14/10/2018

Poetry Class - Setyo Wati, M.Pd.

Our understanding of language, whether as readers or listeners,

relies almost on two factors: our knowledge of the meaning of
Introduction individual words and our recognition of context.

At first, we concern with the meaning of individual words, but soon

we become aware that meaning is largely determined by context
and by the interrelationship of words in a sentence.

Each word in a language is distinguished from every other word by

its unique combination of denotation and connotations.

Poetry is the form of writing that welcomes the eccentricities of

word.

Therefore, no word in great poetry can be moved or replaced

without changing and perhaps harming the whole. An understanding
of the meaning of individual words, therefore, is the first step in
understanding poetry.

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They think about the denotation of a word – its dictionary meaning and the
connotation – the implied meanings and associations when choosing words.

Denotation Conotation

Meaning
of Words

The important thing when understanding writing work itself is both

writer and reader have same meaning of the words.
Denotation
As stated by Pickering and Hoeper, a word is only an accurate
tool of communication if it conveys the same idea to both the
writer/ speaker and the listener; yet the meanings of words
continually change and, despite the existence of dictionaries, can
only be said to mean what people think they mean.

The various meanings of the words above are all denotations – that
is, they are listed as definitions in nearly any good dictionary. We
know that nearly every word has many definitions and that its
denotation in particular instance will depend largely on the context.
Therefore, the first step to do in understanding a poem is to
understand thoroughly each word in it. Often, the best clues to the
meaning of an unfamiliar word are to be found within the poem
itself. (Pickering and Hoeper,1980)

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It’s important to recognze taht most words can also adopt extra
beyondtheir denotation in certain situations.
Conotation Connatation always imply attitudes and are either positive or
negative.

The connotations of words help us determine how authors feel

about what they’re describing.

Connotation, on the other hand, is determined by the ideas

associated with or suggested by the word.

Denotation is the meaning a word gives to a sentence; connotation

is the verbal coloring a word takes on from those sentences in
which it is commonly used.

Denotative meaning is closely related to the history, association and

the environment where the word is used.

Therefore, a word’s connotation, like its denotation, may change

over time.

Good writers choose their words for the effects they have upon their readers. Word

Tone choice is also a clue to the writer’s attitude toward his/her subject – tone.

The tone of a poem is the attitude that we feel in it. It is the writer's
attitude and feeling toward the subject. Neglecting the existence of
tone in poetry can mislead our understanding of the poem.
Sometimes tone is fairly obvious but sometimes it is not. A poet can
put forward his/her underlying sentiments through the rhythm,
images and word choices. (Bergman and Epstein, 1987)

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Denotations and conotation will create tones of the texts. Tone is short for tone of voice and
reveals both the writer’s intents and attitudes towards the subject, audience, and him or herself.
Hence, to interpret tones accurately, we need to understand the words in their relation to
everything else in text.

A poem with
didactic tone

A poem with
A poem with
subtle/neutral
comic tone
tone

Tone

Language Types

figurative
language

literal
language

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Figurative and Literal Language

Literally: words function exactly as defined
 The car is blue.
 He caught the football.

Figuratively: figure out what it means

 I’ve got your back.

 You’re a doll.
 Figures of Speech

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Figurative vs. Literal

To understand
figurative language

one has to understand the difference

between Figurative and literal

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For example of literal meaning:

If I tell you to sit down!

I mean it literally: “sit down,” as in: “sit

in your seat now, please.”

My meaning is exactly
what I say.

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For example of literal meaning:

I’m tired and going home.

This means “I’m tired and I’m going

home” there is no other meaning
other than what is said.

I mean exactly what I say.

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For example of literal Figurative :

To be figurative is to not mean what you say but
imply something else.

For example:
If, I tell you: “let’s go chill...!”

I’m not suggesting we get into the

freezer.

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A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns

O my Luve’s like a Red, Red Rose

That’s newly sprung in June:
O my Luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly play’d in tune!

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry:

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only Luve,

And fare thee weel a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

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Check YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. Analyse the poetry above by using denotation and connotation context.

2. Denotations and conotation will create tones of the texts. Is the

statement true? If the statement is true, just explain it by analysing the
poetry of Red, Red Rose.

*just use your own words, if the lecturer detects your plagiarism
from your friends or internet, your work will be failed.

Send your analysis in Doc file to : setyowati.unper@gmail.com

Deadline : Oct 19th, 2018