Final answer:
Mood in literature is the emotional atmosphere that an author creates through stylistic choices, which include vocabulary, imagery, tone, and figurative language.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of mood in literature refers to the emotional atmosphere that a writer creates through word choice, imagery, and other narrative elements. It's the feeling that the reader experiences while engaging with a text. An author's style, which encompasses vocabulary, use of imagery, and tone, plays a significant role in establishing the mood of a story. The tone, specifically, is a reflection of the narrator or writer's attitude towards the subject, which can be ironic, humorous, cold, or dramatic, and influences the mood. In contrast, figurative language, such as metaphors and similes, enriches the text by using descriptive imagery to create a more immersive experience, further contributing to the mood.