Connotation vs. Denotation

If you have taken or ever plan on taking a poetry class, you are more than likely to come across these two terms. Let's make sure that you know what they mean and how to tell the difference between the two.

Denotation

In poetry, the term "denotation" means the literal meaning or "book definition" of a word. Basically, the meaning of the word is found in the dictionary.

For example, let's look below at some words and their denotative meanings:

Rose - A type of red-colored flower.

Dismember - To divide into parts; to cut to pieces; to take apart.

Dismantle - To divide into parts; to cut to pieces; to take apart.

Mother - A female parent.

House - A building where people live.

Home -  A building where people live.

Father - A male parent.

Dad - A male parent.


Connotation

In poetry, the term "connotation" means the secondary attributes--such as feelings, emotions, and/or symbols--associated with a word. Basically, "connotation" is when you hear a word and your mind automatically associates something with it. For instance, when you hear the word "city," your mind automatically thinks of a large, vivacious population. In reality, the literal definition of a "city"  is an incorporated municipality governed by a mayor (in the U.S.)

For example, let's look below at the same words from above with their connotative meanings:

Rose - Love, romance, Valentine's Day.

 (These are the symbols or feelings we think of when we hear or see the word rose).

Dismember -  The tearing of limbs. The ripping of body parts.

(We tend to think of body parts when we hear the word dismember, even though it has the same meaning as "dismantle").

Dismantle - The breaking down of a solid object such as a fireplace or a chair.

("Dismantle" is more associated with electronics or furniture. While you could theoretically use "dismember" and "dismantle" interchangeably as synonyms, you would want to use "dismember" when talking about humans/animals and "dismantle" when talking about furniture/inanimate objects.)

Mother - Motherly, affectionate, caring, loving, nurturing.

(Even though a mother is simply a female who gives birth to offspring, we tend to associate feelings of great nurturing and love with the term mother. Unless you had a traumatic past, you don't tend to think of the Evil Queen from Snow White when you hear the word "mother." In fact, "step-mother" has a negative connotation to it due to all the portrayals of evil step-mothers in the media.)

House - A place of living. A hovel, shack, estate, mansion, palace, castle, etc.

 (House has a very detached, clinical feeling to it. It sounds hollow or empty. You associate different kinds of abodes with house but there really is no emotion attached to the word.)

Home - A place of warmth, affection, happy memories, childhood, and comfort.

(Though "house" and "home" have the same definition, the feelings attributed to each word is very different. A house is simply where you live. A home is the place where you start a family, raise children, make memories, etc.).

Father - A detached authority; the man who sired you.

(When you hear the word "father," you think of the man in very clinical, emotionally detached terms. In other words, a "father" is simply a sperm donor.)

Dad - The man you raised you, affection, an association with children.

 (More often than not, you hear the phrase "He may be my father but he's not my dad." That's because the term "dad" is really a word of affection. A dad is someone who has taken an active hand in raising his children. He's a fond parent. He's the one that takes the kids to the park or plays baseball with them. Where the term "father" has a strict, detached, authority-like emotion attached to the word, "dad" has a sort of fondness and association with happy children attached to it.)



For more help or information of the difference between connotation and denotation, here are some helpful links:


http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/definitions/connotation-vs-denotation-41
http://classweb.gmu.edu/bhawk/101/semiotics/decon.html
http://www.eng.fju.edu.tw/English_Literature/terms/denotation.htm