Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature Practice Exam 2026 - Free AP English Literature Practice Questions and Study Guide

In a literary context, the term 'attitude' primarily refers to the tone of a narrative. Tone encompasses the writer’s or speaker’s feelings towards the subject matter or audience and is conveyed through word choice, style, and various literary devices. The tone can reveal attitudes toward characters, themes, and events, impacting how readers perceive the narrative and its emotional resonance.

While 'attitude' could be associated with a character's emotional state or even their physical posture in certain contexts, in literature, it is primarily aligned with tone, which is a broader concept encompassing how the overall mood and emotion of the text are conveyed. This understanding of attitude as tone is crucial for analyzing a text, as it shapes readers' interpretations and emotional reactions.