Which element contributes to a story's mood?

The choice of using descriptive words and figurative expressions significantly contributes to a story's mood. This is because mood refers to the emotional atmosphere that a reader perceives while reading a text. Descriptive language, including vivid imagery, sensory details, and figurative language such as similes and metaphors, sets the tone and evokes specific feelings. For example, lush descriptions of a tranquil countryside can create a peaceful mood, while stark, jagged imagery of a stormy night can evoke tension or fear. The way in which a writer chooses words helps to paint an emotional landscape that guides the reader's feelings throughout the story.

The other choices may have an impact on the overall narrative but do not influence the mood as directly as descriptive language does. For instance, a consistent first-person narrative perspective primarily affects point of view and character connection rather than mood directly. Similarly, while the historical context of a setting can provide background and understanding, it doesn’t inherently create an emotional atmosphere without descriptive language to bring it to life. A detailed character backstory adds depth to characters but does not directly dictate the mood of the story.