What is Denotation and Connotation?

Denotation is what the audience can visually see. For example, on a magazine page, what is shown for the audience to see if denotation. It is also known as the first level of analysis. The Denotation of something is usually literal. It also involves a hidden meaning which refers to the audience the magazine of media texts are created for.

Connotation is the second level of analysis. It is the emotional or figurative language associated with a word or an object.

For example..

The denotation of this dove is white. Which is just what I can see. And the connotation of the dove is that it means love and peace and it is a symbol for christians.