English
Atmosphere.
Definition
The overall feeling or emotional environment that a literary work creates for the reader through setting, word choice, imagery, and pacing. Atmosphere is closely related to mood but often emphasizes the physical environment and sensory details that contribute to that feeling.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 A dark, stormy castle creates a gothic, suspenseful atmosphere
- 2 A sunny meadow with birdsong creates a peaceful, idyllic atmosphere
- 3 Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher' builds a decaying, dread-filled atmosphere