Mood as Literary Device

Etymology of Mood

The term “mood” originated from the Old English word mōd, which meant “mind, feeling, or intention.” The term was also in vogue in Middle English. It used to describe a state of mind, emotion, or temper. The modern usage of the term, as it applies to literature, emerged in the 1580s, when it was used to describe the emotional or psychological atmosphere of a literary work.

Meanings of Mood

1. Emotional State: A person’s emotional feeling.
2. Atmosphere: Emotional quality of a place or situation.
3. Grammatical Mood: Linguistic attitude toward a verb.
4. Weather Conditions: Older usage related to weather.

Mood in Literature:

• Emotional Atmosphere: Refers to the emotional or psychological atmosphere that a literary work creates for the reader.
• Vibe and Feeling: Describes the overall feeling or vibe that a reader gets from a particular text.
• Techniques: Created through various literary techniques such as imagery, setting, tone, and language.
• Subjectivity: Can be influenced by the reader’s own emotional state and interpretation of the text.

Mood in Grammar

In grammar, “mood” is a singular noun that refers to a grammatical category that expresses the speaker’s or writer’s attitude towards the verb.

Definition of Mood

Mood is a literary device that creates an emotional or psychological atmosphere in a work of literature. It is the feeling or vibe that the reader gets from the text, and it is created through various elements, such as setting, tone, imagery, and language. Mood is an important tool for authors to shape the reader’s emotional response to the text and influence their interpretation of the story.

Types of Mood with Examples

Here’s a table that includes the types of mood, their definitions, and examples:

Type	Definition	Example
Eerie Mood	It means to create a sense of unease, mystery, or fear. It often involves dark or unsettling imagery, creating an atmosphere of tension or suspense.	Example: “The old, abandoned mansion stood shrouded in fog, its creaking doors and flickering lights adding to the eerie mood of the scene.”
Joyful Mood	It means to portray a sense of happiness, delight, or exuberance. It uses vibrant and positive language, evoking a cheerful and optimistic atmosphere.	Example: “The children danced and laughed in the colorful meadow, their joyful mood contagious and filling the air with the sounds of pure happiness.”
Gloomy Mood	It means to convey a feeling of sadness, melancholy, or despair. It employs somber language and imagery to evoke a sense of gloom or desolation.	Example: “The rain poured relentlessly, matching the protagonist’s gloomy mood as they wandered through the empty streets, their heart heavy with sorrow.”
Whimsical Mood	A whimsical mood means to establish a playful, fanciful, or imaginative atmosphere. It often includes elements of surprise, humor, or fantasy, captivating the reader.	Example: “In the whimsical forest, the trees whispered secrets to each other, and the animals wore hats and carried umbrellas, creating a delightful mood of enchantment and wonder.”
Mysterious Mood	It means to cultivate an aura of intrigue and enigma. It prompts curiosity and keeps the reader engaged by hinting at hidden secrets or unknown outcomes.	Example: “The locked room on the top floor held an air of mystery, its contents hidden from view. The characters couldn’t help but be drawn to the room, the mysterious mood captivating their thoughts and driving the plot forward.”
Tense Mood	It means building an atmosphere of anxiety, apprehension, or suspense. It utilizes pacing, suspenseful events, and heightened language to create tension.	Example: “As the detective crept through the dark, narrow hallway, every creak of the floorboards and every gust of wind intensified the tense mood, signaling that danger was lurking just around the corner.”
Surreal Mood	It means to portray a dreamlike or bizarre atmosphere that defies traditional logic or reality. It often incorporates surrealistic imagery and elements.	Example: “The protagonist found themselves in a surreal world where fish flew through the sky and trees bloomed with rainbow-colored leaves, blurring the line between dreams and reality and creating a whimsical and surreal mood.”
Serene Mood	It means establishing a calm, tranquil, or peaceful atmosphere. It uses soothing language and gentle imagery to evoke a sense of tranquility and relaxation.	Example: “The sun set over the calm ocean, casting a warm golden glow that reflected on the water’s surface. The serene mood enveloped the characters, offering a moment of tranquility amidst the chaos of their lives.”
Foreboding Mood	It means creating a sense of impending doom, danger, or ominousness. It uses foreshadowing, dark imagery, and a sense of impending catastrophe.	Example: “The thunder rumbled ominously in the distance as dark clouds loomed overhead, foreshadowing the storm that would soon unleash its fury. The foreboding mood hung in the air, hinting at the challenges that lay ahead.”
Nostalgic Mood	It means evoking a sentimental longing for the past. It uses descriptive language and imagery to create a wistful and sentimental atmosphere.	Example: “As the old photo album was opened, memories of carefree childhood days flooded back. The nostalgic mood enveloped the characters, transporting them to a time long gone, filled with laughter and innocence.”

