Question

When he was so far out that he could look back not only on the little bay but past the

promontory that was between it and the big beach, he floated on the buoyant surface
and looked for his mother. There she was, a speck of yellow under an umbrella that
looked like a slice of orange peel.
What is the tone of this paragraph ?

Answer 1

The tone of the paragraph is peaceful and observational but with an underlying sense of melancholy, evident in the serene and detailed description of the setting and the character's detached observation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The tone of the paragraph provided is peaceful and observational, with a touch of melancholy. Floating on the buoyant surface, the character is detached enough to observe his surroundings with a sense of calm. The distant speck of yellow, the umbrella like a slice of orange peel, and the view past the promontory all contribute to a serene, picturesque setting.

However, the distance from the mother, the use of words like 'speck' and 'little bay', and the expanse between the character and the shore evoke a subtle sense of solitude and pensiveness. The student is asking about the tone, which refers to the author's attitude toward the subject matter or audience, conveyed through their choice of words and stylistic elements.