Language Development in Fiction

#2 Mood and Word Connotations

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Connotations

In artistic analysis, the Denotation of a word refers to its dictionary definition, and the Connotation of a word refers to its emotional or associated meanings. In writing, though the denotations explain what we see, the connotations allow us to understand how we are supposed to see it.

For example, a character may be described as "slender" or "skinny" and look the same denotatively. "Slender," though, has more positive connotations than "skinny." The emotional message conveyed by "skinny" carries an undernourished aspect that implies a particular way of looking at the character.

Choosing words with similar connotations, a writer is able to develop a pattern that reinforces a particular emotional perspective. For example, if a writer wished to reinforce this "malnourished" view of a character, words like "gaunt," "skinny," "frail" would be chosen over "slender," "thin," or "sleek." Because these particular descriptive words relate to a conscious pattern decided on by the writer, they are called Significant Details. Through these words, the writer can imply a way of looking at the characters, the actions, the mood of the story.