4. AUTHOR’S INTENTION/PURPOSE, TONE & ATTITUDE
Question Types:
- What is the author’s intention/purpose is stating this?
- What is the author’s tone?
- What is the author’s attitude on the issue?
Task:
- Discern the author’s attitude (stand/position) on a given issue and his tone (how he conveys his attitude)
- Note: While the author’s tone and attitude may be congruent, they do not necessarily have to be.
- Eg (a) Author’s tone may be humourous, but attitude towards the issue may actually be scornful.
- Eg (b) Author may disagree with the belief that green consumerism will solve environmental problems but his tone could be either skeptical, doubtful, disbelieving, incredulous, subversive, or even mocking
- Common types of tone: Sarcastic, critical, cynical, humorous, condescending, contemptuous etc.
Examples:
i. Why does the writer use the analogy, “We are burning the floorboards of our house to keep warm?” (AJC Prelim 2007)
Ans. The writer wants to criticise/indict/warn/ intends to show how foolish/ illogical/ short-sighted/unrealistic mankind is. OR The writer is trying to show that mankind is suicidal/ self-destructive.
ii. Words Associated with Tone
| POSITIVE | NEGATIVE | NEUTRAL |
| admiring/ laudatory amused approving compassionate joyful judicious modest/ unassuming/ humble optimistic thoughtful philosophical/ reflective respectful earnest sincere factual frank/ honest/ candid forgiving humorous informative impartial supportive tolerant witty/ humorous/ ironic | arrogant bitter/ angry/ resentful/ hostile brusque callous world-weary condescending confused/ befuddled critical disparaging cynical skeptical pessimistic disapproving disdainful disheartened dejected sarcastic lamenting/ sorrowful malicious mocking naïve nasty/ abusive pessimistic resentful sarcastic satirical flippant hypocritical insulting intolerant irrelevant scorning/ biting/caustic self-pitying whining/ aggrieved/ complaining | aloof ambivalent cautionary concerned/ worried defensive detached didactic disbelieving dispassionate ironic joking nostalgic pensive remorseful evasive grudging indifferent impassioned indignant sentimental serious/ grave/ grim shocked solemn/ dignified sympathetic unemotional urgent whimsical |
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