Document Modeling with the TEI Critical Apparatus

A Panel for the TEI 2019 Conference in Graz, Austria

Presenters: Hugh Cayless (@hcayless), Elisa Beshero-Bondar (@epyllia), Raffaele Viglianti (@raffazizzi)

Respondent: James Cummings (@jamescummings)

Link to these slides: http://bit.ly/crit-app-panel

What is a Critical Apparatus, really?

Hugh Cayless (@hcayless)

What is a Critical Apparatus?

Latin: apparatus criticus, pl. apparatūs critici

  • “Scholarly editions of texts...often record some or all of the known variations among different witnesses to the text.” — TEI Guidelines
  • “[the apparatus]...records the work’s textual history over time” —Eggert (2007)
  • “Editors are not always people who can be trusted, and critical apparatuses are provided so that readers are not dependent upon them.” —West (1973)

What is a Critical Apparatus?

A critical apparatus is the set of notes explaining an editor’s (re)construction of a text. These notes may contain the readings of witnesses, conjectures not promoted to the text, explanatory notes, alternative spellings or punctuation, parallels from other works, and in general any information that might help a reader understand the background of the presented text.

 

What is a TEI Critical Apparatus?

A critical apparatus is the set of notes explaining an editor’s (re)construction of a text.

  • In TEI, where these notes present alternate possibilities, they are modeled in such a way that they may be substituted for the readings in the default text.
  • The <app>, <lem>, <rdg> structure places variants in parallel with the default readings.
  • So in TEI, the apparatus is more than just notes, it is an actionable data structure.

 

One view:

A TEI app. crit. represents a forking and rejoining of the text stream, a run of text for which there are multiple possibilities.

 

A: “The quick brown fox ju...”

B: “The quick brown mouse jumps over the lazy cat.”

C: “The quick brown cat jumps over the lazy dog.”

A: “The quick brown fox ju...”

B: “The quick brown mouse jumps over the lazy cat.”

C: “The quick brown cat jumps over the lazy dog.”

 

We think A and B derive from the archetype via different routes, and C derives from A.

G Ω Ω A A Ω--A B B Ω--B C C A--C 
<p>The quick brown <app>
    <lem wit="#A">fox</lem>
    <rdg wit="#B">mouse</rdg>
    <rdg wit="#C">cat</rdg></app> jumps over the lazy <app>
        <lem wit="#C">dog</lem>
        <rdg wit="#B">cat</rdg></app>.</p>

TEI app. crit. as variant graph

Implications

We might decide that, since the transmission of B and C was independent, you can’t have two cats.

”The quick, brown cat jumps over the lazy cat.”

<p>The quick brown <app>
    <lem wit="#A">fox</lem>
    <rdg wit="#B">mouse</rdg>
    <rdg xml:id="C1" wit="#C" exclude="#C2">cat</rdg></app> jumps over the lazy <app>
        <lem wit="#C">dog</lem>
        <rdg xml:id="C2" wit="#B" exclude="#C1">cat</rdg></app>.</p>

Implications

These aren’t simple, independent variations. There can be interdependencies. Imagine a German family of the tradition with two versions:

“Der schnelle braune Fuchs springt über den faulen Hund.”

“Die schnelle braune Katze springt über die faule Katze.”

If you have “Fuchs” the first word must be “Der”, if “Katze” then “Die”. “Die schnelle braune Fuchs...” would be another impossible text.

A TEI app. crit. represents a forking and rejoining of the text stream, a run of text for which there are multiple possibilities. These possibilities may be constrained by their context.

A TEI app. crit. entry is a type of annotation on the text, asserting that a particular source or authority has a different opinion about the text content.

or...

TEI app. crit. as annotation

<p>The quick brown <app>
    <lem wit="#A">fox</lem>
    <rdg wit="#B">mouse</rdg>
    <rdg xml:id="C1" wit="#C" exclude="#C2">cat</rdg></app> jumps over the lazy <app>
        <lem wit="#C">dog</lem>
        <rdg xml:id="C2" wit="#B" exclude="#C1">cat</rdg></app>.</p>

“A says, and the editor agrees, that the fourth word is ‘fox’. B says that it is ‘mouse’, and C says that it is ‘cat‘.”

 

Note that the apparatus doesn’t have to be inline. It could be standoff and say the same thing.

TEI app. crit. as (standoff) annotation

<p>The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.</p>
...
<listApp>
  <app from="#match(//p[1],'fox')">
    <lem wit="#A">fox</lem>
    <rdg wit="#B">mouse</rdg>
    <rdg xml:id="C1" wit="#C" exclude="#C2">cat</rdg>
  </app>
  <app from="#match(//p[1],'dog')">
    <lem wit="#C">dog</lem>
    <rdg xml:id="C2" wit="#B" exclude="#C1">cat</rdg>
  </app>
</listApp>

What TEI app. crit. is not

  • NOT a superimposition of two or more complete texts.
    • ​You shouldn‘t expect to be able to derive any individual source text from a TEI critical edition.
  • Not a tool for comparing versions of a text.
  • ​Not particularly automatable—designed to show a (human) editor‘s interpretation of a textual tradition.

 

All that said, it’s a data structure, and can be repurposed. Collatex uses it as a collation export format, for example.

What it might be—a provocation

If we accept that a TEI critical apparatus can be viewed as a sort of (optionally standoff) assertive annotation, then we might imagine using it to describe things other than textual variation. What about variant markup?

 

Most annotation formats, including TEI <note> and things like Web Annotation, only allow you to associate the content of the annotation with the thing annotated, not to say something positive about it, like “I think this is a place name”.

I’ll just leave this here...

<div type="textpart" subtype="chapter" n="1" xml:id="c1">
  <p type="textpart" subtype="section" n="1" xml:id="c1s1">
    <seg n="1" xml:id="c1s1p1">Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres, quarum unam incolunt Belgae, Aliam Aquitani, tertiam qui ipsorum lingua Celtae, nostra Galli appellantur.</seg>...</p></div>...
<standoff>
  <listApp>
    <app from="#match(//seg[@xml:id='c1s1p1'],'Gallia')">
      <rdg><placeName ref="https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/993" source="#Damon">Gallia</placeName></rdg>
    </app>
  </listApp>
</standoff>

“Damon says that ‘Gallia’ in chapter 1, paragraph 1, segment 1 is a place name referencing Pleiades #993.”

This is (not) Spinal Tap:

Modeling to Prioritize Variance

Elisa Beshero-Bondar (@epyllia)

“Spine 2” by Buzz Spector: 

polaroid of 33 books aligned at the spines, one per human vertebra

Spine work of a Stand-off Critical Apparatus

 

  • express a holistic view structured according to variant locations
     
  • serve as ”nerve plexus” of data pointers for dynamic coordination of multiple editions
  • can be built up from computer-aided collation
     
  • case study (in the following slides) from Frankenstein Variorum project

Variorum - modeling change over time

Inspiration for Frankenstein Variorum: Darwin Online (ed. Barbara Bordalejo), except...

  • Frankenstein Variorum only compares five witnesses
  • Frankenstein Variorum incorporates two MS witnesses + three print editions
  • Frankenstein Variorum integrates by collation earlier digital editions made by others

algorithm for computer-aided collation, developed in 2009 workshop of collateX and Juxta developers.

  1. Tokenization :

    • Break down the smallest unit of comparison: (words--with punctuation, or character-by-character): FV tokenizes words and includes punctuation  

  2. Normalization  

    • ​​ ('&' = 'and')

  3. Alignment

    • Identify comparable divergence: what makes text sequences comparable units?

    • “Chunking” text into comparable passages (chapters/paragraphs that line up with identifiable start and end points). Collation proceeds chunk by chunk.

  4. Analysis  

    • ​​ (study output, correct, and re-align after machine process, AND refine automated processing)

  5. Visualization

    • ​​ critical edition apparatus, graph displays

Gothenburg Model

FV: Tokenizing/normalizing S-GA diplomatic encoding

 

  • required XSLT resequencing of margin zones  (follow @corresp values to @xml:ids)

  • required Python normalizing algorithm to suppress <line> from collation 

Why collate the markup?

  • Markup expresses conditions relevant for comparing texts
     
  • Genetic markup with critical comparison:
    • genetic markup is not incomparable with markup of print editions
    • genetic markup can answer scholarly research questions at critical scale
      • MWS reworking the text: How guilty does Victor Frankenstein appear in 1816, 1818, 1820s after Percy's death, 1831?
      • Which passages underwent the most intense, ”molten” transformations over time?
      • What kind of influence did Percy Shelley have on Frankenstein‘s print editions?

