Question

What is the difference between mood and tone in a story?

Answer 1

mood = what the readers feel
tone = what the author feels

Explanation:

Mood is the environment the author creates for the reader in a specific part of the story. It is what the author wants you to feel while reading. Mood usually changes throughout the plot, depending on the current scene.
For example, there is a happy mood while a character is recalling childhood memories, then later there is a scary mood when something unexpected happens.

Tone is the author's attitude towards a specific subject. Tone does not change.
For example, the author has a sympathetic tone towards a certain character throughout the story.