Connotation and Connotation and DenotationDenotation

What do they mean?What do they mean?

DenotationDenotation

What is it?What is it? Denotation is the dictionary Denotation is the dictionary

definition of a word i.e. what it definition of a word i.e. what it actually MEANS, what it DENOTESactually MEANS, what it DENOTES

E.g. Apple= a round fruit that grows E.g. Apple= a round fruit that grows on a tree, with green or red skin and on a tree, with green or red skin and crisp flesh crisp flesh

ConnotationConnotation

What is it?What is it? Connotation is what we ASSOCIATE with Connotation is what we ASSOCIATE with

the word i.e. what we connotate with it.the word i.e. what we connotate with it. E.g. an apple when we think of it may E.g. an apple when we think of it may

suggest something crisp, juicy, full of suggest something crisp, juicy, full of vitamins OR it can be something more vitamins OR it can be something more sinister, like the poisoned apple in ‘Snow sinister, like the poisoned apple in ‘Snow White’ or the forbidden fruit in the Bible’s White’ or the forbidden fruit in the Bible’s Garden of Eden.Garden of Eden.

Try these.Try these.

What is denoted by the word ‘slim’?What is denoted by the word ‘slim’? What is connotated with the word What is connotated with the word

’slim’?’slim’? What is denotated by the word What is denotated by the word

‘skinny’?‘skinny’? What is connotated with the word What is connotated with the word

‘skinny’?‘skinny’?

Imaginative/fanciful?Imaginative/fanciful? Outspoken/cheekyOutspoken/cheeky overweight/ chubbyoverweight/ chubby

Why is all this important?Why is all this important?

In Close Reading work, Textual In Close Reading work, Textual Analysis work and in writing critical Analysis work and in writing critical essays about your texts, you will essays about your texts, you will need to be alert to the connotations need to be alert to the connotations of words and be prepared to of words and be prepared to comment on these connotations.comment on these connotations.

This will usually happen when This will usually happen when questions ask you to comment on questions ask you to comment on word choiceword choice, , imageryimagery and and tone.tone.

ExamplesExamples

After the match, Fergus bathed in After the match, Fergus bathed in the praise of his team-mates.the praise of his team-mates.

Say how word choice in this sentence Say how word choice in this sentence helps us determine Fergus’ pleasure.helps us determine Fergus’ pleasure.

The word ‘bathed’ The word ‘bathed’ makes me think ofmakes me think of the really good feeling you get from the really good feeling you get from a warm sea or a hot bath, a warm sea or a hot bath, indicating indicating howhow contented he was. contented he was.

Connotation SummativeConnotation Summative When will I need knowledge of connotation/word When will I need knowledge of connotation/word

choice/imagery?choice/imagery? High proportion of CR questions will require High proportion of CR questions will require

ability to talk convincingly about all three.ability to talk convincingly about all three. Writing a critical essay based on set texts will Writing a critical essay based on set texts will

also require ability to reflect on these 3 areas.also require ability to reflect on these 3 areas. Textual Analysis NAB will have several questions Textual Analysis NAB will have several questions

in these areas.in these areas. Your own Writing NAB should reflect the Your own Writing NAB should reflect the

usefulness of selecting words with a certain usefulness of selecting words with a certain connotation.connotation.