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Words and Meanings

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Words and meanings

What would someone mean if you heard them say the following?

The way in which we use words is often non-literal as the examples above illustrate. That is, we often say or write things which have layers of meaning – we mean more than the dictionary definitions of the words.

This room is a pigsty!

Pull your socks up!

Put a bit of elbow grease into it!

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Brainstorm all the phrases you can think of which do not have a literal meaning…

Layers of meaning

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This room is a pigsty!

This is a metaphor – when we say something ‘is’ something else. Obviously no one really lives or sleeps in a pigsty.

It means that a room is so messy it looks like a pigsty.

Metaphor

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Can you think of any commonly used metaphors? Some of them may be rather unpleasant insults!

Metaphor

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coldness

the sea

sadness

baby boys

the sky

Association

Associations are the feelings certain words create in us.

BLUE associated with…

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When you hear or read the word RED, what words or feelings does it bring to mind?

RED associated with…

Association

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Did you notice how one word can have opposite associations? For example, red can mean love but also anger.

Give an interpretation of the lines below to show you understand how meanings of words and their associations can change in different contexts.

“If he finds out, he’ll be seeing red!”

“That guy is red hot!”

Association

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Colour association

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Symbolism

What does a green light on a traffic

light mean?

What does a crucifix symbolize?

We are surrounded by symbolism everyday. Writers use symbolism to show a layer of meaning beneath the surface of their words.

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What other symbols are used to mean certain things in everyday life?

A heart shape has come to mean love – as has a red rose.

Symbolism

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Read this extract from a poem by Carol Ann Duffy entitled, ‘Valentine’ paying attention to the vocabulary she uses which has layers of meaning.

Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion

It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.

It promises light

Like the careful undressing of love.

Association

Association

SymbolMetaphor

Association

Poetry

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Read this extract from Sylvia Plath’s poem ‘Poppies in July’. This time try to decide for yourself the layers of meanings in the poet’s words.

Little poppies, little hell flames,

Do you do no harm?

You flicker. I cannot touch you.

I put my hands among the flames. Nothing burns.

Poetry

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Brainstorm all the words you associate with sadness:

Darkness

Sadness

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What objects symbolize sadness for you?

Can you think of a metaphor to describe this object or use this object as the metaphor?

Graveyard Her mind was a graveyard of memories…

Sadness

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Using your notes from the previous slides, write a poem which uses vocabulary with layers of meaning (i.e. symbols, associations and metaphors) to create a sombre tone.

Here are some possible open lines from published poets to help you get started:

1. A boy skips flat stones out to sea…

2. The night rattles with nightmares…

3. The hearse has stalled in the lane…

Activity