Locate keywords that signal the literary elements of the short story.

Keywords and Annotation: Close Reading of a Short Story

One way a reader stays connected to the main idea of the story is through keywords. Authors will purposefully use and repeat keywords throughout their writing to emphasize an important idea or concept. Repetition of a keyword may also occur through use of synonyms, such as using “sightless” or “loss of vision” as synonymous with “blind.”

Annotating keywords can help us understand the literary elements of a short story, such as plot, character, setting, diction, or theme. You were introduced to these literary terms in Week 1.

For this homework assignment, you will reread and annotate the story you chose for Week 2,

Discussion 1. You will locate keywords that signal the literary elements of the short story. You should read closely and carefully, noting words or synonyms that repeatedly draw your attention to the literary elements of theme, plot, character, and setting.