Answer: The connotative meaning of the phrase “in type on the page” as it is used in the excerpt is that even though the writer cuts extraneous details, the meaning of the ideas still remains. It suggests that the writer has carefully selected which details to include in the final piece of writing, and that the reader will still be able to understand the essence of the piece without needing all of the extraneous information.
Explanation: The phrase "in type on the page" is commonly used to describe the written words that appear on a page or screen. In the context of the excerpt from "On the Art of Fiction," the phrase is used to emphasize that even though the writer has eliminated certain details and conventions of form, the essence of the writing remains clear to the reader.
The writer suggests that the higher artistic process involves carefully selecting which details to include and which to exclude. By doing so, the writer is able to preserve the spirit of the whole, while still allowing the reader to understand the meaning of the work. The phrase "in type on the page" suggests that the writer has chosen the most important and meaningful words to include in the final piece, so that the reader can grasp the essence of the writing.
In essence, the connotative meaning of this phrase is that the writer has skillfully crafted the work to convey the intended meaning to the reader, even though certain details and conventions of form have been excluded. The phrase "in type on the page" emphasizes the importance of the written words in conveying the meaning of the work, and suggests that the writer has carefully chosen which words to include in order to achieve this goal.