Final answer:
In Langston Hughes' "Why You Reckon," the tone conveys the narrator's desperation and contemplative state, while the mood ranges from sympathetic to tense, reflecting the protagonist's changing emotions. The story's narrative voice and descriptive passages drive both tone and mood, making readers feel pity and unease.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Tone and Mood in "Why You Reckon" by Langston Hughes
The tone or feeling in Langston Hughes' short story "Why You Reckon" is a blend of desperation, contemplation, and a touch of irony. As the story is told from a first-person perspective, readers can discern the narrator's anxious and contemplative emotional state. This is reflected through the word choices and the style of narration.
The short story explores themes of poverty and human nature within the context of a robbery, which serves as the turning point of the narrative. As readers, we are prompted to consider the desperation that drives the characters to their actions, feeling a sense of pity towards their circumstances.
When considering the story's mood, it vacillates between sympathetic and somber to tense, mirroring the protagonist's fluctuating emotions. The mood is crafted through situations and language that evoke distinct emotional responses from the readers, enabling them to immerse themselves in the experiences of the characters. The story's mood reveals itself through descriptive passages and character interactions that generate a sense of unease and reflection within the reader.