Hypertext

Hypertext

"Hypertexts are networks of textual fragments, called "lexia" or "textrons", connected by links. Readers move through the text by clicking on buttons ,and, since most fragments contain many buttons, readers have a choice of many different itineraries." Laure Ryan, Marie

"Since every reading follows a different path, hypertext is capable of endless self-regenation." Laure Ryan, Marie

"Hypertext has been conceived as a matrix that that expands into a multitude of texts, as readers unravel new strings of signs from its finite database if discrete lexia." Laure Ryan, Marie

Laure Ryan, Marie, Narrative across Media: The Languages of Storytelling

Hypertext has therefore become a unique way of producing narrative and storytelling.

The 21 Steps by Charles Cummings is an example of a hypertext whereby the audience clicks on links to progress through the story.

For example the reader would read a passage and then click next to progress to the next passage.

Hypertexts in narratives often allow the audience a wide range of choice, for example a user will be able to choose which direction they progress through the narrative.

The Former General by Mohsin Hamid is another example of a hypertext and offers more choice to the audience than in The 21 Steps, simply because The 21 Steps is designed to be read in an ordered structure as opposed to The Former General where the audience chooses which way they would like the story to progress.

The audience is offered numerous choices of the pathway direction and these will determine the outcome. However, some links are taken back to previous parts of the story therefore the audience is capable of an endless self-regeneration.