Final answer:
Denotation refers to the literal meaning of a word, while connotation refers to the emotions and associations connected to a word.
Step-by-step explanation:
When reading a text, it's important to understand the meanings of certain words. Two pairs of words that are commonly discussed in literature are denotation and connotation, and metaphor and simile.
- Denotation and connotation: Denotation refers to the literal or dictionary definition of a word, while connotation refers to the emotions and associations connected to a word. For example, the denotation of the word 'home' is a place where one lives, but the connotation can mean security, warmth, and belonging.
- Metaphor and simile: A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unrelated things, while a simile uses 'like' or 'as' to make a comparison. For example, 'Her smile is a ray of sunshine' is a metaphor, while 'Her smile is like a ray of sunshine' is a simile.