Literary tone

Accusatory

blaming someone; charging of wrongdoing

Apathetic

indifferent due to lack of energy or concern

audacious

(adj.) bold, adventurous, recklessly daring

awe-struck

showing solemn wonder

bantering

playfully teaching

bitter

exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief

burlesque

comic; mocking through caricature or exaggeration

caustic

intense use of sarcasm; stinging, biting

choleric

hot-tempered, easily angered

colloquial

using a conversational or informal style

callous

unfeeling, insensitive to feelings of others

condescending

having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority

contemplative

studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue

critical

finding fault

cutting

abrasive, cold, hurtful

cynical

with an attitude of distrust of people and human nature

derisive

ridicule, mocking

despondent

showing extreme discouragement or depression

detached

separated; disconnected; impersonal

didactic

in a tone intended to preach a sermon or teach a life lesson

disdainful

expressing contempt, dislike, or hate

earnest

intense, a sincere state of mind

elegiac

expressing sorrow or regret

erudite

learned, polished, scholarly

euphoric

great elation or joy

facetious

playfully humorous

factual

based on facts

fanciful

using the imagination

flippant

dismissive and lacking respect

forthright

frank without hesitation

frivolous

lacking in seriousness

haughty

proud & vain to the point of arrogance

hostile

extremely angry

impartial

lack of bias

indignant

angered at something unjust or wrong

intimate

familiar

irate

enraged

ironic

contrary to expectations

irreverent

lacking proper respect or seriousness

jovial

happy

judgmental

authoritative and often having critical opinions

laudatory

expressing praise

lyrical

expressing a poet's inner feelings; emotional; full of images; song-like

malicious

purposely harmful

melodramatic

exaggeratedly emotional or sentimental

morose

gloomy

nostalgic

longing for the past

objective

unbiased; not subjective

obsequious

overly submissive and eager to please

ominous

foreboding

patronizing

condescension

optimistic

hopeful

pedantic

overly concerned with minute details to be conspicuous about one's learning and knowledge

poignant

touching

quizzical

odd, eccentric

reflective

state of reflecting on innermost thoughts

reverent

treating a subject with honor and respect

ribald

characterized by indulging in vulgar, lewd humor

ridiculing

Mocking, insulting or taunting tone

sanguine

optimistic, cheerful

sarcastic

sneering

sardonic

bitterly sarcastic and scornful

satiric

ridiculing to show weakness in order to make a point

sincere

genuine

skeptical

having an attitude of doubt

solemn

deeply earnest, tending towards sad reflection

somber

serious, grave

Tongue in-cheek

joking, ironic; something not meant as serious

urgent

compelling immediate action

vehement

forecfulness of expression or intensity of emotion or conviction

whimsical

odd, strange, fantastic, fun

wry

expressing dry, mocking humor