Connotation in literature is defined as:

• A. The emotional definition of a word, how the word makes you feel
• B. The dictionary definition of a word
• C. The setting and imagery in a text
• D. The tone an author uses

Answer: (A)

Connotation is about the emotional meaning and the feelings or associations a word carries beyond its literal dictionary definition. It’s how a word sounds in your mind and the mood it creates, not just what it literally means. The best choice captures this idea by describing the emotional definition and the feelings the word evokes. For example, home suggests warmth and safety, while house is a neutral, factual term. The dictionary definition describes denotation, so it doesn’t capture those emotional nuances. Setting and imagery refer to the scene overall, not the weight of a single word. Tone concerns the author’s attitude, not the word’s emotional load.