how can It can be challenging to determine the connotative meanings of words and phrases in a literary text

There are a few reasons why it can be challenging to determine the connotative meanings of words and phrases in a literary text.

First, connotations are often subjective and can vary depending on an individual's personal experiences, cultural background, and values. What one person may interpret as a positive connotation, another may perceive as negative.

Second, authors often use figurative language and symbolism in their writing, which can add layers of meaning to the text. This can make it difficult to determine the intended connotations of certain words or phrases.

Lastly, connotations can also change over time, so what may have had a certain connotation when a text was written may have a different connotation today. This adds another layer of complexity to determining connotative meanings in literary texts.

Overall, the best way to determine the connotative meanings of words and phrases in a literary text is to consider the context in which they are used, analyze the author's writing style and themes, and consider how different interpretations may affect the overall meaning of the text.