Preparing marked-up texts for collation

  • Determine comparable markup of text structures across Variorum editions: 
    • volume (print editions only), letter, chapter
    • paragraph, poetry line-groups and lines
    • notes
  • Markup of manuscript events included in Variorum comparison: 
    • deletion, insertion, gap
  • Normalizing algorithm:
    • ​Decide what marks are equivalent
    • ignore but preserve other markup in collation process, also abbreviations, capitalization.  
  • ”Chunking” algorithm:  (limit possibility of major misalignments)
    • ​Locate ”seams” where all editions align
    • Divide into ”chunks” at the seams
    • Prep each edition as 33 collation ”chunks”, C01 - C33
    • All files identified as the same chunk are collated together
  • output of computer-aided collation (not TEI, but like it)
  • build up variorum edition expressed in app-crit with flattened tags

TEI App-Crit on its way to becoming a Spine

 <app xml:id="C10_app44">
          <rdgGrp xml:id="C10_app44_rg1"   
n="['&lt;del&gt;handsome&lt;del&gt;
&lt;del&gt;handsome&lt;
del&gt;beautiful.&lt;del&gt;handsome&lt;del&gt;beautiful;', 'great']" 
         
            <rdg wit="fMS">&lt;lb n="c56-0045__main__23"/&gt;
  &lt;del rend="strikethrough" sID="c56-0045__main__d2e9837"/&gt;
handsome&lt;del eID="c56-0045__main__d2e9837"/&gt;
&lt;mdel&gt;.
&lt;/mdel&gt;&lt;lb n="c56-0045__left_margin__1"/&gt;
&lt;del rend="strikethrough" sID="c56-0045__left_margin__d2e9853"/&gt;handsome&lt;
del eID="c56-0045__left_margin__d2e9853"/&gt;beautiful.
&lt;del rend="strikethrough" sID="c56-0045__main__d2e9865"/&gt;
Handsome&lt;del eID="c56-0045__main__d2e9865"/&gt;
Beautiful; Great </rdg>
       </rdgGrp>

	<rdgGrp xml:id="C10_app44_rg2" n="['beautiful.', 'beautiful!—great']">
	       <rdg wit="f1818">beautiful. Beautiful!—Great </rdg>
	       <rdg wit="f1823">beautiful. Beautiful!—Great </rdg>
	       <rdg wit="fThomas">beautiful. Beautiful!—Great </rdg>
	       <rdg wit="f1831">beautiful. Beautiful!—Great </rdg>
	</rdgGrp>
</app>

Collating with markup: handsome” / “beautiful” passage processed by collateX

an ugly but powerful Frankenstein creature of collation! 

TEI advantage: Interchange (cf. Syd Bauman, “Interchange vs. Interoperability”): 
​”Human A” reading code written and documented by ”Human B” can understand how to adapt that code without consulting Human B.

 

  • Determine how to follow the “running stream” of semantically readable text to be compared with other editions.

  • Map the semantically comparable units in collation algorithm
     
       
  • Mask the markup that isn't semantically comparable (MS surfaces, zones, lines)
  • Decide on how to handle <add> and <del> markup:

TEI Interchangeability :: Collation of Markup

Doing the work of interchange:

  • Do you want your critical apparatus to include deleted material?
  • Or only the “finished” MS? (Mask the  <del> elements, and preserve the <add> material)
<milestone unit="tei:p"/>

::

<p>. . . . . . </p>

 

  • Method 1: produce edition files from the app-crit with XSLT
    • ​Plant TEI element (e.g. <seg>) to indicate variant locations, give each an @xml:id
    • Build Spine by ​generating @target directly accessing <seg> elements
  • Method 2: point to pre-existing editions
    • Programmatic search-work to find variant passages (not signalled in the edition markup)
    • Build Spine with XPath and string-range indicators

XPointer Challenge: find the locations expressed in each app in the original editions

  • Flatten markup for computer assisted collation
     
  • Edit the output collation (Gothenberg Model process)
     
  • XSLT Transformation A (pipeline): raise editions with “hotspots”
    • Raise the flattened markup to reconstruct some editions, with marked <seg> elements
    • Deal with overlapping hierarchies: (e.g. Molten passages cross paragraph boundaries): Output editions break into fragments around up-raised markup.
  • XSLT Transformation B: construct the standoff spine with pointers:
    • Convert collateX output critical apparatus to ”spine nerve plexus” holding XML pointers
    • These point to the marked hotspots in the editions reconstructed in Pipeline A
    • And point to xml:ids + string-ranges in external editions that were not generated by the process    (e.g. FV pointing to Shelley-Godwin Archive)

Markup is text, after all!

Summary of Spine-Making:

 

