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Denotation Connotation Worksheet (1)

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13 views

Denotation Connotation Worksheet (1)

Uploaded by

evangeline garrido
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name:__________________________________

Mrs. Daniel Block _________________________


English 9H
Date:_____________________________________

A word's denotation is its literal definition. (You can remember this


by remembering it’s the Dictionary definition).

For example:
Snake: a limbless reptile with a long, scaly body

A word's connotation is all the association we have with it. This is


the emotional or cultural association we attach to the word.
Connotation is typically drawn from the context of the writing around
the word, although, some words have generally understood positive,
neutral or negative connotations.

For example:
"snake in the grass," the biblical serpent, the danger of
poisonous snakes, our own fear of snakes, or a malevolent (evil,
bad) person might be called "a real snake."

The used car salesman was a real snake; he tried to sell us a car
that had been submerged in a lake without warning us of the
water damage.

Connotation may depend on the person who hears the word and
brings his or her own associations to it, and it may also depend on the
usage.
* A plumber might immediately think of a plumbing tool called a
snake.
*A biologist might think of the rare Indigo Snake he felt lucky to
see the past weekend.

Some words, though, have shades of meaning that are commonly


recognized. While "serpent" is literally a snake, the word "serpent" is
usually associated with evil.

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Directions: For these conditions, first think of a word with a
positive connotation, and then think of a word with a negative
connotation.

Condition Positive Connotation Negative


Connotation
1. emotional ________________________ ___________________
2. busy ________________________ ___________________
3. shy ________________________ ___________________
4. self-focused ________________________ ___________________
5. fear ________________________ ___________________

Often two words mean roughly the same thing, except that one has an
unfavorable, the other, a favorable, connotation. Thus, although you
may like to think of yourself as an idealist, people who do not
sympathize with your attitudes might call you a dreamer. For the
following pairs of terms, choose three and write short explanations of
why you might like to be described by one term but not the other.
1. self-confident/conceited
2. assertive/pushy
3. firm/stubborn
4. hard-working/workaholic
5. flexible/indecisive
6. casual/sloppy
7. mature/old

8. Identify the pair you chose: _____________________________________

2
Explanation:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________.
9. Identify the pair you chose: ______________________________________
Explanation:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________.

10. Identify the pair you chose:___________________________________


Explanation:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________.

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