The Meaning Of Words

1. The Meaning Of Words Connotation, Denotation, Tone

2. ”Reading Ivan Is Hard.” • Be a detective. Know you have a paper coming. Read for setting details, a conflict (plot), how the motif/ cold is referenced, characterization (undoubtedly Shukhov is pretty chill – that makes him relatable). • Go BIG. Figure out tone and mood and imagery and use those for your paper. Impress Frick big time. • Figure out your central idea. Is it finding hope in dark crappy places? Is it to know how to suffer with dignity? Is it never be a bowl-licker. Give me the sauce. Give me your cup. Find the Elixir. • Think of it as metafiction. A day in the life of … me! SHS is a Russian Gulag on SO many levels. Like, look at the main hallway – who is the Jackal? The Tartar? The cold... “You just KNOW we won’t get any good snow days this year either. Don’t get me started on the social miliue of The Commons.” • Be the person who says, “Yes, I have read the Russian novelists... My personal favorite is Solzhenitsyn.”

3. Denotation versus Connotation • Denotation (main ideas): • Literal • Definition • Mean what you say • Ex. The wheel was greasy • Do an analogy– denotation: Bird is to Fly, Fish is to _________. • Connotation (main ideas): • Deeper meaning • Based on implication • Based on shared feeling around the word • Ex: That guy looks greasy • Do a simile: “He looks like _________________.”

4. Tone • Tone (main ideas): • Attitude of author • Tone is affected by author’s: • Diction (word choice) • Denotations and Connotations of words • Details • Example: • She isn’t that tall. • She ain’t that tall.

5. Tone Words: Say them to a friend with emotion! • peaceful • pessimistic • realistic • sarcastic • sentimental • serious • somber • sympathetic • questioning • angry • anxious • apathetic • bitter • cheery • childish • cynical • cold • confused • ironic • joyful • light • loving • matter-of-fact • optimistic • outraged • passionate • critical • dark • disgusted • dreamy • enthusiastic • factual • foreboding • hopeful • humorous

6. Free Write: Use these words correctly • peaceful • pessimistic • realistic • sarcastic • sentimental • serious • somber • sympathetic • questioning • angry • anxious • apathetic • bitter • cheery • childish • cynical • cold • confused • ironic • joyful • light • loving • matter-of-fact • optimistic • outraged • passionate • critical • dark • disgusted • dreamy • enthusiastic • factual • foreboding • hopeful • humorous

7. Activity: Meaning? • What is the denotation of the following? • The guy drank whiskey quietly. • What is the connotation of the same sentence? • The guy drank whiskey quietly. • What is the tone of this? • How does changing his drink change the tone? • The guy drank milk quietly.

8. Activity: Meaning Changes • The bolded words in each sentence denote the same meaning, however they have different connotations. How do the words change the tone of the sentence? • They wandered through the park one dark day. • They wandered through the park one gloomy day. • They wandered through the park one cloudy day. • She tore his favorite shirt. • She shredded his favorite shirt.

9. Triangle • Speaker • Subject • Audience • Context • Purpose • Strategies:

10. “Democracy” by Langston Hughes • Read the poem “Democracy” and do a Triangle for it. • Use what we have gone over regarding denotative /connotative meanings to help you understand the tone and meaning of the poem. • Then, as a group, choose one stanza from the poem • Replace 4-6 words with ones that are similar (synonyms). • Write out your new stanza neatly, underlining the words you changed. • Then, as a group, write about how the words changed the meaning and tone of the stanza.

11. Democracy (Langston Hughes) • Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Norever
Through compromise and fear.

I have as much right 
As the other fellow has
Tostand
On my two feet 
And own the land.

I tire so of hearing people say, 
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.

Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.

I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.

12. In Class – Now… • Write a love poem from Shukhov to his wife. Use words that require connotative analysis. Feel free to use creative presentation or figurative language. (The rain falling like teardrops). The rain falling like tear d r o p s

13. Free-Write • What does the word Romantic mean to you?

14. Love Poem Its amazing how fast being slow can really be As I was walking the stars aligned and made a spectacular light over the one person out of all the women in the entire world. Time started to slow down, and as she looked into my eyes, lightning struck. The present was frozen in time. The clock ticks I feel the drops of freezing rain, streaming down my face I was stunned. She is getting close and close, and I’m getting so close but yet so far. I'm losing time, I’m losing touch, all these little things mean so much. All these things confuse me, that I might lose you. I tell myself, take a moment and remind my self and take a moment to find myself, and take a moment to think about flexibility, love and trust. Now I’ve realized that I’ve failed to be charming and now things I said are suddenly swarming. I feel tortured and there is now no coming together. I’m seeing the light coming closer and I am hit with heat from the fire of fear inside. I fall into a hole and I look around and there’s nothing around but darkness. Everything is stacking around me and I hear a voice and I’m out of this hell and in heaven, and I say “Hi.”

15. To me You’re Like A Tree… To me you’re like a Tree There always seems to be more I want to see Because some days my heart grows fonder & other days I felt like I needed a little longer Some days I see you branch out And other days you stick to the ground And yet I wait I wait for things between us to change I wait for a bigger brighter day And I wonder if you feel the same way And I know when summer turns to fall This will ass seem so small But I secretly hope after all Hope that I have time to stall Because I am just a falling leaf Waiting to see if you notice me leave I hope in your eyes I’m a bird And I know this is all absurd I hope that I’m the bird who sings you a song A song that you listen to all night long I hope that I am a shooting star But one that’s not too far But right now we seem so far apart But I think this only the start But a star always comes back down And darling right now I feel like a clown I feel like it’s a masquerade And I am stuck here in the shade But you don’t notice do you Because the shade is where I long to stay So we may find our way To me you’re like a tree

16. Regrets I’m sorry that I stopped you in the halls because I thought you were cute I’m sorry that I asked for your phone number before you asked for mine I’m sorry that I was really awkward the first time you took me out to lunch I’m sorry that I wouldn’t skip class to stay longer with you I’m sorry that you always had to drive me I’m sorry that I didn’t have my license yet I’m sorry for making you watch Disney movies with me I’m sorry that I would fall asleep halfway through the movie anyway I’m sorry that my dad interviewed you when you first came over I’m sorry that my parents didn’t like you

17. Regrets (cont.) I’m sorry that I didn’t take a picture with you on that awesome hike I’m sorry that we had to hike back down because your friend was sick I’m sorry that my jokes are so bad I’m sorry that you still made yourself laugh at them anyway I’m sorry that I suck at basketball I’m sorry that I would always win by tickling you to get the ball I’m sorry that when you said, “I love you”, I didn’t say it back I’m sorry that I didn’t want to party with you I’m sorry that I would call you a million times to make sure you were doing okay I’m sorry that I didn’t want to get high with you I’m sorry that I made you feel bad for liking it so much

18. Regrets (cont.) I’m sorry that I wouldn’t kiss you when you smelled like cigarettes I’m sorry that I stomped on your box of Marlboros when you didn’t quit I’m sorry that I screamed at you when you went driving after having a drink I’m sorry that I got tired of waiting for you to be off I’m sorry for talking to you less and less I’m sorry for breaking up with you so suddenly I’m sorry for making you feel like I didn’t care I’m sorry for not responding to the voicemails of you crying I’m sorry that I still talk to your friends I’m sorry that I still listen to the music you showed me

19. Regrets (cont.) I’m sorry that I still think about you I’m sorry that I still worry about if you’re doing okay I’m sorry that it’s time for me to let go