Connotation and Denotation

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

Denotation is...

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

• the literal definition (meaning) of a word

• how the word makes you feel

Multiple Choice

Connotation is...

• the literal meaning of a word

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

• the definition of a word

Multiple Choice

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

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

• True

• False

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?

Multiple Choice

What is the tone of the following sentence:

Kareem made a silly face at Beth.

• Frightened

• Excited

• Playful

• Angry

Multiple Choice

What is the tone of the following sentence:

The puppy pounced on the toy.

• Frightened

• Excited

• Angry

• Sarcastic

Multiple Choice

What is the tone of the following sentence:

He scowled at Alexi when she brought him dinner.

• Frightened

• Excited

• Angry

• Joyful

Multiple Choice

What is the tone of the following sentence:

She was jolted by his sudden appearance.

• Playful

• Excited

• Angry

• Frightened

Tone

Remember: The way the author feels about a topic

Multiple Choice

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

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the sentences below uses words with positive connotations?

• My aunt Janey is mature and experienced.

• My aunt Janey is ancient and outdated.

Multiple Choice

Referring to someone's house as a "shack" would have a _____ connotation (feeling).

• positive

• neutral

• negative

Multiple Choice

Which has the more positive connotation (feeling)?

• hyperactive

• energetic

Multiple Choice

Which has the more positive connotation (feeling)?

• nosey

• curious

Multiple Choice

Buster was a puny dog. He could not even scare the cat that lived next door.

What is the denotation (dictionary definition) of the word puny in the sentence above.

• noisy or loud

• undersized or small

• large in actions or words

• heavy or overweight