UGC NET ENGLISH UNIT 10 : Textual Criticism

Mastering Textual Criticism for UGC-NET English

A Comprehensive Guide to Research Methods & Materials (Unit 10)

Detailed Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction to Textual Criticism
• 2. Historical Development of Textual Criticism
• 3. Greg-Bowers Theory (Copy-Text Editing)
• 4. Stemmatics and the Lachmann Method
• 5. The Authorial Intent Debate
• 6. Genetic Criticism and Textual Process
• 7. Scholarly Editing Methods
• 8. Understanding Apparatus Criticus
• 9. Key Terminology Explained
• 10. UGC-NET Practice MCQs with Detailed Explanations
• 11. Exam Preparation Strategy & Recommended Readings

Essential Concepts for UGC-NET Examination

• Greg-Bowers Theory: The foundational principles of copy-text editing and the distinction between substantives and accidentals
• Stemmatic Method: Karl Lachmann's approach to reconstructing textual genealogy through variant analysis
• Authorial Intent Debate: The philosophical conflict between intentionalists (Hirsch) and anti-intentionalists (Wimsatt & Beardsley)
• Genetic Criticism: The study of textual evolution through drafts, revisions, and authorial notebooks
• Critical Apparatus: The scholarly framework for documenting textual variants in edited works
• Editorial Methods: Differences between diplomatic, critical, facsimile, and variorum editions

1. Introduction to Textual Criticism

Textual criticism is the scholarly discipline that seeks to establish the most authentic version of a text by examining and comparing its various surviving forms. For UGC-NET aspirants, understanding textual criticism is crucial as it forms the foundation of literary research methods.

Why Textual Criticism Matters in Literary Studies

Before interpreting a text, we must first establish what exactly we're interpreting. Consider Shakespeare's works: there are multiple early editions with significant variations. Without textual criticism, we might analyze passages that Shakespeare never wrote or misinterpret his original intent.

Case Study: Shakespeare's King Lear

The 1608 Quarto (Q1) and 1623 Folio (F1) versions of King Lear differ substantially:

• Q1: Contains ~300 lines not in F1
• F1: Contains ~100 lines not in Q1
• Ending: Q1 has a more abrupt conclusion
• Characterization: Albany's role differs significantly

Modern editors must decide whether to create a conflated text (combining both) or treat them as distinct versions.

The Textual Criticism Process: A Step-by-Step Overview

1. Recension: Collect and compare all available textual witnesses (manuscripts, editions)
2. Collation: Note every variant reading among the witnesses
3. Stemmatic Analysis: Determine relationships between witnesses (which copied from which)
4. Archetype Reconstruction: Deduce the earliest recoverable version
5. Emendation: Correct obvious errors where evidence suggests
6. Apparatus Construction: Document all editorial decisions

"The business of textual criticism is to produce a text as close as possible to the original." - A.E. Housman

2. Historical Development of Textual Criticism

Understanding the evolution of textual criticism helps contextualize modern methods and their philosophical underpinnings.

Ancient World (3rd Century BCE - 5th Century CE): Alexandrian scholars like Aristophanes of Byzantium and Aristarchus of Samothrace developed early textual criticism methods for Homer's epics, establishing principles of comparing manuscripts and marking doubtful passages.

Medieval Period (5th-15th Century): Monastic scribes preserved classical and biblical texts, often introducing variants. The Vulgate Bible became a key case study in textual transmission, with scholars like St. Jerome engaging in textual analysis.

Renaissance (15th-17th Century): Humanist scholars like Lorenzo Valla applied critical methods to classical texts. Valla's 1440 exposure of the "Donation of Constantine" as a forgery demonstrated textual criticism's power.

18th Century: The rise of philology saw more systematic approaches. Richard Bentley's 1711 edition of Horace combined deep learning with bold conjectures, setting new standards.

19th Century: Karl Lachmann (1793-1851) developed the stemmatic method, revolutionizing textual criticism with its scientific approach to manuscript relationships.

20th Century: W.W. Greg and Fredson Bowers established the copy-text theory, while New Bibliography applied scientific methods to early printed books.

21st Century: Digital humanities transform textual criticism with computational analysis and electronic editions that can represent textual fluidity.