  • “Spine” data model = standoff use of TEI critical apparatus: 
    • can include processed data, like maximum edit-distance, at each location
    • can include data on normalization: e.g. normalized tokens used in collation process
    • coordinates data on variance,
    • points to specific locations in separate edition files
cu 01 msColl 1818 volume frontmatter PREFACE. T HE event on which this fiction is founded has been supposed, by Dr. Darwin, and some of the physiological writers of Germany, as not of impossible occurrence. I shall not be supposed as according the remotest degree of serious faith to such an imagination; yet, in assuming it as the basis of a work of fancy, I have not considered myself as merely weaving a series of supernatural terrors. The event on Thomas volume frontmatter PREFACE. T HE event on which this fiction is founded has been supposed, by Dr. Darwin, and some of the physiological writers of Germany, as not of impossible occurrence. I shall not be supposed as according the remotest degree of serious faith to such an imagination; yet, in assuming it as the basis of a work of fancy, I have not considered myself as merely weaving a series of supernatural terrors. The event on 1823 volume frontmatter PREFACE. T HE event on which this fiction is founded has been supposed, by Dr. Darwin, and some of the physiological writers of Germany, as not of impossible occurrence. I shall not be supposed as according the remotest degree of serious faith to such an imagination; yet, in assuming it as the basis of a work of fancy, I have not considered myself as merely 1831 frontmatter introduction PREFACE. T HE event on which this fiction is founded has been supposed, by Dr. Darwin, and some of the physiological writers of Germany, as not of impossible occurrence. I shall not be supposed as according the remotest degree of serious faith to such an imagination; yet, in assuming it as the basis of a work of fancy, I have not considered myself as merely weaving a series of supernatural terrors. The event on which the interest of the story depends is exempt from the disadvantages of a mere tale of spectres or enchantment. It was recommended by the novelty of the situations which it developes; and, however impossible as a physical fact, affords a point of view to the imagination for the delineating of human passions more comprehensive and commanding than any which the ordinary relations of existing events can yield. cu 02 msColl 1818 1818V1 LETTER I FRANKENSTEIN; OR, THE MODERN PROMETHEUS. LETTER I LETTER I To Mrs. S AVILLE Thomas FRANKENSTEIN; OR, THE MODERN PROMETHEUS. LETTER I LETTER I To Mrs. S AVILLE 1823 FRANKENSTEIN; OR , THE MODERN PROMETHEUS. LETTER I. To Mrs . S AVILLE 1831 FRANKENSTEIN; OR , THE MODERN PROMETHEUS. LETTER I. To Mrs. Saville, England. St. Petersburgh, Dec. 11th, 17—. Y cu 03 msColl 1818 1818V1 LETTER II LETTER II. To Mrs. S AVILLE Thomas LETTER II. To Mrs. S AVILLE 1823 LETTER II. To Mrs. S AVILLE 1831 LETTER II. To Mrs. Saville, England. Archangel, 28th March, 17—. How slowly the time passes here, encompassed as I am by frost and snow! yet a second step is taken towards my enterprise. I have hired a vessel, and am occupied in collecting my sailors; those whom I have already engaged, appear to be men on whom I can depend, and are certainly possessed of dauntless courage. cu 04 msColl 1818 1818V1 LETTER III LETTER III. To Mrs. S AVILLE Thomas LETTER III. To Mrs. S AVILLE 1823 LETTER III. To Mrs. S AVILLE 1831 LETTER III. To Mrs. Saville, England. July 7th, 17—. M cu 05 msColl 1818 1818V1 LETTER IV LETTER IV. To Mrs. S AVILLE Thomas LETTER IV. To Mrs. S AVILLE 1823 LETTER IV. To Mrs. S AVILLE 1831 LETTER IV. To Mrs. Saville, England. August 5th, 17—. So strange an accident has happened to us, that I cannot forbear recording it, although it is very probable that you will see me before these papers can come into your possession. cu 06 msColl 1818 Thomas 1823 1831 cu 07 msColl Chapt. 2 Those events which materially influence our fu ture 1818 1818V1 CHAPTER I CHAPTER I. I AM by birth a Genevese; and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic. My ancestors had been for many years counsellors and syndics; and my father had filled several public situations with honour and reputation. He was respected by all who knew him for his integrity and indefatigable attention to public business. He passed his younger days perpetually occupied by the affairs of Thomas CHAPTER I. I AM by birth a Genevese; and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic. My ancestors had been for many years counsellors and syndics; and my father had filled several public situations with honour and reputation. He was respected by all who knew him for his integrity and indefatigable attention to public business. He passed his younger days perpetually occupied by the affairs of 1823 CHAPTER I. I AM by birth a Genevese; and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic. My ancestors had been for many years counsellors and syndics; and my father had filled several public situations with honour and reputation. He was respected by all who knew him for his integrity and indefatigable attention to public business. He passed his younger days perpetually occupied by the affairs of his country; 1831 CHAPTER I. I AM by birth a Genevese; and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic. My ancestors had been for many years counsellors and syndics; and my father had filled several public situations with honour and reputation. He was respected by all who knew him, for his integrity and indefatigable attention to public business. He passed his younger days perpetually occupied by the affairs of his country; a variety of circumstances had prevented his marrying early, nor was it until the decline of life that he became a husband and the father of a family. CHAPTER II. W E were brought up together; there was not quite a year difference in our ages. I need not say that we were strangers to any species of disunion or dispute. Harmony was the soul of our companionship, and the diversity and contrast that subsisted in our characters drew us nearer together. Elizabeth was of a calmer and more concentrated disposition; but, with all my ardour, I was capable of a more intense application, and was more deeply smitten with the thirst for knowledge. She busied herself with following the aerial creations of the poets; and in the majestic and wondrous scenes which surrounded our Swiss home—the sublime shapes of the mountains; the changes of the seasons; tempest and calm; the silence of winter, and the life and turbulence of our Alpine summers,—she found ample scope for admiration and delight. While my companion contemplated with a serious and satisfied spirit the magnificent appearances of things, I delighted in investigating their causes. The world was to me a secret which I desired to divine. Curiosity, earnest research to learn the hidden laws of nature, gladness akin to rapture, as they were unfolded to me, are among the earliest sensations I can remember. cu 08 msColl Chapter 3 When I had attained the age of Chap. 4 The next morning I delivered my letters of introduction and paid a visit to some of the principal 1818 1818V1 CHAPTER II CHAPTER II. W HEN I had attained the age of seventeen, my parents resolved that I should become a student at the university of Ingolstadt. I had hitherto attended the schools of Geneva; but my father thought it necessary, for the completion of my education, that I should be made acquainted with other customs than those of my native country. My departure was therefore fixed at an early date; but, before the day resolved upon could arrive, the first misfortune of my life occurred—an omen, as it were, of my future misery. Thomas CHAPTER II. W HEN I had attained the age of seventeen, my parents resolved that I should become a student at the university of Ingolstadt. I had hitherto attended the schools of Geneva; but my father thought it necessary, for the completion of my education, that I should be made acquainted with other customs than those of my native country. My departure was therefore fixed at an early date; but, before the day resolved upon could arrive, the first misfortune of my life occurred—an omen, as it were, of my future misery. 1823 CHAPTER II. W HEN I had attained the age of seventeen, my parents resolved that I should become a student at the university of Ingolstadt. I had hitherto attended the schools of Geneva; but my father thought it necessary, for the completion of my education, that I should be made acquainted with other customs than those of my native country. My departure was therefore fixed at an early date; but, before the day resolved upon could arrive, the first misfortune of my life occurred—an omen, as it were, of my future misery. 1831 CHAPTER III. W HEN I had attained the age of seventeen, my parents resolved that I should become a student at the university of Ingolstadt. I had hitherto attended the schools of Geneva; but my father thought it necessary, for the completion of my education, that I should be made acquainted with other customs than those of my native country. My departure was therefore fixed at an early date; but, before the day resolved upon could arrive, the first misfortune of my life occurred—an omen, as it were, of my future misery. cu 09 msColl Chap. 5 From this day natural philosophy and parti cularly Chapter 6. When I found this so 1818 1818V1 CHAPTER III CHAPTER III. F ROM this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation. I read with ardour those works, so full of genius and discrimination, which modern inquirers have written on these subjects. I attended the lectures, and cultivated the acquaintance, of the men of science of the university; and I found even in M. Krempe a great deal of sound sense and real information, combined, it is true, with a repulsive physiognomy and manners, but not on that account the less valuable. In M. Waldman I found Thomas CHAPTER III. F ROM this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation. I read with ardour those works, so full of genius and discrimination, which modern inquirers have written on these subjects. I attended the lectures, and cultivated the acquaintance, of the men of science of the university; and I found even in M. Krempe a great deal of sound sense and real information, combined, it is true, with a repulsive physiognomy and manners, but not on that account the less valuable. In M. Waldman I found 1823 CHAPTER III. From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation. I read with ardour those works, so full of genius and discrimination, which modern inquirers have written on these subjects. I attended the lectures, and cultivated the acquaintance, of the men of science of the university; and I found even in M. Krempe a great deal of sound sense and real information, combined, it is true, with a repulsive physiognomy and manners, but not on that account the less valuable. In M. Waldman I found a true friend. His gentleness was never tinged by dogmatism; and his instructions were given with an air of frankness and good nature, that banished every idea of pedantry. It was, perhaps, the amiable character of this man that inclined me more to that branch of natural philosophy which he professed, than an intrinsic love for the science itself. But this state of mind had place only in the first steps towards knowledge: the more fully I entered into the science, the more exclusively I pursued it for its own sake. That application, which at first had been a matter of duty and resolution, now became so ardent and eager, that the stars often disappeared in the light of morning whilst I was yet engaged in my laboratory. As I applied so closely, it may be easily conceived that I improved ra 1831 CHAPTER IV. F ROM this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation. I read with ardour those works, so full of genius and discrimination, which modern inquirers have written on these subjects. I attended the lectures, and cultivated the acquaintance, of the men of science of the university; and I found even in M. Krempe a great deal of sound sense and real information, combined, it is true, with a repulsive physiognomy and manners, but not on that account the less valuable. In M. Waldman I found a true friend. His gentleness was never tinged by dogmatism; and his instructions were given with an air of frankness and good nature, that banished every idea of pedantry. In a thousand ways he smoothed for me the path of knowledge, and made the most abstruse enquiries clear and facile to my apprehension. My application was at first fluctuating and uncertain; it gained strength as I proceeded, and soon became so ardent and eager, that the stars often disappeared in the light of morning whilst I was yet engaged in my laboratory. cu 10 msColl Chapter 7 It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the frame on whic Chap. 7 This was the commencement of a nervous fever which confined me for several months. 