Night Connotation and Denotation

*Words are not empty. Words have exact meanings, but also feeling and emotion behind them. Take a look at these two definitions:

Denotation: The dictionary definition of a word

Connotation: The emotional association surrounding a word. Remember that we have positive and negative emotional reactions.

*Read this sentence:

You have a house, but I live in a home.

If you were to look up the words house and home in a dictionary, you would find that both words have approximately the same meaning-- "a dwelling place." However, the speaker in the sentence above suggests that home has an additional meaning. Aside from the strict dictionary definition, or denotation, many people associate such things as comfort, love, security, or memory with a home but do not necessarily make the same associations with a house. The various feelings, images, and memories that surround a word make up its connotation. Although both house and home have the same denotation, or dictionary meaning, home also has many positive connotations. Name:______Date:______Period:______Night Connotation and Denotation

Directions: You need two highlighters to complete this assignment. Read the following passage from Night. Any words you think have a positive connotation highlight in one of your highlighter colors. Any words that you think have a negative connotation highlight in the other color. Annotate any emotions you associate with those word choices.

My heart was bursting. The moment had come. I was face to face with the Angel of Death

No. Two steps from the pit we were ordered to turn to the left and made to go into a barracks.

I pressed my father’s hand. He said:

“Do you remember Mrs. Schachter, in the train?”

Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed.

Never shall I forget that smoke.

Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky.

Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever.

Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live.

Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust.

Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself.

Never. (Wiesel, 34) 1) How many words in the following paragraph have a positive connotation?

2) How many words in the following paragraph have a negative connotation? List at least five examples.

It is an author’s job to manipulate our feelings. Sometimes they want us to feel happiness, excitement, joy or suspense. It’s strange to say that our author might want us to feel sad.

3) Author’s purpose: Why does the author choose so many vocabulary words with a negative connotation?

4) What emotions does the author create within you as you read? What is the purpose in forcing readers to feel these emotions? Explain your thoughts thoroughly.