Definitions are subject to individual interpretation.
a. denotative
b. connotative !

(B) Connotative

A word is used in the denotative sense, or literal, when it presents its original meaning, regardless of the phasic context in which it appears.

Example: My heart works well.

A word is used in the connotative sense, or figured when it presents different meanings, subject to different interpretations that go beyond the original sense of the word, depending on the phasic context in which it appears.

Example: You have a heart of ice!

Throughout The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer demonstrates a remarkable insight into people's foibles, weaknesses, and contradictions, but we notice that certain characters are more rounded and complex than others. Certain characters are presented as real people and others more as caricatures because he wants to satirizises them.

Explanation:

The author takes more time explaining the characters that are more complex and can have reasonable motives to act the way they do and take less time to describe the attitudes of the characters he perceives as empty or shallow. He mocks this last group of people, he makes fun of them because he feels they are empty and basic, that is why he presents them as caricatures. He uses these tales and descriptions of its characters to draw an ironic and critical portrait of English society at the time, and particularly of the Church.