Comparison of the 4 versions of Stifters Mappe

The goal of the research project is to create a text-genetic comparison of all four versions, in the sense of a complete text-genetic representation of the (in)variances among the versions; such a project is possible for the first time now within the framework of the annotation of the third and fourth versions of Stifter`s "Mappe meines Urgroßvaters." All four versions of the "Mappe" have been available since 2004 as a historical-critically constituted reading text (HKG, vol. 1,2; 1,5; 6,1; 6,2). The full complex of the "Mappe" literature is considered the key to Stifter`s poetic work [poetic undertaking]; the comparison of the versions is, therefore, of extraordinary importance as the basis for all future interpretational work on the full complex of material. The methodological hurdles for the desired comparison are great; the individual versions exhibit great variances with respect to both their length (J: 92 pp.; B: 224 pp.; 3rd version: 336 pp.; 4th version: 258 pp.) and the structure of their content and form, but the individual versions display numerous invariances as well. The adoption of W. Morgenthaler`s computer-assisted "Parallel representation of both versions" of the "Grüner Heinrich," developed within the framework of the historical-critical edition of the works of Gottfried Keller, offers solutions for our tasks; the parallel representation`s innovative character results from the ability to process electronically large volumes of text. A user-friendly reference system enables one to access the (in)variances in the versions via direct textual readings. It is possible to move from a given text point [text position] in one version to the corresponding point [position] in the other versions without having to resort to more or less complicated translation tables. This research will develop solutions to the problem of making the four versions of the "Mappe" -- in contrast to the 2 versions of the "Grüner Heinrich" -- presentable and accessible on the screen. Two complementary, synoptically structured reference systems will be adopted for this task: 1) a "parallel representation" of all four versions, a computer-assisted online- representation. By clicking on a blue button, the user can match the paragraphs of the invariant passages as well as the variant passages, i.e., the passages of varying agreement. In cases of predominant variance, textual differences will be indicated by colors. To be faded in: scans of handwritten texts; synopses of the chapters, topography, fictional characters, and fictional datings; table of contents and search functions. 2) References (version, page, line) to the analog text points [positions] in the other versions are found on the right-hand margin of the texts of the versions.

Since 2004, all four versions of the Mappe meines Urgroßvaters have been available as historical-critical reading texts in volumes 1.2, 1.5, 6.1 and 6.2 of the Historisch-Kritische Gesamtausgabe (HKG) of the works and letters of Adalbert Stifter. The four versions differ not only in length (journal version 90 pages, book version 225, 3rd version 336, 4th version 258) but also through extensive changes to narrative structure and meaning. These include the rearrangement of individual narrative elements, changes in configuration, plot and sequence, changes to the interconnections between sequences concerning plot and motif, as well as in later versions a reshaping of the motifs introduced in earlier versions (e.g. the suicide motif of Doctor Augustinus as introduced in the first version and its reshaping in the third and fourth versions of the book version). Due to innovations in the field of electronic text processing, a text-genetic comparison of versions in the form of a parallel representation of all four versions is possible (online) for the first time in the history of Stifter research; this model, however, is based exclusively on the chronology of the text genesis (J: 1841/42; B: 1847; V3: 1864, V4: 1867/68). The work on the layout of the website, whose virtual server is part of the infrastructure of the IT Services at the University of Salzburg, is expected to be completed during the course of 2015. It will then be possible, without having to resort to the laborious use of tables, for experts as well as interested readers of Stifter to move from a text passage in the reference version to the corresponding passage in the comparison version.Based on the computer-assisted parallel representation of both versions of the Grüne Heinrich (http://www.gottfriedkeller.ch/GH/GH_Parallel.htm), the project team has developed a digital comparison model; due to different requirements, however, this model employs partly different visual and operational solutions (combined comparison and reference system). In the left-hand window of the display, the scrolling text of the reference version (J or B or V3), selected using the drop-down menu (version, chapter), appears; a chapter synopsis to help the user gain an overview is available. Each text passage (narrative sequence) defined by the project team in the three reference versions is marked with an interactive coloured dot, which, through a mouse click, opens a small window with the abbreviations for the compared versions (e.g. B, V3, V4); when the texts match sufficiently, the abbreviations are underlined (B, V?, V?), and direct reading of the determined comparison passage in the right-hand window is made possible by clicking on the underlined abbreviation. The co-text of the passage can be viewed using the [more] function, thereby extending the text excerpt vertically in both directions; the [less] function reduces the size of the text excerpt (comparison system). The page and line numbers next to the underlined abbreviations, which designate the beginning and end of the comparison passage, correspond to those in the volumes of the HKG (reference system). Interactive access to the scans and transcripts of Stifters ten discarded pages is planned for the appropriate text passages of the third version. Since the narrative transformations in the four versions also manifest themselves in central elements contributing to coherence, such as constellations of character, space, and time, synopses according to topographical names, character names, and explicit dates (e.g. years, months) can be displayed. By using the search function, words, parts or words, metaphors and much more can be found or found again.