1818 1818V1 CHAPTER IV CHAPTER IV. I T was on a dreary night of November, that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed Thomas CHAPTER IV. I T was on a dreary night of November, that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed 1823 CHAPTER IV. I T was on a dreary night of November, that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed 1831 CHAPTER V. I T was on a dreary night of November, that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs. cu 11 msColl Ch V– 113 He then put the following letter into my hands. "To V. Frankenstien 1818 1818V1 CHAPTER V CHAPTER V. C LERVAL then put the following letter into my hands. Thomas CHAPTER V. C LERVAL then put the following letter into my hands. 1823 CHAPTER V. C LERVAL then put the following letter into my hands. 1831 CHAPTER VI. C LERVAL then put the following letter into my hands. It was from my own Elizabeth:— cu 12 msColl Chap. 8 one of my first duties on my recovery was to introduce Clerval to the 1818 Thomas 1823 1831 cu 13 msColl Chap. 9 On my return I found the following letter from my father. To V.–Frankenstein Chapter 10 Night had closed in Chap. 11 We were soon joined 1818 1818V1 CHAPTER VI CHAPTER VI. O N my return, I found the following letter from my father:— Thomas CHAPTER VI. O N my return, I found the following letter from my father:— 1823 CHAPTER VI. O N , my return, I found the following letter from my father:— 1831 CHAPTER VII. O N my return, I found the following letter from my father:— cu 14 msColl Chapter 1 2 I cannot attempt to describe what I 1818 1818V1 CHAPTER VII CHAPTER VII. W E passed a few sad hours, until eleven o’clock, when the trial was to commence. My father and the rest of the family being obliged to attend as witnesses, I accompanied them to the court. During the whole of this wretched mockery of justice, I suffered living torture. It was to be decided, whether the result of my curiosity and lawless devices would cause the death of two of my fellow-beings: one a smiling babe, full of innocence and joy; the other far more dreadfully murdered, with every aggravation of in volume frontmatter Thomas CHAPTER VII. W E passed a few sad hours, until eleven o’clock, when the trial was to commence. My father and the rest of the family being obliged to attend as witnesses, I accompanied them to the court. During the whole of this wretched mockery of justice, I suffered living torture. It was to be decided, whether the result of my curiosity and lawless devices would cause the death of two of my fellow-beings: one a smiling babe, full of innocence and joy; the other far more dreadfully murdered, with every aggravation of in volume frontmatter 1823 CHAPTER VII. W E passed a few sad hours, until eleven o’clock, when the trial was to commence. My father and the rest of the family being obliged to attend as witnesses, I accompanied them to the court. During the whole of this wretched mockery of justice I suffered living torture. It was to be decided, whether the result of my curiosity and lawless devices would cause the death of two of my fellow-beings: one a smiling babe, full of innocence and joy; the other far more dreadfully murdered, with every aggravation of infamy that could make 1831 CHAPTER VIII. W E passed a few sad hours, until eleven o’clock, when the trial was to commence. My father and the rest of the family being obliged to attend as witnesses, I accompanied them to the court. During the whole of this wretched mockery of justice I suffered living torture. It was to be decided, whether the result of my curiosity and lawless devices would cause the death of two of my fellow-beings: one a smiling babe, full of innocence and joy; the other far more dreadfully murdered, with every aggravation of infamy that could make the murder memorable in horror. Justine also was a girl of merit, and possessed qualities which promised to render her life happy: now all was to be obliterated in an ignominious grave; and I the cause! A thousand times rather would I have confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine; but I was absent when it was committed, and such a declaration would have been considered as the ravings of a madman, and would not have exculpated her who suffered through me. cu 15 msColl Chap. 13 Nothing is more painful than 1818 1818V2 CHAPTER I CHAPTER I. N OTHING is more painful to the human mind, than, after the feelings have been worked up by a quick succession of events, the dead calmness of inaction and certainty which follows, and deprives the soul both of hope and fear. Justine died; she rested; and I was alive. The blood flowed freely in my veins, but a weight of despair and remorse pressed on my heart, which Thomas CHAPTER I. N OTHING is more painful to the human mind, than, after the feelings have been worked up by a quick succession of events, the dead calmness of inaction and certainty which follows, and deprives the soul both of hope and fear. Justine died; she rested; and I was alive. The blood flowed freely in my veins, but a weight of despair and remorse pressed on my heart, which 1823 CHAPTER VIII. N OTHING is more painful to the human mind, than, after the feelings have been worked up by a quick succession of events, the dead calmness of inaction and certainty which follows, and deprives the soul both of hope and fear. Justine died; she rested; and I was alive. The blood flowed freely in my veins, but a weight of despair and remorse pressed on my heart, which nothing could remove. Sleep fled from my eyes; I wandered like an evil spirit, for I had committed deeds of mischief 1831 CHAPTER IX. N OTHING is more painful to the human mind, than, after the feelings have been worked up by a quick succession of events, the dead calmness of inaction and certainty which follows, and deprives the soul both of hope and fear. Justine died; she rested; and I was alive. The blood flowed freely in my veins, but a weight of despair and remorse pressed on my heart, which nothing could remove. Sleep fled from my eyes; I wandered like an evil spirit, for I had committed deeds of mischief beyond description horrible, and more, much more (I persuaded myself), was yet behind. Yet my heart overflowed with kindness, and the love of virtue. I had begun life with benevolent intentions, and thirsted for the moment when I should put them in practice, and make myself useful to my fellow-beings. Now all was blasted: instead of that serenity of conscience, which allowed me to look back upon the past with self-satisfaction, and from thence to gather promise of new hopes, I was seized by remorse and the sense of guilt, which hurried me away to a hell of intense tortures, such as no language can describe. cu 16 msColl Chap. 14 he next day, contrary to the prognostics of our guides, was fine although clouded. 1818 1818V2 CHAPTER II CHAPTER II. T HE next day, contrary to the prognostications of our guides, was fine, although clouded. We visited the source of the Arveiron, and rode about the valley until evening. These sublime and magnificent scenes afforded me the greatest consolation that I was capable of receiving. They elevated me from all littleness of feeling; and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillized it. In some degree, also, they diverted my mind from the thoughts over which it had Thomas CHAPTER II. T HE next day, contrary to the prognostications of our guides, was fine, although clouded. We visited the source of the Arveiron, and rode about the valley until evening. These sublime and magnificent scenes afforded me the greatest consolation that I was capable of receiving. They elevated me from all littleness of feeling; and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillized it. In some degree, also, they diverted my mind from the thoughts over which it had 1823 CHAPTER IX. T HE next day, contrary to the prognostications of our guides, was fine, although clouded. We visited the source of the Arveiron, and rode about the valley until evening. These sublime and magnificent scenes afforded me the greatest consolation that I was capable of receiving. They elevated me from all littleness of feeling; and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillized it. In some degree, also, they diverted my mind from the thoughts over which it had 1831 CHAPTER X. I SPENT the following day roaming through the valley. I stood beside the sources of the Arveiron, which take their rise in a glacier, that with slow pace is advancing down from the summit of the hills, to barricade the valley. The abrupt sides of vast mountains were before me; the icy wall of the glacier overhung me; a few shattered pines were scattered around; and the solemn silence of this glorious presence-chamber of imperial Nature was broken only by the brawling waves, or the fall of some vast fragment, the thunder sound of the avalanche, or the cracking, reverberated along the mountains of the accumulated ice, which, through the silent working of immutable laws, was ever and anon rent and torn, as if it had been but a plaything in their hands. These sublime and magnificent scenes afforded me the greatest consolation that I was capable of receiving. They elevated me from all littleness of feeling; and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillised it. In some degree, also, they diverted my mind from the thoughts over which it had brooded for the last month. I retired to rest at night; my slumbers, as it were, waited on and ministered to by the assemblance of grand shapes which I had contemplated during the day. They congregated round me; the unstained snowy mountain-top, the glittering pinnacle, the pine woods, and ragged bare ravine; the eagle, soaring amidst the clouds—they all gathered round me, and bade me be at peace. cu 17 msColl Vol. II Chap I "It is with difficulty that I remember the æra of my Chap. 2 As soon as morning dawned I crept from my assylum to 1818 1818V2 CHAPTER III CHAPTER III. “I T is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original æra of my being: all the events of that period appear confused and indistinct. A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw, felt, heard, and smelt, at the same time; and it was, indeed, a long time before I learned to distinguish between the operations of my various senses. By degrees, I remember, a stronger light pressed upon my nerves, so that I was obliged to shut my eyes. Darkness then came over me, and troubled me; but Thomas CHAPTER III. “I T is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original æra of my being: all the events of that period appear confused and indistinct. A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw, felt, heard, and smelt, at the same time; and it was, indeed, a long time before I learned to distinguish