HYPERTEXTUAL INNOVATION IN EVGENIOS TRIVIZAS’ THE 88 DOLMADAKIA

Abstract

Hypertextuality involves creating texts that are interconnected through
digital hyperlinks, providing a network of related pieces of content that can be
explored in a non-linear way. Evgenios Trivizas' The 88 Dolmadakia (1997) serves as
a pivotal case study in this exploration, encapsulating the transformative potential of
hypertextuality within children's literature. This modern Greek literary work
distinguishes itself through a nuanced blend of text and illustration, offering a nonlinear
narrative structure that hinges on reader participation and metafictional
techniques. Central to The 88 Dolmadakia is its dynamic narrative pathway, which
relies on reader choices to dictate the course of events. Each reading yields a
distinctive narrative outcome, underscoring the mutable nature of the narrative.
Trivizas’ employment of hypertextual strategies in this work not only amplifies the
immersive quotient of the reading experience but also posits a profound commentary
on the fluid boundaries of narrative construction. In synthesizing these elements, The
88 Dolmadakia emerges as an exemplar of the transformative potential of
hypertextuality in children's literature, suggesting an avenue for further scholarly
exploration into the adaptive and participatory dimensions of contemporary
storytelling.