An interesting part of Larsen’s hypertext is her decision to add a definite ending to her piece. When the reader clicks the symbol to continue to the next page enough, they are brought to a page where the words, “For what he has to say, is not for me” appear. The only interactive parts of this page are the options to either “retreat” back into the interactive part of the poem, or simply “leave” the program. This ending is the final addition to the dark mood of the piece, because no matter what the reader does with the lines of the poem, it will always end up bringing them to this page with this message.
This is an interesting choice made by Larsen compared to other hypertexts. Stuart Moulthrops Hegirascope brings the reader in, engages them with choices, and then never lets them out. In Stephanie Strickland’s “Vniverse“, the same happens, the reader is engaged, there are options available to them, but there is no true exit from the program. It is that fact that many hypertexts have no definite ending that makes the reader take extra care to notice Firefly’s ending. The poem ends like it begins, with the reader being given a choice to enter or leave the interactive poem, but the ending lets the reader know that just like the impossible interaction between the speaker and the firefly in the poem, some things are just not meant to be.
| Introduction | Language | Choices | Ending | Conclusion |