In the passage, the word "Titan" serves as both the denotation of Saturn's largest moon and a powerful connotation that evokes grandeur and significance. Denotatively, "Titan" refers to the celestial body orbiting Saturn, rich in the essential elements for life. Connotatively, the name suggests a strong, formidable presence, reminiscent of the Titans of Greek mythology, who were known for their power and primordial essence. This association is appropriate because Titan, with its diverse chemical ingredients and environments potentially conducive to life, embodies the idea of a massive, dynamic world that could play a crucial role in our understanding of life's origins, much like the Titans' role in shaping the world in mythology.
"Saturn: Some Essential Ingredients for Life" by Sarah Kaplan If you were going to cook up life on another world, Titan is the place to do it. Saturn’s largest moon is rich with carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen - elements required by all living organisms on Earth. It has two types of wet ingredients - an ocean of water underground and lakes of liquid methane on the surface. And it’s flush with energy - just one of those methane lakes could power every U.S. home for 300 years. Researchers have now detected two more potentially important ingredients for making aliens: a compound that can form a membrane like the kind that envelops cells, and long chains of carbon atoms that may be “universal drivers” for the chemistry that precedes life. It’s as though scientists have walked into a cosmic kitchen and found the oven has been preheated to 350 degrees and the flour and eggs are mixed together, said Sarah Hörst, a professor of planetary science at Johns Hopkins University. “But you weren't there when they got mixed, so you don’t know what they got mixed up to do. You don’t know what will happen when you bake it,” she said. The Washington Post © 2017 The Washington Post. All rights reserved. Used under license. Question Use the passage to answer the question. Analyze the use of the word Titan in the passage. In 3–5 sentences, explain its denotation and connotation and tell why the name is appropriate for Saturn’s moon.
1 answer