Connotation and Denotation What do they mean?

Denotation  What is it?  Denotation is the dictionary definition of a word i.e. what it actually MEANS, what it DENOTES  E.g. Apple= a round fruit that grows on a tree, with green or red skin and crisp flesh

Connotation  What is it?  Connotation is what we ASSOCIATE with the word i.e. what we connotate with it.  E.g. an apple when we think of it may suggest something crisp, juicy, full of vitamins OR it can be something more sinister, like the poisoned apple in ‘Snow White’ or the forbidden fruit in the Bible’s Garden of Eden.

Try these.  What is denoted by the word ‘slim’?  What is connotated with the word ’slim’?  What is denotated by the word ‘skinny’?  What is connotated with the word ‘skinny’?

 Imaginative/fanciful?  Outspoken/cheeky  overweight/ chubby

Why is all this important?  In Close Reading work, Textual Analysis work and in writing critical essays about your texts, you will need to be alert to the connotations of words and be prepared to comment on these connotations.  This will usually happen when questions ask you to comment on word choice, imagery and tone.

Examples  After the match, Fergus bathed in the praise of his team-mates.  Say how word choice in this sentence helps us determine Fergus’ pleasure.  The word ‘bathed’ makes me think of the really good feeling you get from a warm sea or a hot bath, indicating how contented he was.

Connotation Summative  When will I need knowledge of connotation/word choice/imagery?  High proportion of CR questions will require ability to talk convincingly about all three.  Writing a critical essay based on set texts will also require ability to reflect on these 3 areas.  Textual Analysis NAB will have several questions in these areas.  Your own Writing NAB should reflect the usefulness of selecting words with a certain connotation.