Question

In his opening paragraph, Roosevelt says the American people need "to convert retreat to an advance." What is the denotation and connotation of the word "retreat" in this sentence? A denotation is a word's literal or defined meaning. A connotation is an understood meaning for the word that is different from its definition. What does Roosevelt mean by this statement?

Answer 1

The denotation of "retreat" in this sentence is a withdrawal or backward movement. The connotation, in the context of Roosevelt's statement, is a metaphorical sense of giving up or losing ground. Roosevelt means that instead of retreating or giving up, the American people should turn their setbacks into opportunities for progress and advancement.