Key Schools of Textual Criticism

School	Period	Key Figures	Characteristics
Lachmannian	19th Century	Karl Lachmann	Stemmatic reconstruction, scientific approach
New Bibliography	Early 20th	W.W. Greg, R.B. McKerrow	Focus on early printed books, analytical bibliography
Greg-Bowers	Mid 20th	W.W. Greg, Fredson Bowers	Copy-text theory, substantives vs. accidentals
New Textualism	Late 20th	Jerome McGann, D.F. McKenzie	Social text, materiality of texts
Genetic Criticism	Late 20th	Louis Hay, Almuth Grésillon	Study of writing processes, avant-texte

UGC-NET Focus: The historical progression from Lachmann to Greg-Bowers to New Textualism is frequently tested. Note how each school responded to limitations of previous approaches.

3. Greg-Bowers Theory (Copy-Text Editing)

The Greg-Bowers approach revolutionized textual editing in the 20th century, particularly for Renaissance and early modern texts. This methodology is essential for UGC-NET aspirants as it forms the basis of modern scholarly editing.

Core Principles of Greg-Bowers Theory

• Copy-Text Concept: Uses one early, reliable edition as the base text (copy-text) for accidentals (spelling, punctuation)
• Substantives vs. Accidentals: Distinguishes between meaningful changes (substantives) and formal features (accidentals)
• Rationale of Copy-Text: Greg's 1950 essay established that copy-text provides authority for accidentals only
• Editorial Judgment: Requires editors to evaluate substantive variants case-by-case
• Documentation: All editorial decisions must be recorded in apparatus criticus

Application Example: Editing Shakespeare's Hamlet

When editing Hamlet, a Greg-Bowers editor would:

1. Select Q2 (1604) as copy-text for accidentals (being closest to Shakespeare's manuscript)
2. Compare Q1 (1603), Q2, and F1 (1623) for substantive variants
3. Adopt F1 readings where they appear authorial (e.g., "solid flesh" vs. Q2's "sallied flesh")
4. Preserve Q2's punctuation and spelling except where clearly erroneous
5. Document all editorial choices in the apparatus

Term	Definition	Editorial Treatment
Substantives	Words that affect meaning (nouns, verbs, adjectives)	Evaluated individually; may adopt non-copy-text readings
Accidentals	Spelling, punctuation, capitalization, formatting	Generally follow copy-text unless clearly wrong
Authorial Revision	Changes believed to originate with the author	Typically incorporated into edited text
Compositorial Error	Mistakes introduced by typesetters	Corrected based on evidence

Exam Strategy: Be prepared to identify examples of substantives vs. accidentals. Remember that in Greg-Bowers theory, the copy-text governs accidentals but not necessarily substantives.

4. Stemmatics and the Lachmann Method

Stemmatics, developed by German philologist Karl Lachmann, provides a systematic approach to reconstructing lost archetypes by analyzing textual variants across manuscripts.

Stemmatic Diagram (Simplified)

Archetype (Ω) → [Hyparchetype α] → Manuscripts A, B, C
Archetype (Ω) → [Hyparchetype β] → Manuscripts D, E, F

Shared errors help establish relationships - if A and B share an error not in C, they likely descend from a common hyparchetype.

The Lachmann Method: Step-by-Step

1. Recension: Collect all extant manuscripts/witnesses
2. Collation: Identify all variant readings
3. Classification: Group manuscripts by shared errors (establish stemma codicum)
4. Selection: Choose the best readings based on stemma position
5. Emendation: Correct remaining errors through conjecture

Case Study: New Testament Textual Criticism

Textual critics classify NT manuscripts into text-types based on stemmatics:

• Alexandrian: Early, scholarly texts (Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus)
• Western: Expansive, paraphrastic texts (Codex Bezae)
• Byzantine: Later, standardized texts (Textus Receptus)

Modern critical editions like the Nestle-Aland prioritize Alexandrian readings as closest to the archetype.

Limitations of Stemmatics

• Assumes linear descent (no contamination between branches)
• Difficult when few manuscripts survive
• Conjectural emendation risks subjectivity
• Less effective for printed books with complex transmission

5. The Authorial Intent Debate

The question of whether authorial intention should guide textual editing has been one of the most contentious issues in textual criticism.

Key Positions in the Intentionality Debate

Position	Proponents	Key Arguments	Editorial Implications
Intentionalism	E.D. Hirsch, G. Thomas Tanselle	Meaning is determined by author's intention; final intentions represent author's "last will"	Edit to reflect author's final verified intentions
Anti-Intentionalism	Wimsatt & Beardsley, Roland Barthes	"Intentional fallacy"; meaning resides in text itself, not author's mind	Edit based on textual evidence, disregard intention
Social Text Theory	Jerome McGann	Texts are social products; all versions have validity	Present multiple versions; emphasize textual history

Practical Example: Wordsworth's The Prelude

Wordsworth extensively revised The Prelude from 1799 to 1850:

• 1799 Version: Two-book poem, more radical politics
• 1805 Version: Thirteen books, completed but unpublished
• 1850 Version: Published posthumously, more conservative

An intentionalist editor would privilege the 1850 version as Wordsworth's final intention, while a social text editor might present all versions as equally valid.

