ergodic literature
Nonlinear reading required
Ergodic literature requires significant effort to traverse—the reader must work to navigate or assemble the text.
The term comes from physics, suggesting labor or path-finding.
Examples include hypertext fiction where readers choose links, novels with scrambled chapters meant to be read in various orders, or books requiring physical manipulation: House of Leaves is a classic of ergodic literature.
The concept distinguishes texts demanding active participation from conventional reading's linear eye movement.
- hypertextDocuments connected by links
- nonlinearNot in sequence
- labyrinthIntricate passage network
- forkingDividing into branches
- cybertextText requiring nontrivial effort
interactive · maze · choose-your-own-adventure · Borges · footnotes · branching · reader · puzzle · paths · narrative · nodes · links · combinatorial · aleatory · generative · Hopscotch · fragments · exploration
- narrative techniquesflashback, nonlinear plot, fragmented narrative, flash-forward, point of view
- metafictionfourth wall break, self-reference, breaking the fourth wall, metanarrative, metafiction
ergodic literaturetraditional literature
Enduring written heritage
traditional narrative · page-turner · beach read · easy read · airport novel
ergodic literaturelinear narrative
Story following chronological order
literature, literary, literate, literacy, illiterate, illiteracy, literati, energetic, energize