How is mood determined in a literary text?

• A. Descriptive words, imagery and figurative language all influence mood
• B. Setting, imagery and descriptions of characters' speech or feelings affect the mood
• C. Mood is always stated directly by the narrator
• D. Inferred

Answer: (D)

Mood is the atmosphere the text creates for the reader. You determine it by reading the clues the author provides—setting and environment, imagery and figurative language, tone, and how scenes are described. These details shape how you feel as you read, so mood is inferred from evidence in the text rather than being stated outright. For example, dark weather, desolate streets, and sharp, ominous word choices often create a tense, eerie mood, while bright imagery and warm descriptions can make the mood feel hopeful or cheerful. Because mood relies on how you interpret those signals, it’s something you infer. The elements listed in the other options influence mood, but the essential point is that readers deduce mood from what the text shows rather than from a direct label.