Shylock Sentence Examples

Ethnocentrism is a major factor in the divisions among members of different ethnicities, races, and religious groups. It’s the belief that one’s ethnic group is superior to another. Ethnocentric individuals believe they’re better than other individuals for reasons based solely on their heritage. Clearly, this practice relates to problems of both racism and prejudice.

This comes in stark contrast to xenocentrism - the belief that someone else's culture is superior to their own. For example, you might meet an American who insists French culture is better than the American way of living.

In truth, both ideals are a bit skewed. However, you’ll see in these examples of ethnocentrism that the practice is not only absurd, but potentially fatal.

Connotation refers to an implied meaning that’s associated with a word in addition to its literal meaning. This association can be cultural or emotional. For example, the word “stingy” promotes a negative image. Meanwhile, “thrifty” might connote something far more positive, meaning the person simply likes to be smart with their money.

Connotation can set up other rhetorical devices too, including symbolism and personification. The recurring symbol of doves in a story will connote a sense of peace. In fact, some would argue that the terms sometimes cross boundaries and serve a dual purpose.

For a quick review of the positive and negative effects of certain words, this list of connotation examples will bring you up to speed. Now, let’s explore several examples of connotation in literature.