Final answer:
The tone in Chapter 3 of Of Mice and Men shifts from light and hopeful to somber and tense, reflecting the increasing conflicts and challenges faced by the characters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tone in Chapter 3 of Of Mice and Men shifts from a light and hopeful tone to a more somber and tense tone. At the beginning of the chapter, the tone is light as the characters talk about their dreams and plans for the future. However, it becomes more serious and dark as Curley's wife enters the scene and tension builds between the characters.
This change in tone occurs to reflect the shift in the mood and atmosphere of the story. It signals the increasing conflicts and challenges that the characters face, foreshadowing the tragic events that unfold later in the novel.