Connotation and Denotation in The Great Gatsby

What does the term 'juxtaposition' refer to?

The term 'enchanted' carries a negative connotation.

What societal idea does Daisy's quote about being a 'fool' reflect?

In literature, the ____ of a word refers to the emotions and associations that it evokes.

Match the following terms with their meanings:

What does denotation refer to?

Connotation can only be positive in context.

Provide an example of a word with a negative connotation from The Great Gatsby.

The word 'eyesore' has a ________ connotation based on Nick's description of his house.

Which term describes the idea or feeling that a word invokes?

Match the character with their associated connotation in The Great Gatsby:

The word 'benediction' has only a neutral connotation in The Great Gatsby.

What does the juxtaposition of 'enchanted' and 'repelled' reveal about Nick's emotions?

Connotation and Denotation in The Great Gatsby

Denotation: The literal meaning of a word, found in a dictionary.
Connotation: The cultural, historical, and societal meaning of a word; an idea or feeling a word evokes. Can be positive, negative, or neutral.
Connotation is crucial in The Great Gatsby to illustrate the time period, character development and the author's intent to invoke reader emotion.

Examples from The Great Gatsby

Nick's house: "My own house was an eyesore, but it was a small eyesore." Negative connotation (ugly house).
Tom's view of Gatsby: "...I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him." Negative connotation (Gatsby is viewed as a criminal).
"Benediction": The literal meaning (denotation) is closing a religious ceremony. Different connotations exist throughout the novel:
- Mr. Wolfsheim’s use: Negative connotation, dismissing Gatsby.
- The narrator’s use: Positive connotation, the sun's peaceful setting.
Nick's internal conflict: "I was within and without simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life." The juxtaposition of "enchanted" (positive) and "repelled" (negative) shows Nick's complex feelings.
Daisy's view of a "fool": "I hope she'll be a fool--that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." The denotation is someone lacking intelligence. Connotation = societal expectation within the time period that women's intelligence was not valued.
Words like "enchanted" and "repelled" produce juxtaposition of emotion, while positive words like "nice" produce positive feelings in the reader.

Importance of Connotation

Authors use connotation to convey specific messages and evoke strong reader reactions.
This is essential for engaging the reader in fictional literature by using the right words.

Explore the significance of connotation and denotation in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. This quiz examines how these concepts enhance the understanding of character development and the overall themes within the novel. Dive into examples that illustrate the emotional impact of word choice in this classic literary work.