Final answer:
Cultural and background knowledge assist in interpreting connotative meanings of words in literature, which are subjective and influenced by individual experiences and cultural context.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cultural and background knowledge are essential in aiding a reader's comprehension of words that have connotative meanings. Unlike denotative meanings, which are the literal, dictionary definitions of words, connotative meanings include the emotions, associations, or secondary ideas that words carry for individuals based on their experiences and cultural understanding.
For instance, the word ‘home’ has a denotative meaning referring to a place where someone lives, but connotatively, it may evoke a sense of warmth, security, or belonging that varies from person to person. A reader's familiarity with the cultural and contextual background associated with a text can greatly influence their interpretation of such connotative meanings, which in turn can enrich their overall understanding of the literature.