New
New
Year 11
AQA

Analysing tone in an unseen poem

I can conceptualise and explain the use of tone in an unseen poem.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Analysing tone in an unseen poem

I can conceptualise and explain the use of tone in an unseen poem.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The tone of a literary work expresses the writer's attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter.
  2. In order to determine the tone, we might ask questions about how the poem would sound if read aloud.
  3. We also might ask questions about the use of punctuation, structure and language in order to determine the tone.
  4. We might interpret Fainlight’s ‘Borrowed Time’ as having a reflective or desperate tone.

Common misconception

That the tone and mood of the poem are the same thing.

Tone refers to the attitude of the writer towards the subject matter while mood refers to the effect the writing has on the reader.

Keywords

  • Mortality - refers to the state of being mortal (destined to die)

  • Reflective - showing or involved in careful thinking

  • Tone - expresses the writer's attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter and audience

  • Desperate - feeling or showing a hopeless sense

  • Frantic - distraught with fear, anxiety or other emotion

It would be useful to pupils to share their ideas about how to answer the questions on tone for Fainlight's 'Borrowed Time' so that they can see there is no definitive way to interpret an unseen poem.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of Ruth Fainlight's ‘Borrowed Time’ which is available in the additional materials.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
'Expresses the writer's attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter and audience' is the definition of the of a text.
Correct Answer: tone
Q2.
The use of question marks throughout a text might suggest __________ tone.
a controlled
Correct answer: an uncertain
Correct answer: a reflective
a confident
Q3.
'Refers to the state of being mortal (destined to die)' is the definition of .
Correct Answer: mortality, mortal
Q4.
The word 'desperate' means which of the following?
Correct answer: feeling or showing a hopeless sense
feeling or showing confidence
feeling or showing a calm sense
feeling or showing jealousy
Q5.
What tone might the following words suggest: 'borrowed', 'unstable', 'debts'?
anger
Correct answer: desperation
confidence
Q6.
A regular structure to a poem might suggest __________ tone.
Correct answer: a controlled
an uncertain
Correct answer: a monotonous
an excited

6 Questions

Q1.
Ruth Fainlight's 'Borrowed Time' considers the subject of ...
immortality.
Correct answer: mortality.
eternality.
Q2.
'Showing or involved in careful thinking' is the definition of being .
Correct Answer: reflective
Q3.
We might interpret the tone of Fainlight's 'Borrowed Time' as ...
ironic.
light.
Correct answer: frantic.
Correct answer: despairing.
Q4.
'Distraught with fear, anxiety, or other emotion' is the definition of .
Correct Answer: frantic
Q5.
An irregular structure in a poem might suggest a tone of ...
Correct answer: excitement.
monotony.
control.
Correct answer: uncertainty.
Q6.
The use of multiple dashes in a poem could indicate a tone of ...
Correct answer: instability.
stability.
Correct answer: despair.
confidence.

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