In poetry, what is the effect of the speaker's attitude toward the subject on the poem's tone?

• A. The speaker's attitude shapes the poem's emotional coloring, establishing tone and guiding reader interpretation.
• B. Tone is independent of the speaker's attitude.
• C. The poet's background alone determines tone.
• D. Attitude affects meter only.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that the speaker’s stance toward the subject creates the poem’s tone. The attitude you sense—whether it’s affectionate, critical, ironic, mournful, or angry—shows up in the word choices, images, and rhythm the poet uses. That combination establishes an emotional coloring that guides how you read the piece and what you take from it. For example, describing a river with reverent language and calm imagery produces a serene, respectful tone, while sarcastic or biting language toward the same scene would yield a mocking or cynical tone. Because tone arises from the speaker’s perspective and how they present the subject, it directly informs interpretation. It’s not something separate from the speaker’s attitude, and it’s not determined solely by the poet’s background or by meter, since meter is about rhythm and pattern, not about the emotional stance shaping mood.