Tone and Mood

Usually, a poem has tones and moods as it is evocative. Evocative means making people remember something by producing a feeling or memory in them. Poem typically evokes in the reader an intense emotion, for example joy, sorrow, anger, catharsis, and love.

Similarly, the poem 'The River' has several sides of tone:-

# At times the poem conveys a rather deep tone.This can be seen in stanza 2, as the poet describes the river as 'a winder..He twists and turns, He just cannot be still'.

# On other occasions, the poet conveys light, happy and gentle side of things where the river is likened to being a singer that dances along, a carefree nomad and tramp.

# There is also a mysterious tone in the poem when the poet describes the river as having buried 'little treasures' deep down the riverbed.

# The last stanza is portrayed in a serious tone by the poet. The river can be disastrous as it can act like a monster who 'gobbled up trees, And he'll swallow you next'.