makes the reader feel less deliberately steered by the book’s—often dark and heavy—moral and ethical guidance.
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