A FINAL PROJECT IN HYPERTEXT JONATHAN WOLAN

MACBETH Many students find William Shakespeare’s Macbeth challenging.

MACBETH However, properly utilizing a hypertext can help guide students through particularly difficult sections. It all starts with the definition of hypertext.

WHAT IS HYPERTEXT? Partial definition from the OED: Text which does not form a single sequence and which may be read in various orders… Or… Orders form not text various be read may which a sequence single which and…

LITERARY TERM By definition, hypertext seems to fit nicely with most other common literary terms: MetaphorAntagonistProtagonist SimileEpithetTragedy AllusionHeroCouplet StanzaHypertextSonnet VerseFoilAside SymbolAudienceVillanelle Terza rimaSpeakerScansion

IN THE CLASSROOM Hypertext offers students a unique, yet controlled, method of reading complicated passages of literary classics. Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair? I' the name of truth, Are ye fantastical, or that indeed Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner You greet with present grace and great Of noble having and of royal hope, That he seems rapt withal: to me you speak not. If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow and which will not, Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear Your favours nor your hate.

IN THE CLASSROOM And say which grain will grow and which will not, Can you find an element of alliteration? Parallelism? What does this quotation suggest about Banquo’s character? See here for more explanation.

IN THE CLASSROOM See here for more explanation The presence of parallelism in this passage mirrors many of the words and phrases used by the witches at the onset of Act I. These phrases help contribute to the mystical tone of Act I and the overall mood of the drama. At this point, a student could click on Act I and see first hand where this pattern begins. Without such a thing as hypertext, these patterns would not be as simple to follow.

CONCLUSION Like other technologies explored this semester, hypertext offers a way for students to accelerate or view text in a different way. While hypertext alone can’t cure all reading problems, it can play a large role in making literature come alive for many students. Even if it makes a difference for one student, it’s time well spent.