Study Sync: Connotation and Denotation

​Study Sync: Skills Lesson
Connotation and Denotation in
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

By Brendan Mccann

Lesson Introduction:
“Words Carry Feelings”

​Words can have both a denotation and a connotation.
Denotation is the dictionary definition—the literal meaning.

Connotation is the feeling or idea a word gives us beyond its definition.

In Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D. Taylor carefully chooses words that show how her characters feel about fairness, family, and freedom.
Example:

• Cheap and affordable both mean “not costly,” but cheap sounds negative.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence best shows a difference in connotation?

• “The sun rose” and “The sun appeared.”

• “That house is small” and “That house is cozy.”

• “He walked quickly” and “He ran fast.”

​Word: Connotation (noun)

Definition: An idea or feeling a word suggests beyond its literal meaning.

Context Sentence:
When Papa calls Cassie “pretty lady,” the connotation is loving and gentle, not just describing how she looks.

​Vocabulary: “Connotation”

Multiple Choice

Which word has a more positive connotation?

• Skinny

• Slender

​Word 1: Context (noun)
Definition: The events, situations, or language that surround a word or phrase and help explain its meaning.
Word 2: Context Clue (noun)
Definition: A hint in the text that helps the reader figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word.

Context Sentence:
When Cassie overhears adults talking about “the mortgage,” the context clues—words like money and taxes—help the reader understand it’s something serious.

Vocabulary Pair: “Context” & “Context Clue”

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses a context clue to show what the bold word means?

• Cassie looked anxious as she waited for Papa to answer.

• Papa spoke sternly, his serious voice showing that sternly means firmly.

• Stacey sat on the porch and watched the stars.

Instruction Intro: “Finding Meaning in Words”

Sometimes authors use words in new or emotional ways. To understand both denotation (dictionary definition) and connotation (feeling or idea), good readers:

1. Notice unfamiliar or emotional words.

2. Use context clues to make a guess.

3. Check how the word makes them feel or what mood it creates.

In Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D. Taylor uses connotation to show family pride, hope, and fear. Let’s look at two examples.

Multiple Choice

When you see a word you don’t understand, what should you do first?

• Skip it and keep reading

• Use context to guess what it means

• Replace it with a different word

Example 1:
Quickly I poured the rest of the butter beans into the bowl and hurried across the kitchen to the table. As Mama and Papa entered, I slid onto the bench beside Little Man and Christopher-John. Papa beamed down at the table.

​I don’t know what beamed means, but I see that Papa is looking down at the food and sounds happy.

• Denotation: To smile brightly.

• Connotation: Warmth, love, pride.

  
  

• The author wants us to feel Papa’s happiness and pride in his family and their meal.

Multiple Select

What do the connotations of beamed tell us about Papa? (Select all that apply.)

• He feels proud of his family.

• He feels joyful and at peace.

• He feels nervous about work.

• He feels angry about dinner.

Example 2
After school was out, spring drooped quickly toward summer; yet Papa had not left for the railroad.

​I know droop means “to hang down.” But spring can’t literally hang down, so the word must mean something else here.

• Denotation: To hang or bend down.

• Connotation: A loss of energy, sadness, or fading hope.
  The word drooped gives a feeling that time is dragging — that Papa’s waiting is heavy and uncertain.

Multiple Choice

What does the word drooped help the reader understand about the Logan family’s mood?

• They feel cheerful and excited.

• They feel nervous but hopeful.

• They feel tired and worried.

• They feel peaceful and calm.

​Now it’s your turn to use context to figure out the meaning and feeling of a word.

Read the excerpt and answer the two questions that follow.

Excerpt (from Paragraph 21):

“From the edge of the lawn where Little Man and Christopher-John had ventured after lightning bugs…”

Your Turn: “Word Meaning in Context”

Multiple Choice

What does the word ventured mean in this sentence?

“From the edge of the lawn where Little Man and Christopher-John had ventured after lightning bugs…”

• set out

• yelled loudly

• remembered

• caught

Multiple Choice

Based on how the author uses ventured, how does the word make the moment feel?

“From the edge of the lawn where Little Man and Christopher-John had ventured after lightning bugs…”

• Positive – the boys are brave and playful as they go after the bugs.

• Negative – the boys are afraid to go after the bugs.

• Neutral – the boys have no strong feelings about it.