Connotation vs
Denotation
The epic battle of the
word!
Connotation
is
the emotional and imaginative
association surrounding a word.
Conno= Connection
 Ex:
Home- safe, warm, protected,
family, relaxed
Denotation
The
most specific or direct
meaning of a word
Deno= Dictionary
Ex: Home-a house, apartment, or
other shelter that is the usual
residence of a person, family, or
household
Practice:

Using the words below come up with connotations
and denotations for each.
 Example: Tiger


Connotation: fierce, evil, hunter, deadly, beautiful
Denotation: large, carnivorous, tawny-colored and black-striped
feline
Flower
 Rain
 Car
 School
 Ocean

Using it in literature
 Keep
in mind authors use connotation and
denotation all the time. One of the most famous
authors who used connotation was Shakespeare.

Romeo: But, soft! what light through yonder window
breaks?/ It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
 Unless
Juliet is a flaming ball of gas, she is not the literal
definition of the sun. Rather she is warm, glowing, the
center of his world, bright and beautiful.
 Shakespeare uses the sun because people know the feel
and look of the sun, so even if they have never been in
love they understand what Romeo feels.
Connotation continued…
 The
people who use connotation the most are
poets. They have A LOT to say and very few
words to say them. This is what makes poetry
so freakin’ cool! 
 On the next slide you will read the poem.
Write the words used as connotations.
 Why did the author use these?
 What did they make you think of?
 How does this enhance the meaning of the poem?

After Love by Sara Teasdale
There is no magic any more,
We meet as other people do,
You work no miracle for me
Nor I for you.
You were the wind and I the sea—
There is no splendor any more,
I have grown listless as the pool
Beside the shore.
But though the pool is safe from storm
And from the tide has found surcease,
It grows more bitter than the sea,
For all its peace.
After Love by Sara Teasdale
There is no magic any more,
We meet as other people do,
You work no miracle for me
Nor I for you.
You were the wind and I the sea—
There is no splendor any more,
I have grown listless as the pool
Beside the shore.
But though the pool is safe from storm
And from the tide has found surcease,
It grows more bitter than the sea,
For all its peace.