Dynamics and Literary Tones

Tone is a difficult concept for students to grasp in Language Arts because it is hardly ever specifically stated in the text. Students have a much easier time uncovering emotions in classical music even though it also is never specifically stated. By studying classical music and its use of dynamics and using words that show tone in correlation with dynamics, students will be able to gain a better grasp of the idea of tone in literature. Students will have a working understanding of musical vocabulary that describes the dynamics of a piece of music and how that relates to the overall tone. They will have the ability to clearly express the tone in The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky and the tone in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.