Connotation & Denotation

Connotation & Denotation

Denotation

• The dictionary definition of a word

• ex: Ice cream- a soft frozen food made with sweetened and flavored milk fat.

Connotation

• Positive or negative associations that words naturally carry with them

• ex: Ice cream- yummy, a reward, a happy experience (POSITIVE)

Denotations & Connotations

• Connotations depend in part on cultural and personal influences

• ex: If you are lactose intolerant, ice cream might have a negative connotation for you instead of a positive connotation

Denotations & Connotations

• Almost all words have some kind of charge- positive or negative

• The words an author chooses play a large role in the tone of the story

• Let's look at some examples...

Multiple Choice

"VICTORY"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"GRIEF"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"FREEDOM"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"SMELLY"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"FRAGRANT"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"A SCENT"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"CONFIDENT"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"COCKY" -Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"INNOCENT"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"NAIVE"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"YOUNG"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"KEEN"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"TUMULTUOUSLY"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"TACTLESS"- Positve, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

"HAPHAZARDLY"- Positive, Neutral, or Negative Connotation?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral