Final answer:
The mood in literary works is defined by the choice of words, sentence structure, characters' actions, and narrative voice. From positive to negative moods, or shifts from formality to informality, these elements combine to create the atmosphere and emotional setting of a piece. Tone adjustments can significantly alter the perceived mood of the story.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mood of a conversation can be deciphered through various elements such as word choice, sentence structure, and the characters' actions and reactions. For instance, words like 'violence' indicate a negative mood, whereas, in a different context, the disposition toward rain can be positive. A character's stiffness in speech and gestures also conveys mood, like the mild stiffness in one dialogue hinting at disturbance or constraint. Additionally, a shift in atmosphere from dinner to the sun-porch, where a character asks if she can weep, suggests a transition to a more somber mood.
The tone is conveyed through the narrative voice, which sets the mood by using formal or informal language. A narrative given in a lighthearted voice creates a different mood than one in an argumentative voice. Similarly, varying the tone from bitter to nostalgic, or from sarcastic to genuine, can alter the reader's perception of the text. The use of rhetorical questions, informal language such as 'Let's look at', or frenzied sentence structure and repetition as seen in Twain's work further develops the mood of the text.