What is the connotative meaning of the word them as used in this excerpt from “The Lottery”?
Old Man Warner snorted. “Pack of crazy fools,” he said. “Listening to the young folks, nothing’s good enough for them."
A. those brave people
B. those young people
C. those arrogant people
To determine the connotative meaning of the word "them" as used in the excerpt, we need to consider the context and the feelings or associations that the word evokes.
In this specific excerpt from "The Lottery," Old Man Warner expresses his disdain for the younger generation by saying, "nothing’s good enough for them." By using the word "them" in this context, it implies that Old Man Warner has negative feelings towards this group of people and considers them unreasonable or unsatisfied.
Therefore, the connotative meaning of "them" in this context is likely closer to option B: "those young people." This aligns with the idea that the word is used to refer to a specific group of individuals who Old Man Warner perceives as being discontent or foolish.
To arrive at this conclusion, it's important to analyze the surrounding text and consider the emotions expressed by the character. By doing so, we can understand the intended meaning and connotation of the word "them" in this excerpt.