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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Chapter 24: Berry Picking
Explanation and Analysis:
The mood of the text varies from bleak and depressing to warm and even hopeful. Quoyle is a largely unsuccessful figure; readers begin watching him clinging to a desperately unhappy marriage and struggling to raise his kids on his own. His persistence and kindness, even in uncertain conditions, lead the reader to sympathize with him.
Many traumatic events cast a dark shadow over the novel and leave the reader feeling uneasy: death and natural disaster recur as themes and imbue the reader with a sense of gloominess. However, there are also moments when the mood is lightened, particularly by characters like Quoyle's daughters, Bunny and Sunshine, who maintain an endearing childlike innocence despite their difficult upbringings. The reader also feels hope as the relationship between Quoyle and Wavey develops. The quiet but powerful attraction between two people who have been so unlucky in love opens up a future that previously seemed impossible. Quoyle imagines this future in Chapter 24:
He imagined the aunt buried and gone, himself old, Wavey stooped with age, his daughters in faraway lives, Herry still delighted by wooden dogs and colored threads, a grizzled Herry who would sleep in a north room at the top of the house or in the little room under the stairs.
Because these characters' daily lives are often difficult or mundane, this gesture toward the future gives a bit of comfort to the reader.
Related Themes:
