Multimedia approaches to teaching literature : a study of the use of hypermedia in the teaching of English as a non-native literature in a number of Indian universities

This thesis examines different facets of teaching non-native English literature to Indian students through the application of hypermedia. The main research question of the present thesis was 'Can hypermedia perform the dual purpose of ascertaining context and provide an approach for teaching English Literature to (Indian) students in India?'. The thesis approaches the question by beginning to answer why and how to teach English through hypermedia. Through a critique of the present text-based and machine-based approaches it suggests a standardised format and through interviews and reflective thinking it provides a structure of the content of hypermedia programmes.English is considered important by Indian society but the means available for its teaching are inadequate. To provide the context for the main study it was necessary to examine the relevance and use of English in India. This question is followed by examining the possibility of teaching through hypermedia. The thesis has presented a survey of the technologies available in the Indian universities and of the promises national technological development makes for the future. The nation recognises the importance of educational technology and gives it a priority position.The rapid advancement in multimedia technology needs feedback from two areas for its adoption in teaching. Multimedia technologists need to know from the media specialists the role and ratio each medium can play and the sequence media be placed in (if any) in multimedia programmes. Pedagogues need to pronounce their requirements. This thesis in spite of its limited scope and resources has tried to answer these questions. In teaching non-native English literature we need information on the social, cultural, historical, mythical and other related textual, pictorial and audio information in adaptable forms to make the reading of literature experiential