a final project in hypertext jonathan wolan. macbeth many students find william shakespeare’s...

A FINAL PROJECT IN HYPERTEXTJONATHAN 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:

Metaphor Antagonist Protagonist

Simile Epithet Tragedy

Allusion Hero Couplet

Stanza Hypertext Sonnet

Verse Foil Aside

Symbol Audience Villanelle

Terza rima Speaker Scansion

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 fearThings that do sound so fair? I' the name of truth,Are ye fantastical, or that indeedWhich outwardly ye show? My noble partnerYou greet with present grace and greatOf 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 fearYour 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.