"And then, poor aspen wretch, neglected, thou, bathed in a cold quicksilver sweat, wilt lie a verier ghost than I." -"The Apparition" by John Donne
The tone of a poem is usually implied, but much can be gathered from a speaker or character's thoughts and actions. Throughout most of these poems, either the speaker's actions or descriptions of others through diction give a fair indication of their attitude and the tone they hope to get across. Poems such as "The Apparition" give detailed example after example that tend to convey the speaker's general dissatisfaction with the depth of love he normally engages in. Many times the attitude is directed at characters within the poem, but other times it addresses society, and therefore the reader, as a whole. "Dover Beach" is similar to this style as it addresses a person close to the speaker while giving historical context to the happenings at that beach over time. Just as in life, the motive for a person's action or thought can convey the attitude they hold towards the matter. "Getting Out" serves this example because the speaker dialogues about the souring of the marriage but by the end the reader knows that his tone is regretful and nostalgic by the thoughts and actions in the last several lines. The familiar adage of "actions greater than words" holds true in this sense.
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