"The meaning of a text is not the author's property, but rather the sum of its possible readings." - Roland Barthes

UGC-NET Focus: Be prepared to contrast Hirsch's intentionalism with Wimsatt & Beardsley's "Intentional Fallacy" essay (1946). Know how these theories influence editorial decisions.

6. Genetic Criticism and Textual Process

Genetic criticism (critique génétique) shifts focus from establishing a final text to studying the writing process through drafts, notebooks, and revisions.

Key Concepts in Genetic Criticism

• Avant-texte: All documents preceding the published text (notes, drafts, proofs)
• Ébauche: Initial sketch or outline of the work
• Brouillon: Rough drafts showing compositional process
• Mise au net: Final clean copy prepared for publication
• Stratigraphy: Analysis of layered revisions in manuscripts

Case Study: Joyce's Ulysses

The James Joyce Archive reveals fascinating insights through genetic criticism:

• Early drafts show Leopold Bloom was originally named "Hunter"
• The famous "stream of consciousness" technique evolved through multiple revisions
• Joyce's handwritten corrections on typescripts show meticulous attention to rhythm and sound
• Printers' marks demonstrate how typographical choices affect meaning

Genetic Critical Method

1. Collect all available pre-publication materials
2. Establish chronological sequence of documents
3. Analyze patterns of revision and development
4. Reconstruct creative process and decision-making
5. Publish facsimiles with analytical commentary

Genetic vs. Traditional Textual Criticism

Aspect	Traditional	Genetic
Focus	Final text	Writing process
Goal	Establish authoritative edition	Understand creative evolution
Materials	Published versions	Drafts, notes, proofs
Editor's Role	Make critical choices	Present process documentation

7. Scholarly Editing Methods

Different editorial approaches serve various research purposes. UGC-NET candidates should understand these major editing methodologies.

Types of Scholarly Editions

Type	Purpose	Characteristics	Example
Diplomatic	Reproduce source exactly	Preserves all original features; minimal intervention	Facsimile of Caxton's Chaucer
Critical	Establish authoritative text	Emends errors; documents variants; Greg-Bowers approach	Arden Shakespeare
Variorum	Compile commentary	Includes textual variants and critical commentary	Variorum Shakespeare
Genetic	Show composition process	Presents drafts and revisions; French tradition	Joyce's Ulysses drafts
Electronic	Dynamic presentation	Allows multiple textual layers; interactive features	Blake Archive

Editorial Decision-Making

When preparing an edition of Emily Dickinson's poems, editors must address:

• Physical Form: Her unconventional punctuation and capitalization
• Variants: Multiple versions of many poems
• Chronology: Undated manuscripts require dating evidence
• Presentation: Whether to normalize or preserve visual features

Thomas H. Johnson's 1955 edition made different choices than R.W. Franklin's 1998 version, demonstrating how editorial philosophy affects textual presentation.

Exam Note: Be able to distinguish between facsimile, diplomatic, and critical editions. Know which type would be appropriate for different research purposes.

8. Understanding Apparatus Criticus

The apparatus criticus (critical apparatus) is the scholarly framework that documents editorial decisions and textual variants in a critical edition.

Components of a Critical Apparatus

• Lemmata: Reference words from the main text
• Sigla: Symbols identifying witnesses (A=Manuscript A, α=Hyparchetype)
• Variants: Alternative readings with their sources
• Editorial Interventions: Corrections or conjectures
• Annotations: Explanatory notes about textual decisions

Sample Apparatus Entry

3.15 To be or not to be] Q2; To be, or not to be, F1; To be or not to be, Q1

3.16 question] Q2, F1; problem Q1 (conjecture by Johnson)

3.17 outrageous] F1; outragious Q2; outragous Q1

This apparatus shows: 1) punctuation variants between editions, 2) a substantive variant ("question"/"problem"), and 3) spelling variants, with F1's modernized spelling likely being authoritative.

Apparatus Styles

Type	Description	Use Case
Positive	Records all variant readings	Comprehensive scholarly editions
Negative	Only records departures from base text	Student editions with limited variants
Split	Separates substantive and accidental variants	Greg-Bowers style editions
Stemmatic	Organized by manuscript families	Classical and biblical texts

UGC-NET Focus: Be able to interpret simple apparatus entries and understand the difference between positive and negative apparatus formats.