between the operations of my various senses. By degrees, I remember, a stronger light pressed upon my nerves, so that I was obliged to shut my eyes. Darkness then came over me, and troubled me; but 1823 CHAPTER X. “I T is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original æra of my being: all the events of that period appear confused and indistinct. A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw, felt, heard, and smelt, at the same time; and it was, indeed, a long time before I learned to distinguish between the operations of my various senses. By degrees, I remember, a stronger light pressed upon my nerves, so that I was obliged to shut my eyes. Darkness then came over me, and troubled me; but hardly had I felt this, when, by opening my eyes, as I now suppose, the light 1831 CHAPTER XI. “I T is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original era of my being: all the events of that period appear confused and indistinct. A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw, felt, heard, and smelt, at the same time; and it was, indeed, a long time before I learned to distinguish between the operations of my various senses. By degrees, I remember, a stronger light pressed upon my nerves, so that I was obliged to shut my eyes. Darkness then came over me, and troubled me; but hardly had I felt this, when, by opening my eyes, as I now suppose, the light poured in upon me again. I walked, and, I believe, descended; but I presently found a great alteration in my sensations. Before, dark and opaque bodies had surrounded me, impervious to my touch or sight; but I now found that I could wander on at liberty, with no obstacles which I could not either surmount or avoid. The light became more and more oppressive to me; and, the heat wearying me as I walked, I sought a place where I could receive shade. This was the forest near Ingolstadt; and here I lay by the side of a brook resting from my fatigue, until I felt tormented by hunger and thirst. This roused me from my nearly dormant state, and I ate some berries which I found hanging on the trees, or lying on the cu 18 msColl Chap. 3 It was some time A considerable period elapsed 1818 1818V2 CHAPTER IV CHAPTER IV. “I LAY on my straw, but I could not sleep. I thought of the occurrences of the day. What chiefly struck me was the gentle manners of these people; and I longed to join them, but dared not. I remembered too well the treatment I had suffered the night before from the barbarous villagers, and resolved, whatever course of conduct I might hereafter think it right to pursue, that for the present I would remain quietly in my hovel, watching, and endeavouring to discover the motives which influenced their actions. Thomas CHAPTER IV. “I LAY on my straw, but I could not sleep. I thought of the occurrences of the day. What chiefly struck me was the gentle manners of these people; and I longed to join them, but dared not. I remembered too well the treatment I had suffered the night before from the barbarous villagers, and resolved, whatever course of conduct I might hereafter think it right to pursue, that for the present I would remain quietly in my hovel, watching, and endeavouring to discover the motives which influenced their actions. 1823 CHAPTER XI. “I LAY on my straw, but I could not sleep. I thought of the occurrences of the day. What chiefly struck me was the gentle manners of these people; and I longed to join them, but dared not. I remembered too well the treatment I had suffered the night before from the barbarous villagers, and resolved, whatever course of conduct I might hereafter think it right to pursue, that for the present I would remain quietly in my hovel, watching, and endeavouring to discover the motives which influenced their actions. volume frontmatter 1831 CHAPTER XII. “I LAY on my straw, but I could not sleep. I thought of the occurrences of the day. What chiefly struck me was the gentle manners of these people; and I longed to join them, but dared not. I remembered too well the treatment I had suffered the night before from the barbarous villagers, and resolved, whatever course of conduct I might hereafter think it right to pursue, that for the present I would remain quietly in my hovel, watching, and endeavouring to discover the motives which influenced their actions. cu 19 msColl 1818 1818V2 CHAPTER V CHAPTER V. “I NOW hasten to the more moving part of my story. I shall relate events that impressed me with feelings which, from what I was, have made me what I am. Thomas CHAPTER V. “I NOW hasten to the more moving part of my story. I shall relate events that impressed me with feelings which, from what I was, have made me what I am. 1823 CHAPTER I. “I NOW hasten to the more moving part of my story. I shall relate events, that impressed me with feelings which, from what I had been, have made me what I am. 1831 CHAPTER XIII. “I NOW hasten to the more moving part of my story. I shall relate events, that impressed me with feelings which, from what I had been, have made me what I am. cu 20 msColl another Chapter Sometime elapsed before I became informed of th 1818 1818V2 CHAPTER VI CHAPTER VI. “S OME time elapsed before I learned the history of my friends. It was one which could not fail to impress itself deeply on my mind, unfolding as it did a number of circumstances each interesting and wonderful to one so utterly inexperienced as I was. Thomas CHAPTER VI. “S OME time elapsed before I learned the history of my friends. It was one which could not fail to impress itself deeply on my mind, unfolding as it did a number of circumstances each interesting and wonderful to one so utterly inexperienced as I was. 1823 CHAPTER II. “S OME time elapsed before I learned the history of my friends. It was one which could not fail to impress itself deeply on my mind, unfolding as it did a number of circumstances, each interesting and wonderful to one so utterly inexperienced as I was. 1831 CHAPTER XIV. “S OME time elapsed before I learned the history of my friends. It was one which could not fail to impress itself deeply on my mind, unfolding as it did a number of circumstances, each interesting and wonderful to one so utterly inexperienced as I was. cu 21 msColl Chap. 7 The season winter 1818 1818V2 CHAPTER VII CHAPTER VII. “S UCH was the history of my beloved cottagers. It impressed me deeply. I learned, from the views of social life which it developed, to admire their virtues, and to deprecate the vices of mankind. Thomas CHAPTER VII. “S UCH was the history of my beloved cottagers. It impressed me deeply. I learned, from the views of social life which it developed, to admire their virtues, and to deprecate the vices of mankind. 1823 CHAPTER III. “S UCH was the history of my beloved cottagers. It impressed me deeply. I learned, from the views of social life which it developed, to admire their virtues, and to deprecate the vices of mankind. 1831 CHAPTER XV. “S UCH was the history of my beloved cottagers. It impressed me deeply. I learned, from the views of social life which it developed, to admire their virtues, and to deprecate the vices of mankind. cu 22 msColl Chapt. 8 When my hunger was appeased I directed my steps towards the well known path that conducted to the cottage – All there, The same chapter continued Chap. 9 Chap. 9 I now saw Thus my journey appeared It was evening when I arrived in the outskirts 1818 1818V2 CHAPTER VIII CHAPTER VIII. “C URSED , cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants, and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery. Thomas CHAPTER VIII. “C URSED , cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants, and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery. 1823 CHAPTER IV. “C URSED , cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants, and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery. 1831 CHAPTER XVI. “C URSED , cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants, and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery. cu 23 msColl Chap. 9 The creature finished speaking and fixed his eyes looks 1818 1818V2 CHAPTER IX CHAPTER IX. T HE being finished speaking, and fixed his looks upon me in expectation of a reply. But I was bewildered, perplexed, and unable to arrange my ideas sufficiently to understand the full extent of his proposition. He continued— volume frontmatter Thomas CHAPTER IX. T HE being finished speaking, and fixed his looks upon me in expectation of a reply. But I was bewildered, perplexed, and unable to arrange my ideas sufficiently to understand the full extent of his proposition. He continued— volume frontmatter 1823 CHAPTER V. T HE being finished speaking, and fixed his looks upon me in expectation of a reply. But I was bewildered, perplexed, and unable to arrange my ideas sufficiently to understand the full extent of his proposition. He continued— 1831 CHAPTER XVII. T HE being finished speaking, and fixed his looks upon me in expectation of a reply. But I was bewildered, perplexed, and unable to arrange my ideas sufficiently to understand the full extent of his proposition. He continued— cu 24 msColl Chap. 10 Day after day, week after week passed away 1818 1818V3 CHAPTER I CHAPTER I. D AY after day, week after week, passed away on my return to Geneva; and I could not collect the courage to recommence my work. I feared the vengeance of the disappointed fiend, yet I was unable to overcome my repugnance to the task which was enjoined me. I found that I could not compose a female without again devoting several months to profound study and labo Thomas CHAPTER I. D AY after day, week after week, passed away on my return to Geneva; and I could not collect the courage to recommence my work. I feared the vengeance of the disappointed fiend, yet I was unable to overcome my repugnance to the task which was enjoined me. I found that I could not compose a female without again devoting several months to profound study and labo 1823 CHAPTER VI. D AY after day, week after week, passed away on my return to Geneva; and I could not collect the courage to recommence my work. I feared the vengeance of the disappointed fiend, yet I was unable to overcome my repugnance to the task which was enjoined me. I found that I could not compose a female without again devoting several months to profound study and laborious disquisition. I had heard of some discoveries having been made by 1831 CHAPTER XVIII. D AY after day, week after week, passed away on my return to Geneva; and I could not collect the courage to recommence my work. I feared the vengeance of the disappointed fiend, yet I was unable to overcome my repugnance to the task which was enjoined me. I found that I could not compose a female without again devoting several months to profound study and laborious disquisition. I had heard of some discoveries having been made by an English philosopher, the knowledge of which was material to my success, and I sometimes thought of obtaining my father’s consent to visit England for this purpose; but I clung to every pretence of delay, and shrunk from taking the first step in an undertaking whose immediate necessity began to appear less absolute to me. A change indeed had taken place in me: my health, which had hitherto declined, was now much restored; and my spirits, when unchecked by the memory of my unhappy promise, rose proportionably. My father saw this change with pleasure, and he turned his thoughts towards the best method of eradicating the remains of my melancholy, which every now and then would return by fits, and with a devouring blackness overcast the approaching sunshine. At these moments I took refuge in the most perfect solitude. I passed whole days on the lake alone in a little boat, watching the clouds, and listening to the rippling of the waves, silent and listless. But the fresh air and bright sun seldom failed to restore me to some degree cu 25 msColl Chap 11 2. London was Chap 12 Having parted from my friend I deter mined to visit some remote spot of this 1818 1818V3 CHAPTER II CHAPTER II. L ONDON was our present point of rest; we determined to remain several months in this wonderful and celebrated city. Clerval desired the intercourse of the men of genius and talent who flourished at this time; but this was with me a secondary object; I was principally occupied with the means of obtaining the information necessary for the completion of my promise, and quickly availed myself of the letters of introduction that I had brought with me, addressed to the most distinguished natural philosophers. Thomas CHAPTER II. L ONDON was our present point of rest; we determined to remain several months in this wonderful and celebrated city. Clerval desired the intercourse of the men of genius and talent who flourished at this time; but this was with me a secondary object; I was principally occupied with the means of obtaining the information necessary for the completion of my promise, and quickly availed myself of the letters of introduction that I had brought with me, addressed to the most distinguished natural philosophers. 1823 CHAPTER VII. L ONDON was our present point of rest; we determined to remain several months in this wonderful and celebrated city. Clerval desired the intercourse of the men of genius and talent who flourished at this time; but this was with me a secondary object; I was principally occupied with the means of obtaining the information necessary for the completion of my promise, and quickly availed myself of the letters of introduction that I had brought with me, addressed to the most distinguished natural philosophers. 1831 CHAPTER XIX. L ONDON was our present point of rest; we determined to remain several months in this wonderful and celebrated city. Clerval desired the intercourse of the men of genius and talent who flourished at this time; but this was with me a secondary object; I was principally occupied with the means of obtaining the information necessary for the completion of my promise, and quickly availed myself of the letters of introduction that I had brought with me, addressed to the most distinguished natural philosophers. cu 26 msColl Chapter 13 I started forward & exclaimed—Villain, before you sign my death-warrant, be sure that you are yourself safe. I would have seized 1818 1818V3 CHAPTER III CHAPTER III. I SAT one evening in my laboratory; the sun had set, and the moon was just rising from the sea; I had not sufficient light for my employment, and I remained idle, in a pause of consideration of whether I should leave my labour for the night, or hasten its conclusion by an unremitting attention to it. As I sat, a train of reflection occurred to me, which led me to consider the effects of what I was now doing. Three years before I was engaged in the same manner, and had created a fiend whose unparalleled barbarity had desolated my Thomas CHAPTER III. I SAT one evening in my laboratory; the sun had set, and the moon was just rising from the sea; I had not sufficient light for my employment, and I remained idle, in a pause of consideration of whether I should leave my labour for the night, or hasten its conclusion by an unremitting attention to it. As I sat, a train of reflection occurred to me, which led me to consider the effects of what I was now doing. Three years before I was engaged in the same manner, and had created a fiend whose unparalleled barbarity had desolated my 1823 CHAPTER VIII. I SAT one evening in my laboratory; the sun had set, and the moon was just rising from the sea; I had not sufficient light for my employment, and I remained idle, in a pause of consideration of whether I should leave my labour for the night, or hasten its conclusion by an unremitting attention to it. As I sat, a train of reflection occurred to me, which led me to consider the effects of what I was now doing. Three years before I was engaged in the same manner, and had created a fiend whose unparalleled barbarity had desolated my 1831 CHAPTER XX. I SAT one evening in my laboratory; the sun had set, and the moon was just rising from the sea; I had not sufficient light for my employment, and I remained idle, in a pause of consideration of whether I should leave my labour for the night, or hasten its conclusion by an unremitting attention to it. As I sat, a train of reflection occurred to me, which led me to consider the effects of what I was now doing. Three years before I was engaged in the same manner, and had created a fiend whose unparalleled barbarity had desolated my heart, and filled it for ever with the bitterest remorse. I was now about to form another being, of whose dispositions I was alike ignorant; she might become ten thousand times more malignant than her mate, and delight, for its own sake, in murder and wretchedness. He had sworn to quit the neighbourhood of man, and hide himself in deserts; but she had not; and she, who in all probability was to become a thinking and reasoning animal, might refuse to comply with a compact made before her creation. They might even hate each other; the creature who already lived loathed his own deformity, and might he not conceive a greater abhorrence for it when it came before his eyes in the female form? She also might turn with disgust from him to the superior beauty of man; she might quit him, and he be again alone, exasperated by the fresh provocation of being deserted by one of his own species. cu 27 msColl Chap. 14 I was soon int Chap. 15 We were not allowed to converse for any length of time for the precarious state of my health rendered every precaution 1818 1818V3 CHAPTER IV CHAPTER IV. I WAS soon introduced into the presence of the magistrate, an old benevolent man, with calm and mild manners. He looked upon me, however, with some degree of severity; and then, turning towards my conductors, he asked who appeared as witnesses on this occasion. Thomas CHAPTER IV. I WAS soon introduced into the presence of the magistrate, an old benevolent man, with calm and mild manners. He looked upon me, however, with some degree of severity; and then, turning towards my conductors, he asked who appeared as witnesses on this occasion. 1823 CHAPTER IX. I WAS soon introduced into the presence of the magistrate, an old benevolent man, with calm and mild manners. He looked upon me, however, with some degree of severity: and then, turning towards my conductors, he asked who appeared as witnesses on this occasion. 1831 CHAPTER XXI. I WAS soon introduced into the presence of the magistrate, an old benevolent man, with calm and mild manners. He looked upon me, however, with some degree of severity: and then, turning towards my conductors, he asked who appeared as witnesses on this occasion. cu 28 msColl 1818 1818V3 CHAPTER V CHAPTER V. W E had resolved not to go to London, but to cross the country to Portsmouth, and thence to embark for Havre. I preferred this plan principally because I dreaded to see again those places in which I had enjoyed a few moments of tranquillity with my beloved Clerval. I thought with horror of seeing again those persons whom we had been accustomed to visit together, and who might make inquiries concerning an event, the very remembrance of which made me again feel the pang I endured Thomas CHAPTER V. W E had resolved not to go to London, but to cross the country to Portsmouth, and thence to embark for Havre. I preferred this plan principally because I dreaded to see again those places in which I had enjoyed a few moments of tranquillity with my beloved Clerval. I thought with horror of seeing again those persons whom we had been accustomed to visit together, and who might make inquiries concerning an event, the very remembrance of which made me again feel the pang I endured 1823 CHAPTER X. W E had resolved not to go to London, but to cross the country to Portsmouth, and thence to embark for Havre. I preferred this plan principally because I dreaded to see again those places in which I had enjoyed a few moments of tranquillity with my beloved Clerval. I thought with horror of seeing again those persons whom we had been accustomed to visit together, and who might mkae 1831 CHAPTER XXII. T HE voyage came to an end. We landed, and proceeded to Paris. I soon found that I had overtaxed my strength, and that I must repose before I could continue my journey. My father’s care and attentions were indefatigable; but he did not know the origin of my sufferings, and sought erroneous methods to remedy the incurable ill. He wished me to seek amusement in society. I abhorred the face of man. Oh, not abhorred! they were my brethren, my fellow beings, and I felt attracted even to the most repulsive among them, as to creatures of an angelic nature and celestial mechanism. But I felt that I had no right to share their intercourse. I had unchained an enemy among them, whose joy it was to shed their blood, and to revel in their groans. How they would, each and all, abhor me, and hunt me from the world, did they know my unhallowed acts, and the crimes which had their source in me! cu 29 msColl Chap. 16 This letter revived in my memory what I had before forgotten, the mi 1818 Thomas 1823 1831 cu 30 msColl Chap. 17 It was eight o'clock when we landed; we walked 1818 1818V3 CHAPTER VI CHAPTER VI. I T was eight o’clock when we landed; we walked for a short time on the shore, enjoying the transitory light, and then retired to the inn, and contemplated the lovely scene of waters, woods, and mountains, obscured in darkness, yet still displaying their black outlines. Thomas CHAPTER VI. I T was eight o’clock when we landed; 1823 CHAPTER XI. I T was eight o’clock when we landed; we walked for a short time on the shore, enjoying the transitory light, and then retired to the inn, and contemplated the lovely scene of waters, woods, and mountains, obscured in darkness, yet still displaying their black outlines. 1831 CHAPTER XXIII. I T was eight o’clock when we landed; we walked for a short time on the shore, enjoying the transitory light, and then retired to the inn, and contemplated the lovely scene of waters, woods, and mountains, obscured in darkness, yet still displaying their black outlines. cu 31 msColl Chap. 18 Alas! reflection in the 1818 1818V3 CHAPTER VII CHAPTER VII. M Y present situation was one in which all voluntary thought was swallowed up and lost. I was hurried away by fury; revenge alone endowed me with strength and composure; it modelled my feelings, and allowed me to be calculating and calm, at periods when otherwise delirium or death would have been my portion. Thomas CHAPTER VII. M Y present situation was one in which all voluntary thought was swallowed up and lost. I was hurried away by fury; revenge alone endowed me with strength and composure; it modelled my feelings, and allowed me to be calculating and calm, at periods when otherwise delirium or death would have been my portion. 1823 CHAPTER XII M Y present situation was one in which all voluntary thought was swallowed up and lost. I was hurried away by fury; revenge alone endowed me with strength and composure; it moulded my feelings, and allowed me to be calculating and calm, at periods when otherwise delirium or death would have been my portion. 1831 CHAPTER XXIV. M Y present situation was one in which all voluntary thought was swallowed up and lost. I was hurried away by fury; revenge alone endowed me with strength and composure; it moulded my feelings, and allowed me to be calculating cu 32 msColl Walton in continuation. August 1 3 You have read this strange & terrific story, August 1 3 You have read this strange & terrific story, Marg 1818 Thomas 1823 1831 cu 33 msColl September 7 The die is cast. I have consented to return if we are not destroyed. Thus are my hopes blasted– by cowardice and indecision – I come back September 1 2 1818 backmatter Thomas backmatter 1823 backmatter 1831 backmatter

Comparing five versions of Frankenstein

Legend

MS

1818

Thm

1823

1831

Alignments, gaps, and comparative lengths of each collation unit

chapter heading or other structural boundary

For more on our document data modeling,  see

Beshero-Bondar, Elisa E., and Raffaele Viglianti. “Stand-off Bridges in the Frankenstein Variorum Project: Interchange and Interoperability within TEI Markup Ecosystems.”  Balisage Series on Markup Technologies, vol. 21 (2018). https://doi.org/10.4242/BalisageVol21.Beshero-Bondar01.

 

”Preparing diversely encoded documents for collation challenges us to consider inconsistent and overlapping hierarchies as a tractable matter for computational alignment—where alignment becomes an organizing principle that fractures hierarchies, chunking if not atomizing them at the level of the smallest meaningfully sharable semantic features.”

 

”We have negotiated interchangeability by cutting across individual text hierarchies to emphasize lateral connections and commonalities—making a new TEI whose hierarchy serves as a stand-off ”spine” or ”switchboard” permitting comparison and sharing of common data. Our goal of pointing to aligned data required us to locate the interchangeable structural markers in our source documents.”

Publishing a Stand-off Critical Apparatus: Leveraging isomorphic representations across text and music notation 

Raff Viglianti (@raffazizzi)

songscapes.org

Stand-off apparatus and

the representation of primary sources

<l>alas forsaken I Complaine;</l>
<l>Alas deserted I Complain,</l>
<l>Alas deserted I complain;</l>

BL Add. MS 53723

C 709

Folger L638

Variant

Songscapes stand-off collation

TEI (no XPointer in this case)

<TEI>
  <div>
    <head>Text Collation</head>
    <app>
      <rdgGrp>
        <rdg wit="#BL_53723">
          <ptr target="tei/Ariadne-BL_53723.xml#v1"/>
        </rdg>
        <rdg wit="#L638">
          <ptr target="tei/Ariadne-L638.xml#v1"/>
        </rdg>
      </rdgGrp>
      <rdg wit="#C709">
        <ptr target="tei/Ariadne-C709.xml#v1"/>
      </rdg>
    </app>
  </div>
</TEI>

+

BL Add. MS 53723

+

Folger L638

C 709

Adapted from: https://github.com/EarlyModernSongscapes/songscapes/blob/master/data/collations/Theseus%2C_O_Theseus%2C_hark!.xml

Songscapes stand-off collation

<TEI>
  <div>
    <head>Music Collation</head>
    <notatedMusic>
      <mei:mei> <!-- header --> 
        <mei:music><mei:body><mei:mdiv><mei:score>
          <mei:app>
            <mei:rdg source="#M-BL_53723"
                 target="mei/Ariadne-BL_53723.xml#m-101
                         mei/Ariadne-BL_53723.xml#m-106"/>
            <mei:rdg source="#M-L638"
                target="mei/Ariadne-L638.xml#m-101
                        mei/Ariadne-L638.xml#m-106"/>
        
         </mei:app>
      </mei:score></mei:mdiv></mei:body></mei:music>
    </mei:mei>
  </div>
</TEI>

+

BL Add. MS 53723

+

Folger L638

MEI

Adapted from: https://github.com/EarlyModernSongscapes/songscapes/blob/master/data/collations/Theseus%2C_O_Theseus%2C_hark!.xml

Publishing this kind of model

(including Frankenstein Variorum!)

  • Typical TEI to HTML transformation would require transforming pointers too.
  • Pointers need to be followed in response to user interaction.
<ptr target="MSC56.xml#string-range(//line[13],0,21)" />

?

Isomorphic representations (TEI)

CETEIcean 🐳 (/sɪˈti:ʃn/)     https://github.com/TEIC/CETEIcean

HTML5 Custom Elements

<tei-lg type="stanza">
  <tei-l>Theseous! ô theseus! heark! but yet in vaine,</tei-l>
  <tei-l>alas <tei-seg xml:id="v4">forsaken</tei-seg> I Complaine;</tei-l>
  <tei-l>it was some Neighb'ringe Rock / more softe then he, /</tei-l>
  <tei-l rend="indent1">whose hollow Bowels pittyed me,</tei-l>
  <!-- ... -->
</tei-lg>
<lg type="stanza">
  <l>Theseous! ô theseus! heark! but yet in vaine,</l>
  <l>alas <seg xml:id="v4">forsaken</seg> I Complaine;</l>
  <l>it was some Neighb'ringe Rock / more softe then he, /</l>
  <l rend="indent1">whose hollow Bowels pittyed me,</l>
  <!-- ... -->
</lg>

Isomorphic representations (MEI)

  • Verovio: SVG as isomorphic surrogate of MEI

Songscapes viewer

music

text

From: ems.digitalscholarship.utsc.utoronto.ca/islandora/object/ems%3A102

Addressability beyond a single project

  • What if a stand-off collation pointed to TEI / MEI resources from other projects?
    • breaking silos (further)
    • building on existing resources / editions
  • We need well thought out and flexible stand-off support in TEI

Data models, many-witness texts, and the future of apparatus markup: a response

James Cummings (@jamescummings)

What *really* is a critical apparatus

  • Hugh Cayless started us out with an excellent (re-)introduction to critical apparatus and ways to view it specifically: 
    • TEI critical apparatus as variant graph
    • TEI critical apparatus as annotation
  • He suggested some things TEI critical apparatus is not
  • And tried to provoke us with TEI critical apparatus as standoff assertive annotation providing variant markup

A TEI app. crit. represents a forking and rejoining of the text stream, a run of text for which there are multiple possibilities. These possibilities may be constrained by their context.

A TEI app. crit. entry is a type of annotation on the text, asserting that a particular source or authority has a different opinion about the text content.

or...

  • 'And'? Are these mutually exclusive viewpoints or can we use both in the same document?

TEI app. crit. as (standoff) annotation

<p>The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.</p>
...
<listApp>
  <app from="#match(//p[1],'fox')">
    <lem wit="#A">fox</lem>
    <rdg wit="#B">mouse</rdg>
    <rdg xml:id="C1" wit="#C" exclude="#C2">cat</rdg>
  </app>
  <app from="#match(//p[1],'dog')">
    <lem wit="#C">dog</lem>
    <rdg xml:id="C2" wit="#B" exclude="#C1">cat</rdg>
  </app>
</listApp>
  • Is a <lemrom> necessary or is that determined by source? (if we own it?) But I suppose it provides metadata of witness?
  • Standoff apparatus seems _much_ easier if word-level markup exists. (e.g.  from="#w4") Should we be encouraging this?

