Mood

What is mood?Mood: The feeling a reader gets from the

author’s descriptive words and phrases.

tense humorous

comfortable

inviting

anxious

frightening

peaceful

depressing lively

Look for Imagery

Imagery: The author’s use of description and words to create pictures and images in the reader’s mind.

The sky grew darker by the minute. I could hear a low moan

in the air as the wind blew.

Try to Imagine

Visualization: When the reader mentally pictures objects or events using the written or spoken word.

"Adapted from Houghton Mifflin: A Legacy of Literacy, 2001"

Based on the following setting, what mood was the

author trying to create?

“On his way home from a friend’s house, Michael realized he was late. Deciding to take a short cut, Michael cautiously peered down the dark alley. Since it was 11:00 at night, and there was no moon in the sky to light his way, he could barely see the ground in front of him. He could feel the spider webs from the walls touching his hands. The shadows from unknown objects in the alley created suspicious figures on either side of his path. The silence around him was a reminder that he was completely alone. Or was he?”

depressing humorousfrightening

" Adapted from Houghton Mifflin: A Legacy of Literacy, 2001"

Based on the following setting, what mood was the author was trying to create?

“As they entered the camp, the longest shadows Marven had ever seen stretched across the snow, and he realized with a start that the shadows were the lumberjacks walking in the moonlight. He could smell hay and manure and saw the silhouettes of horses stomping in a snowy corral.”

inviting anxious depressing

" Adapted from Houghton Mifflin: A Legacy of Literacy, 2001"

Based on the following setting, what mood was the author was trying to create?

“Everyone looked winter worn, and not a single face was familiar. Then suddenly he was being smothered with kisses and hugs. His little sisters were grabbing him around the waist, and his big sisters were kissing his ears, and then all of them tumbled into mama’s and papa’s arms, and they were one big hugging bundle.”

frightening calm joyous

" Adapted from Houghton Mifflin: A Legacy of Literacy, 2001"

Highlight the words that create the mood in this passage? What mood do these words create?

“When they entered the building, the long shadows from the yard sprung to life. Marven stared. Immense men with long beards and wild hair were jumping around the fiddlers tunes like a pack of frantic grizzly bears. They were the biggest and wildest men Marven had ever seen.”

Answer Key

" Adapted from Houghton Mifflin: A Legacy of Literacy, 2001"

Highlight the words that create the mood in this passage? What mood do these words create?

“Here in the Great North Woods all

was still and quiet.” Beads of ice glistened

on bare branches like jewels. The frosted

needles of pine and spruce pricked the

eggshell sky, and a ghostly moon began to

climb over the treetops.”

Answer Key

" Adapted from Houghton Mifflin: A Legacy of Literacy, 2001"

Highlight the words that create the mood in this passage? What mood do these words create?

“Marven came upon a frozen lake

covered with snow, which lay in a circle of

tall trees like a bowl of sugar. He

skimmed out across it on his skis, his

cheeks stinging in the cold air, and

stopped in the middle to listen to the

quietness.”

Answer Key

Now it’s your turn to be the author!

Choose a mood to convey. Use the button below to view a list of moods or you can come up with a mood of your own. Click the button to read requirements for the assignment.

View a list of mood words

I have my mood, and I am ready

for the assignment.

• Exciting• Scary• Nervous• Joyous• Frustrated• Frightening• Depressed• Calm• lively

• Peaceful• Cheerful• Anticipation• Tension• Angry• Loneliness• Anxious• Humorous• uncomfortable

Task

1. Open Pixie to create a setting based on the mood you selected.

2. Use a text box to describe your setting. Be sure to use descriptive words.

3. Next, illustrate your setting based on what you wrote in the text box.

4. Record yourself reading your setting.

5. Save your work. To Pixie

Next Question

Back to question

Try Again

“On his way home from a friend’s house, Michael realized he was late. Deciding to take a short cut, Michael cautiously peered down the dark alley. Since it was 11:00 at night, and there was no moon in the sky to light his way, he could barely see the ground in front of him. He could feel the spider webs from the walls touching his hands. The shadows from unknown objects in the alley created suspicious figures on either side of his path. The silence around him was a reminder that he was completely alone. Or was he?”

Look at the highlighted words to give you a clue.

Next Question

Back to question

Try Again

“As they entered the camp, the longest shadows Marven had ever seen stretched across the snow, and he realized with a start that the shadows were the lumberjacks walking in the moonlight. He could smell hay and manure and saw the silhouettes of horses stomping in a snowy corral.”

Look at the highlighted words to give you a clue.

.

Next Question

Back to question

Try Again

“Everyone looked winter worn, and not a single face was familiar. Then suddenly he was being smothered with kisses and hugs. His little sisters were grabbing him around the waist, and his big sisters were kissing his ears, and then all of them tumbled into mama’s and papa’s arms, and they were one big hugging bundle.”

Look at the highlighted words to give you a clue.

The highlighted words create an anxious mood.

“When they entered the building, the long shadows from the yard sprung to life. Marven stared. Immense men with long beards and wild hair were jumping around the fiddlers tunes like a pack of frantic grizzly bears. They were the biggest and wildest men Marven had ever seen.”

Go back and check your answers

The highlighted words create a peaceful mood.

“Here in the Great North Woods all

was still and quiet.” Beads of ice glistened

on bare branches like jewels. The frosted

needles of pine and spruce pricked the

eggshell sky, and a ghostly moon began to

climb over the treetops.”

Go back and check your answers

The highlighted words create an uncomfortable mood.

“Marven came upon a frozen lake covered with snow, which lay in a circle of tall trees like a bowl of sugar. He skimmed out across it on his skis, his cheeks stinging in the cold air, and stopped in the middle to listen to the quietness.”

Go back and check your answers