Which description most clearly defines tone in literature?
a. the opinions the writer expresses through characters and events
b. the way the author conveys themes to the audience through words
c. the attitude the writer has towards the audience and the subject
d. the emotional atmosphere created within a work of literature

London includes a quote about john thornton as he is observing hal attempt to motivate the exhausted dogs "it was idle, he knew, to get between a fool and his folly". if the word "idle" is defined as "of no real worth, importance, or significance", what does this statement mean with regard to hal? who is the fool? what is hal's folly? why would john thornton think it of no real worth or useless to intervene?