9. Key Terminology Explained

Mastering these terms is essential for UGC-NET success in textual criticism questions.

Essential Textual Criticism Vocabulary

Term	Definition	Example
Archetype	Earliest reconstructable ancestor of all extant witnesses	The hypothetical Ω manuscript in stemmatics
Haplography	Scribal error of omitting repeated text	Writing "literature" instead of "literature"
Dittography	Scribal error of repeating text	Writing "the the" instead of "the"
Lectio difficilior	The "harder reading" is often more original	Choosing "sallied flesh" over "solid flesh" in Hamlet
Conflation	Combining readings from different versions	Modern Shakespeare editions mixing Q and F readings
Bifolium	Medieval manuscript sheet folded to make 4 pages	Physical unit in codex construction
Cancel leaf	Replacement page in printed book	Corrected pages in early printed books
Bibliographical codes	Meaning conveyed through physical book features	Typography choices in Dickinson's poems

Practice Question

Which term describes the principle that the more difficult reading is likely original?

1. Lectio brevior
2. Lectio difficilior
3. Lectio facilior
4. Lectio recepta

Explanation: The lectio difficilior (harder reading) principle suggests scribes were more likely to simplify difficult passages than complicate simple ones, making difficult readings often more authoritative.

10. UGC-NET Practice MCQs with Detailed Explanations

Test your understanding with these exam-style questions based on previous UGC-NET patterns.

Question 1

According to Greg-Bowers theory, which of the following would be considered "accidentals"?

1. Changes in word choice
2. Variations in plot structure
3. Differences in punctuation
4. Alternate endings

Explanation: Greg-Bowers theory defines accidentals as formal features like spelling, punctuation, and capitalization, while substantives involve meaningful changes to words and content.

Question 2

The stemmatic method of textual criticism was primarily developed by:

1. W.W. Greg
2. Karl Lachmann
3. Fredson Bowers
4. Jerome McGann

Explanation: Karl Lachmann (1793-1851) developed the stemmatic method for reconstructing archetypes by analyzing manuscript relationships.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the focus of genetic criticism?

1. Establishing the most authentic final text
2. Comparing published editions
3. Studying the writing process through drafts
4. Analyzing reader reception

Explanation: Genetic criticism examines the writing process through avant-texte materials like drafts, notes, and revisions.

Question 4

The intentional fallacy was propounded by:

1. E.D. Hirsch
2. Fredson Bowers
3. Wimsatt and Beardsley
4. Jerome McGann

Explanation: W.K. Wimsatt and Monroe Beardsley's 1946 essay "The Intentional Fallacy" argued against using authorial intention as a criterion for literary meaning.

Question 5

Which of these would appear in a critical apparatus?

1. Biographical details
2. Critical interpretations
3. Textual variants
4. Thematic analysis

Explanation: A critical apparatus documents textual variants, editorial emendations, and manuscript evidence, not interpretation or biography.

11. Exam Preparation Strategy & Recommended Readings

Final guidance for effective UGC-NET preparation on textual criticism topics.

Textual Criticism Study Plan

• Week 1-2: Master foundational concepts (Greg-Bowers, stemmatics, apparatus)
• Week 3: Study key debates (intentionality, social text theory)
• Week 4: Practice analyzing textual variants and apparatus entries
• Week 5: Solve previous years' UGC-NET questions
• Week 6: Review key terms and take mock tests

Essential Readings for UGC-NET

Work	Author	Key Contribution
"The Rationale of Copy-Text"	W.W. Greg	Foundation of Greg-Bowers theory
Principles of Bibliographical Description	Fredson Bowers	Applied Greg's theory to practical editing
"The Intentional Fallacy"	Wimsatt & Beardsley	Anti-intentionalist manifesto
Validity in Interpretation	E.D. Hirsch	Defense of authorial intention
A Critique of Modern Textual Criticism	Jerome McGann	Social text theory introduction
Textual Scholarship: An Introduction	D.C. Greetham	Comprehensive textbook

Final Exam Tips

• Focus on conceptual understanding rather than memorization
• Practice identifying examples of substantives vs. accidentals
• Be prepared to match theorists with their approaches
• Review differences between editing methods (diplomatic, critical, variorum)
• Understand how textual criticism methods evolved historically

"Textual criticism is not a branch of mathematics, nor indeed an exact science at all. It deals with a matter not rigid and constant, but fluid and variable; namely the frailties and aberrations of the human mind, and of its insubordinate servants, the human fingers." - A.E. Housman