What does mood refer to in literature?

Mood in literature refers to the overall emotion created by a work of literature. It encompasses the feelings and emotional states that the author intends to evoke in the reader through various literary elements such as word choice, imagery, tone, and setting. When an author establishes a mood, they set the emotional backdrop against which the events of the story unfold, guiding the reader's emotional response and engagement with the text.

For instance, a story set in a dark, stormy environment might create a mood of tension or fear, whereas a narrative set in a bright, sunny landscape might evoke feelings of happiness or tranquility. The ability to affect the reader’s emotional experience is a powerful tool in literature, making mood a fundamental aspect of storytelling and a key element for analyzing literary works.