Please note that these examples are just illustrative. You can think about any other mood and find examples or write examples of your own.

Literary Examples of Mood

1. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot:

Let us go then, you and I,

When the evening is spread out against the sky

Like a patient etherized upon a table; (Lines 1-3)

Explanation: The mood in this opening stanza of the poem is a sense of isolation and melancholy. The simile of the “patient etherized upon a table” suggests a sense of detachment and lifelessness, and the use of the word “patient” implies a feeling of helplessness or resignation.

• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:

The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic—their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a nonexistent nose. (Chapter-2)

Explanation: In this excerpt from the novel, the mood is one of surrealism and ambiguity. The description of the “gigantic” eyes and the “enormous” spectacles creates a sense of unease and uncertainty, and the fact that they are disembodied adds to the dreamlike, surreal quality of the scene.

• Macbeth by William Shakespeare:

Is this a dagger which I see before me,

The handle toward my hand?

Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. (Act-II, Scene-1)

Explanation: This soliloquy shows the mood that is of darkness and foreboding. The hallucination of the dagger, and the fact that the protagonist is unable to grasp it, create a sense of confusion and danger.

• “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe:

But we loved with a love that was more than love—

I and my Annabel Lee—

With a love that the wingèd seraphs of Heaven

Coveted her and me.

Explanation: In this hauntingly beautiful poem, the mood is one of longing and melancholy. The description of the speaker’s love for Annabel Lee as being greater than that of the angels creates a sense of otherworldliness and transcendence, but also a feeling of sorrow and loss.

• The Road by Cormac McCarthy:

He walked out in the gray light and stood and he saw for a brief moment the absolute truth of the world. The cold relentless circling of the interminable wheels of the earth.

Explanation: This excerpt shows the mood that is of bleakness and despair. The stark imagery of the “cold relentless circling” of the earth creates a sense of hopelessness and futility, and the fact that the protagonist is described as seeing “the absolute truth of the world” suggests a realization of the harsh realities of life.

Suggested Readings

1. Abrams, M. Howard. The Mirror and the Lamp: Romantic Theory and the Critical Tradition. Oxford University Press, 1971.
2. Barthes, Roland. The Semiotic Challenge. Translated by Richard Howard, University of California Press, 1994.
3. Brooks, Cleanth. The Well Wrought Urn: Studies in the Structure of Poetry. Harcourt, Brace & World, 1947.
4. Frye, Northrop. Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays. Princeton University Press, 1957.
5. Freud, Sigmund. The Interpretation of Dreams. Translated by James Strachey, Basic Books, 2010.
6. Iser, Wolfgang. The Act of Reading: A Theory of Aesthetic Response. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1978.
7. Lodge, David. The Modes of Modern Writing: Metaphor, Metonymy, and the Typology of Modern Literature. University of Chicago Press, 1977.
8. Wimsatt, W. K., and Monroe C. Beardsley. “The Intentional Fallacy.” The Sewanee Review, vol. 54, no. 3, 1946, pp. 468-488.