What TEI app. crit. is not

  • NOT a superimposition of two or more complete texts.
    • ​You shouldn‘t expect to be able to derive any individual source text from a TEI critical edition.
  • Not a tool for comparing versions of a text.
  • ​Not particularly automatable—designed to show a (human) editor‘s interpretation of a textual tradition.

 

All that said, it’s a data structure, and can be repurposed. Collatex uses it as a collation export format, for example.

  • The key word is 'expect'... plenty of projects do precisely this with their markup because it has been created with this in mind. And software (c.f. Versioning Machine) works this way.
  • How do we document that this is a possibility in our metadata?
  • It will always be editor's version of witness

He’ll just leave this here...

<div type="textpart" subtype="chapter" n="1" xml:id="c1">
  <p type="textpart" subtype="section" n="1" xml:id="c1s1">
    <seg n="1" xml:id="c1s1p1">Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres, quarum unam incolunt Belgae, Aliam Aquitani, tertiam qui ipsorum lingua Celtae, nostra Galli appellantur.</seg>...</p></div>...
<standoff>
  <listApp>
    <app from="#match(//seg[@xml:id='c1s1p1'],'Gallia')">
      <rdg><placeName ref="https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/993" source="#Damon">Gallia</placeName></rdg>
    </app>
  </listApp>
</standoff>

“Damon says that ‘Gallia’ in chapter 1, paragraph 1, segment 1 is a place name referencing Pleiades #993.”

I’ll just change this here...

<div type="textpart" subtype="chapter" n="1" xml:id="c1">
  <p type="textpart" subtype="section" n="1" xml:id="c1s1">
    <seg n="1" xml:id="c1s1p1">Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres, quarum unam incolunt Belgae.</seg>...</p></div>...
<standoff>
  <listApp>
    <app from="#match(//seg[@xml:id='c1s1p1'],'Gallia')">
      <rdg>
        <div>
         <head>Does standoff have to result in valid TEI? 
         Should this only be used for assertive annotation?</head>
            <!-- Lots of random stuff here -->
        </div>
      </rdg>
    </app>
  </listApp>
</standoff>

Reminder: <div> and <floatingText> now allowed inside <rdg>... for better or worse

This is (not) Spinal Tap

  • Elisa Beshero-Bondar described the impressive 'nerve plexus' spine as central coordinating structure in Frankenstein Variorum
  • How much can be derived? Are general systems for collation spine construction possible?
  • Pointer based systems like this highlight the lack of good support for working in stand-off / out-of-line methods in most XML editors
  • Worry about fragility of string-ranges, while reasonable in closed ecosystem, how much should we worry about this with networked distributed systems not under our control?

algorithm for computer-aided collation, developed in 2009 workshop of collateX and Juxta developers.

  1. Tokenization :

    • Break down the smallest unit of comparison: (words--with punctuation, or character-by-character): FV tokenizes words and includes punctuation  

  2. Normalization  

    • ​​ ('&' = 'and')

  3. Alignment

    • Identify comparable divergence: what makes text sequences comparable units?

    • “Chunking” text into comparable passages (chapters/paragraphs that line up with identifiable start and end points). Collation proceeds chunk by chunk.

  4. Analysis  

    • ​​ (study output, correct, and re-align after machine process, AND refine automated processing)

  5. Visualization

    • ​​ critical edition apparatus, graph displays

Gothenburg Model

  • I like systems based on tokenized words (characters seems too overkill for me)
  • 'includes punctuation' -- in the word or as <pc>?
  • Always worried about normalization steps... what is lost? (Assuming nothing here, as is merely for collation?)
 <app xml:id="C10_app44">
          <rdgGrp xml:id="C10_app44_rg1"   
n="['&lt;del&gt;handsome&lt;del&gt;
&lt;del&gt;handsome&lt;
del&gt;beautiful.&lt;del&gt;handsome&lt;del&gt;beautiful;', 'great']" 
         
            <rdg wit="fMS">&lt;lb n="c56-0045__main__23"/&gt;
  &lt;del rend="strikethrough" sID="c56-0045__main__d2e9837"/&gt;
handsome&lt;del eID="c56-0045__main__d2e9837"/&gt;
&lt;mdel&gt;.
&lt;/mdel&gt;&lt;lb n="c56-0045__left_margin__1"/&gt;
&lt;del rend="strikethrough" sID="c56-0045__left_margin__d2e9853"/&gt;handsome&lt;
del eID="c56-0045__left_margin__d2e9853"/&gt;beautiful.
&lt;del rend="strikethrough" sID="c56-0045__main__d2e9865"/&gt;
Handsome&lt;del eID="c56-0045__main__d2e9865"/&gt;
Beautiful; Great </rdg>
       </rdgGrp>

	<rdgGrp xml:id="C10_app44_rg2" n="['beautiful.', 'beautiful!—great']">
	       <rdg wit="f1818">beautiful. Beautiful!—Great </rdg>
	       <rdg wit="f1823">beautiful. Beautiful!—Great </rdg>
	       <rdg wit="fThomas">beautiful. Beautiful!—Great </rdg>
	       <rdg wit="f1831">beautiful. Beautiful!—Great </rdg>
	</rdgGrp>
</app>

Collating with markup: "handsome" / "beautiful" passage

  • Escaping XML like this frightens me. If our collation systems need to do this, maybe we need to improve our systems!
  • That said, I don't necessarily have a better solution for this use case.
  • Impressive how spine system enables collation between such differing data models?
  • Are <line> elements fixed? (why not @xml:id based with string-range() inside that?)

Publishing a Stand-off Critical Apparatus

  • Raffaele Viglianti provides us with interesting information on the publication of a spine-based model similar to the Frankenstein Variorum but also using Early Modern Soundscapes project
  • Important to note separation of encoding choices and editorial decisions from the system of modelling variance
  • Useful reminder that critical apparatus might not be of text, but potentially of music, or text&music
  • Demonstrates again that we still need much better tools for standOff critical appartus and creating such spines

Songscapes TEI stand-off collation

TEI (no XPointer)

<TEI>
  <div>
    <head>Text Collation</head>
    <app>
      <rdgGrp>
        <rdg wit="#BL_53723">
          <ptr target="tei/Ariadne-BL_53723.xml#v1"/>
        </rdg>
        <rdg wit="#L638">
          <ptr target="tei/Ariadne-L638.xml#v1"/>
        </rdg>
      </rdgGrp>
      <rdg wit="#C709">
        <ptr target="tei/Ariadne-C709.xml#v1"/>
      </rdg>
    </app>
  </div>
</TEI>

+

BL Add. MS 53723

+

Folger L638

C 709

Adapted from: https://github.com/EarlyModernSongscapes/songscapes/blob/master/data/collations/Theseus%2C_O_Theseus%2C_hark!.xml

  • Feel more comfortable with ID-based pointers
  • Why not use a pointing attribute on <rdg> for compact markup? (But which one? @corresp?)
    • Do we need @target on <rdg>? Or @from/@to as on <app>?

Publishing this kind of model

  • implications of using a stand-off apparatus for driving a digital publication:
    • typical TEI -> HTML transformation requires transforming pointers too
    • pointers may need to be followed in response to user interaction 
  • What happens when pointers can no longer be followed?
  • In examples shown is spine truly needed? Or could same data be generated and stored in minimal if redundant copies in each edition?
  • Useful beyond single project; Does this lead to a need for meta-spine edition of spine-based editions?

Some General Concerns

  • Scalability: How do these approaches scale, not only to hundreds of witnesses but to thousands?
  • Fragility: For any stand-off solution does how we point to things depend on how likely they are to change, move, or die?
  • Practicality: How easy to adopt with less technical burden?
  • Readability: Just possible with id-based systems and small number of witnesses, becomes opaque with string-ranges or many witnesses. We need better stand-off encoding software.
  • Incompatible granularity: TEI critical apparatus now enables you to have a <rdg> with phrase content next to one with a <div> or <floatingText> inside. Does this cause limitations when making comparisons?
  • Future: What is next for TEI critical apparatus? How much should TEI legislate form of particular stand-off approaches? Tradeoffs between flexibility and constraint?

Document Modeling with the TEI Critical Apparatus

A Panel for the TEI 2019 Conference in Graz, Austria

Presenters: Hugh Cayless (@hcayless), Elisa Beshero-Bondar (@epyllia), Raffaele Viglianti (@raffazizzi)

Respondent: James Cummings (@jamescummings)