Christmas Carol: Denotation and Connotation

Denotation vs. Connotation

Implied definition. Can have positive, negative or neutral meanings.

Connotation

The plain old dictionary definition.

Denotation

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Multiple Choice

The dictionary definition of a word.

• Denotation

• Connotation

Multiple Select

Connotation can have these types of meanings:

• Neutral

• Negative

• Positive

• Dictionary

Example: Aroma

I could smell the aroma of coffee in the air.

Poll

What type of meaning does aroma have for you?

• Negative

• Neutral

• Positive

aroma (noun) = a distinctive, typically pleasant smell

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Definition: aroma

What if I said the coffee smelled rancid?

Poll

What type of meaning does rancid have for you?

• Negative

• Neutral

• Positive

rancid (adj) = smelling or tasting unpleasant as a result of being old and stale

Definition: rancid

Let's Practice
Read the line and decide what type of connotation it has.

Multiple Choice

His door is open and in his line of vision, we see Scrooge’s clerk, Bob Cratchit, who sits in a

dismal tank of a cubicle, copying letters.

• Negative

• Neutral

• Positive

Multiple Choice

I am here to warn you that you have yet a chance and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer.

• Negative

• Neutral

• Positive

Multiple Select

SCROOGE: Hmm. Oh, you’ll be wanting the whole day tomorrow, I suppose?

CRATCHIT: If quite convenient, sir.

• Negative

• Neutral

• Positive

Multiple Choice

It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-

men, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after

death.

• Negative

• Neutral

• Positive

I will give you a sentence. Type the word with the connotation I am looking for in the box.

Fill in the Blanks

Find the word with the POSITIVE connotation:

At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge, it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute who suffer greatly at the present time.

Fill in the Blanks

Find the TWO words with a NEGATIVE connotation. Separate your answers with a space:

At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge, it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute who suffer greatly at the present time.

Word Cloud

Can you find any words from this sentence with a neutral connotation:

At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge, it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute who suffer greatly at the present time.