What term describes the overall feeling or atmosphere created by the combination of dissonance in a work?

Prepare for the UIL Literary Criticism exam with flashcards and a dynamic set of multiple choice questions. Each question is accompanied by hints and detailed explanations. Ace your literary criticism exam!

The term that accurately describes the overall feeling or atmosphere created by the combination of dissonance in a work is mood. Mood encompasses the emotional setting or the emotional quality of a work that evokes certain feelings in the reader or audience. It is established through various literary devices, including imagery, word choice, and tone, which may include elements of dissonance to heighten the emotional impact.

In literary analysis, mood is distinct from tone, which refers to the author's attitude toward the subject matter or audience. While tone can contribute to the mood, it does not encompass the holistic emotional response generated within the work itself. Theme, on the other hand, pertains to the underlying ideas or messages conveyed by the narrative rather than the emotional atmosphere. Setting refers to the time and place in which the story occurs, influencing mood but not defining it. Thus, mood is the most fitting term when discussing the emotional and atmospheric qualities elicited by dissonance in literature.

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