A Review of Transmedia Narratives of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress

Abstract

Transcending over centuries, by its rich concept, spiritual nature and captivating content John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to that Which Is to Come, published in the year 1678, is a literary masterpiece ever since. This paper attempts to review the major transmedia narratives of Bunyan’s work. The incredible and unmatching popularity of the work justifies the numerous versions and adaptations of the work. Ranging from translations into more than two hundred languages, to musical adaptations, opera, films, television series and video games, the work has been widely discussed, analyzed and retold. This gives a scope of studying the ‘Transmedia’ retelling of the work across various modes. Transmedia storytelling is a method adapting a story or a work through multiple platforms. This mainly involves digital platforms of the present age. Earlier when it was translations and adaptations, it is now ‘Transmedia’. The concept will thus serve as theoretical framework of the paper.