What is defined as the author's attitude towards the audience and characters in a literary work?

The term that refers to the author's attitude towards the audience and characters in a literary work is tone. Tone is conveyed through the author’s choice of words, detailed descriptions, and overall writing style; it shapes how the audience perceives the characters and the narrative itself. For example, a sarcastic tone might suggest that the author is critical of the subject, whereas a sympathetic tone might evoke empathy for the characters.

Other terms, while related to elements of literature, focus on different aspects. Style refers to the unique way an author expresses themselves, including their diction, sentence structure, and literary devices, but does not specifically address attitude. Theme pertains to the central ideas or messages explored in a work rather than the author's perspective on them. Thesis represents the main argument or assertion in a text, particularly in academic writing, but does not encompass the emotional or subjective attitude the author expresses toward their characters or audience. Thus, tone is the most appropriate term in this context.