Petey

Word Connotations and Vivid Vocabulary

Connotation is an idea or feeling that a word invokes in a person in addition to its
literal or primary meaning.
For example, nosey and curious are words that have similar meanings. Curious has
a more positive connotation while nosey has a negative connotation.
1. Without looking in the book, describe the setting at the Infants Ward at Warm
Springs Insane Asylum.
2. Now look at p. 14. What words/phrases does the author use to describe setting at
the Infants Ward?
3. Do these words have negative or positive connotations?
4. WIthout looking in your book, describe the children in the Infants Ward.
5. Now look at p. 15. What words/phrases does the author use to describe the
children in the Infants Ward.
6. Do these words have negative or positive connotations?
7. What words could you add to your description to make it more vivid?
Name:________________________________________________________Date:__________________