Topic Nine (1.9): Meaning and Interpretation

Introduction Icon.png Introduction

You are now ready to return to the textbook. In this topic, you will learn about the differences between denotation (the objective, dictionary definition of a word) and connotation (the more subjective associations we make with words) and how important the latter can be when a writer is choosing their words to create specific effects in a text.

Read & Make Notes Icon.png Read and Make Notes

Read pages 17 to 18 in the textbook and make notes.

Skills Icon.png Tasks

  • Complete Activities 4 and 5 in the textbook.
  • Read more about examples of connotations here:

READ – Connotations (Literary Devices) Links to an external site.

  • Read the following page and complete the exercises (scroll down to the bottom of the page for the answers):

READ – Connotative Words: Examples and Exercises (Your Dictionary) Links to an external site.

Top Tip Icon.png Top Tip

You can say that a word or phrase ‘has connotations of’ something, or that it ‘connotes’ something,

Glossary Icon.png Terminology

Make sure you understand all the key terms covered in this topic and highlight these on your glossary. You may like to make flashcards of key terms now, to help you with revision later on.