floatingText

Abstract

Use of the floatingText element for nested narratives or distinct texts within a larger work.

structure
floatingText

Encoding Instructions (new P5 version)

floatingText should be used to capture embedded textual material that is structurally distinct from the material both preceding and following it, where that embedded structure is whole in and of itself. The floatingText element is also used in the case of nested narratives, texts that operate like The Arabian Nights, such as Jane Barker’s Patch-work Screen for the Ladies in the WWP textbase.

If floatingText is wrapped around a letter, for instance, that letter contains elements that can only exist within a letter, such as salute or closer. floatingText can occur in front, body or back; it can contain div elements or exist within them. Think of a div type="chapter" that contains a whole poem, or a play complete with castList that occurs between sections of poetry encoded with div. A poem, contained in the wrapper lg, is never considered a text or a floatingText. Since lg can include all the necessary information for the poem in question, and the element head can occur within lg, the wrapper lg is sufficient. See entries 148 and 073 for more information on line groups.

Examples

Example 1:

<p>And here the young gentleman who related the story read to us
    the following letter:</p>
    <floatingText type= "letter">
      <body>
        <salute>Dear Madam:</salute>
          <p>I refuse to be held responsible.</p>
        <closer>Regards,</closer>
        <signed><persName>General Fringenbotham</persName></signed>
      </body>
    </floatingText>
  <p>We looked askance at the young man.</p>

Example 2:

<div type="chapter">
  <head>Chapter 1</head>
  <p>I went to my friend Maria’s house, and she presented me with a play: </p> 
    <floatingText type="play">
      <front>
        <titlePage> [. . .] </titlePage>
        <castList> [. . .] </castList>
      </front>  
      <body>
        <div type="act">
          <head>Act I</head>
            <sp xml:id="r.yry">
              <speaker><persName>Yeary</persName></speaker>
              <p>I proceeded along the waterfront.</p>
        [. . . ]
        </div>      
        [. . . ]
      </body>
    </floatingText> 
    <p>I left immediately.</p>
</div>