Connotation vs. Denotation

Connotation vs. Denotation

Review

Let's review

Denotation is the literal meaning of a word:

remember - denotation = brain/ denotation = definition

Connotation is everything the word suggests and all the associations that come with it. Words can have positive, negative, or neutral connotations. Remember: connotation = heart/ connotation = feeling

Multiple Choice

3. Denotation is...

• everything the word suggests and all the associations that come with it

• he literal definition (meaning) of a word

• how the word makes you feel

Multiple Choice

4. Connotation is...

• the literal meaning of a word

• the definition of a word

• all the nonliteral meanings and feelings you associate with a word.

Multiple Choice

5. True or False: Words can have positive, negative, or neutral connotations.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

6. Which of the sentences below uses words with positive connotations?

• My aunt Janey is mature and experienced.

• My aunt Janey is ancient and outdated.

Connotation Affects the Tone

Your understanding of a words connotation allows you to better understand and author's tone. Recall: tone is the way an author feels about a topic. Readers can determine the tone by looking at the author's word choice.

This is where connotation comes in - do the words have positive, negative, or neutral connotations?

Example: Which one of the choices below contains more of a negative connotation?

A. Mia told Jessie her news and then Jessie informed all there friends. or

B. Mia told Jessie her news and then Jessie blabbed to all their friends.

Breakdown of the example

A. Mia told Jessie her news and then Jessie informed all their friends.

B. Mia told Jessie her news and then Jessie blabbed to all their friends.

B. Has a more of a negative connotation because babbled has a more negative connotation and implies that Jessie should not have told their friends Mia's news. This leads to a disapproving and critical tone.

Multiple Choice

10. . True or False: Tone is the feeling or atmosphere that a piece of writing creates within the reader.

• True

• False

Tone

Remember: The way the author feels about a topic

Multiple Choice

12. True or False: Connotations can be positive or negative. They can create a wide range of good or bad feelings and images that reveal the author's attitude, or tone.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

13. What is the tone of the following sentence:

Kareem made a silly face at Beth.

• Frightened

• Playful

• Excited

• Angry

Multiple Choice

14. What is the tone of the following sentence:

The puppy pounced on the toy.

• Frightened

• Frightened

• Excited

• Sarcastic

Multiple Choice

15. What is the tone of the following sentence:

He scowled at Alexi when she brought him dinner.

• Frightened

• Angry

• Excited

• Joyful

Multiple Choice

16. What is the tone of the following sentence:

She was jolted by his sudden appearance.

• Playful

• Angry

• Excited

• Frightened

Multiple Choice

17. Which highlighted word in the passage has connotations that create a calm tone?

Startled by the thunderstorm, the anxious kitten snuggled up to the napping golden retriever. The two snoozed by the fireplace on that frigid winter night.

• startled

• napping

• anxious

• frigid

Multiple Choice

18. When we look at the emotional connection of a work we look at...

• Connotation

• Denotation

• conflict

• purpose

Open Ended

19. Explain denotation in your own words in a complete sentence by restating the prompt as part of your answer.

Open Ended

20. Explain connotation in your own words in a complete sentence by restating the prompt as part of your answer.

Open Ended

21. Explain tone in your own words in a complete sentence by restating the prompt as part of your answer.

Poll

Do you understand connotation vs. denotation?

• I understand the difference between connotation and denotation

• I almost have an understanding of the two

• I need to study this more and ask Mrs. Bishop to help with specific problems I am having with this