Final answer:
The beginning of 'A Journal of the Plague Year' has a tone of disclosure and intimacy, which turns inquisitive as the narrative progresses. By the end, the tone reflects somber reflection and a hardened realism, with themes of transience and mortality after surviving a historical pandemic.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tone in 'A Journal of the Plague Year'
The tone of A Journal of the Plague Year at the beginning is one of disclosure and confession. The narrative starts with a connection between the speaker and the reader, where the former seems to be sharing or divulging something significant. Words and phrases that contribute to this tone are often personal and direct, aiming to establish a sense of trust and intimacy. As the narrative progresses, the tone shifts to become more inquisitive, with the speaker posing questions that reflect an exploration of the events and circumstances he witnesses. For example, phrases like "-or was it the coldness?-" exemplify this inquisitive nature, suggesting a search for understanding amidst the chaos.
By the end of the text, the tone becomes a blend of somber reflection and a hardened sense of realism. The speaker has gone through the experiences of the plague and conveys a tone that combines a sober documentation of events with the emotional weight of surviving such a historical catastrophe. This parting tone is filled with themes of transience and mortality, common for writings seeking to make sense of pandemic experiences, as seen in contemporaneous works like The Decameron. The speaker's voice evolves from that initial intimate revelation to an authoritative account tinged with the gravity of having endured the devastations of the plague.