A new interpretation of literary texts, the "mood-oriented reading" – this is what Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht advocates. Through examples ranging from Minnesang and Shakespeare's sonnets to Thomas Mann's "Death in Venice" and Janis Joplin, he explains how the "tone," "atmosphere," and "mood" are embedded in and affect the texts. The fact that "mood" is not always harmonious is illustrated not only by the example of surrealism. Gumbrecht's method opens up a new approach to the reality of literature, and his theses aim to inspire both literary scholars and readers.