How to Read and Use Hypothesis Annotations
This anthology includes in-progress scholarly annotations created by student editors using Hypothesis, an open-source digital annotation platform. Some poems already include extensive annotation layers, while others will gain notes in future semesters as the project continues to grow.
Overview
This anthology uses Hypothesis to provide contextual notes, interpretive insights, definitions, and digital editorial commentary directly alongside the poems. Hypothesis allows readers to engage with the poems in a dynamic, layered way. This page explains how to view, navigate, and interpret the annotations that appear throughout the anthology.
Because this is a living OER project, not every poem has annotations yet. New scholarly notes are added each semester as students contribute editorial work to the anthology.
Where Annotations Come From
Annotations are created by students enrolled in ENGL 4392/5392: Victorian Poetry & Poetics at West Texas A&M University. Each note displays its author within the Hypothesis sidebar.
Poems without highlights simply do not yet have annotations, an expected part of the project’s ongoing development.
How to Open the Annotation Sidebar
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Locate the Hypothesis sidebar toggle on the right-hand side of the screen. It usually appears as a small speech-bubble icon or a grey vertical tab labeled “<”.
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Click the icon to open the Hypothesis annotation pane.
If you do not see the icon, your browser window may be too narrow. Try expanding the window or zooming out briefly.
How to Select the Correct Annotation Group
Hypothesis allows multiple reading groups. To see the annotations for this anthology:
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Open the Hypothesis sidebar.
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At the top of the sidebar, click the group selector (it may say “Public” or show a dropdown arrow).
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Choose: Public
Once this group is active, all student-created annotations for the page you’re reading will appear. If the wrong group is selected, annotations will not appear, even on pages that have them.
How to Recognize Annotations
- Text with annotations will appear highlighted within the poem.
- Click highlighted words or lines to reveal their notes in the sidebar.
- Scroll in the sidebar to read multiple annotations.
How to Toggle Highlights On and Off
Some readers prefer a clean reading environment. To hide or reveal highlights:
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Open the Hypothesis sidebar.
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Click the small eye icon to toggle highlights.
This method will allow reading without visual interruption.
What You Might See in Annotations
Student editors contribute a range of scholarly material, including:
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Glosses and word definitions
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Historical or cultural context
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Interpretive commentary
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Notes on meter, form, and sound
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Biblical, classical, or literary allusions
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Imperial, gendered, or political framings
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Links to images, maps, audio, or secondary sources
Annotations appear in the sidebar with the author’s name, timestamp, and any tags the editor used.
Tips for Reading Effectively
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Read the poem once without annotations to get your own sense of voice and feeling.
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Turn highlights on and explore key annotations on your second reading.
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Use tags within the sidebar (when present) to jump to categories such as meter, imperial context, or biblical reference.
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If you prefer a clean reading environment, toggle highlights off and open notes only when you want them.
Video Tutorial
Once student annotations for Fall 2025 are published, a short video walkthrough will be added here demonstrating:
- Opening the Hypothesis pane
- Selecting the correct group
- Navigating annotations
- Using tags
- Toggling highlights
- Reading annotations alongside the poem
(coming soon)
This anthology Will Continue to Grow
Victorian Poetry & Poetics is designed as a cumulative, semester-by-semester digital humanities project. Over time, more poems will gain:
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Editorial introductions
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Student-created annotations
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Additional media and resources
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Revised editorial apparatus as scholarship evolves
Your understanding of this staged development is appreciated.
