Moon Tiger mood and setting

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Moon Tiger mood and setting

In the passage, the author uses playful and deliberate language to try and bring the reader into the overall mood of the story. At the beginning of the passage, we are made to believe that it is animals that are present and searching for their prize. The writer utilizes words and brings the reader closer, ensnaring the senses of the reader and bringing the reader into the world that she describes. At that point, the mood is tense. For instance, the passage says, “and squats, searching the blue-grey fragments of rock furiously around her.” In that simple sentence, the writer has used imagery to create the idea of frantic behavior. Frantic behavior is often associated with anxiety, tension as you will. That is what the author intended to display at the beginning of the passage. The author then shifts gear by bringing in Gordon, who, the narrator, is in the heels off. She constantly wonders what Gordon has as he climbs the imaginary cliffs. She wants to get there before he does, further and further she climbs, in competition with Gordon. Gordon bags something, and by doing so, the writer briefly changes the tone and mood of the story from that of tension to a lighter, more victorious one. She does so briefly, however, for we are quickly thrust back to the world of competition.

The author also briefly introduces the mood of despair. The protagonist has so far competed with Gordon. It is her wish to become triumphant over Gordon, hence the need to go higher and higher. She eventually comes close to achieving the victory, but it is stripped from her. Her sense of achievement turned sour as she realizes that she has lost to Gordon. Gordon has pushed her and secured victory at that cost. She feels aggrieved that Gordon would push her to win. The mood is also a playful one throughout the passage.

It is revealed at the end that the beaches described and the cliffs seem to be imaginary, the raw figment of the imagination of two kids who it seems designed the game to make light of a depressing setting. It would seem that they are in a hospital environment since, at the very end, nurses are mentioned. Nurses could only be found either in hospitals or nursing homes. But it seems unlikely y-that that is a nursing home; therefore, it appears to be a hospital. The children maintain a playful mood in the halls of the hospital while the mother watches on.

The writer diverts the reader’s attention making the reader think that the setting is indeed based on a cliff off a beach. The children are depicted as creatures in competition, a fact that seems only to be a figment of their imagination. Therefore, it is safe to say that the setting of the story is a hospital environment, and it seems to be so thoughtful.

However, what does change is the mood of the story all through. The author does not hesitate to provide us, the reader with a myriad of moods that are perfectly placed to evoke the perfect reaction when reading the text. The mood constantly shifts from a tense, competitive one, to a playful one and then to both a blend of victory and despair. One more mood can be seen, and it applies to the mother. The mother creates a somber mood that draws the children from their make-believe world. She has had enough of their games, and she shouts at Gordon to keep quiet. By doing so, she has summarized the overall mood. She seems to like sort of a “killjoy.”

Works Cited

Lively, Penelope. Moon tiger. Penguin UK, 2010.