Malamud at Oregon State: A Digital Humanities Project

Part Two: Edition Differences (Close Reading)

Summary of Project.
The primary function of this section is to provide close analysis of the difference in significant character interactions throughout the novel between editions. We feel this section will give users a closer look at the character dynamics displayed in part one of this project through the lens of close analysis. Keeping consistent with the definition of literature as a "process" rather than an end product, this section of the project supports analysis of the evolution of the text. The "closer look at Malamud's editing process," components will also give readers an easier way to analyze revision history and trace the evolution of the novel. We hope that this kind of analysis will also give insight into the general principles of the craft. Additionally, the unique format allows readers to explore Malamud's revision in the form of suggested line-by-line edits based on careful study of differences between the manuscript and the published novel. Several of the following moments are linked thematically to corresponding graphs in part one to encourage multiple ways of moving through the project other than the linear way these moments are structured within part two.  

How it works:
The following interactions are grouped by character interactions. The Pauline and Levin tab, for example, displays moments we feel are significant in analyzing the dynamics between these two characters. Within subcategories, the moments are organized chronologically. On each page, you will be able to view the manuscript version with Malamud's notes beside the published version. Once you scroll down, you will be able to view a simulation of Malamud's revision process. The red text represents any changes Malamud made to the manuscript. The additions are simply red text and the omissions are both red and crossed-out to portray sections of text that are entirely absent from the published version. The text in black is the words that survived in the published draft. On a first glance, users will be able to see a visual representation of roughly what percentage of the text escaped the revision process unharmed, what percentage was deemed unworthy, and what percentage Malamud added at some point before publication of the novel. For example, if a page contains a lot of red text, but not a lot of it is crossed out, this may suggest a scene where Malamud felt satisfied with the foundation version of the scene, but decided to expand it. In at least one moment per section, an analysis of these differences follows in the form of close-reading that focuses on the revision process.  In moments where this analysis is in the form of contextual notes, we highly encourage user participation in adding commentary or interpretation in the form of comments.  

 

This page has paths:

Contents of this path: