Interpolation as Critical Category

Interpolation as Critical Category Hannah Weaver (bio) Abstract Maligned by ancient Alexandrian librarians and twentieth-century philologists alike, interpolation has a long history of negative criticism that obscures its ubiquity utility in the medieval period. This article first tells story interpolation, using Latin verb interpolare through-line across centuries commentary. In this vision, consensus is interpolations must be detected order to eliminated. The trouble with deleting suppresses very idea texts were open such interruptive revisions; erasing embedded texts, these editors quietly do away an important part textual culture. To get around problem, then proposes alternative which practices reflect flexible attitudes toward authorship unity. Drawing on Derrida's parergon, I argue for inextricability so-called extraneous material from work itself. Ultimately, revealed indispensable aspect culture been unjustly sidelined because misunderstanding it attack integrity, rather than deep form interpretive engagement. Interpolation, defined simply nonauthorial inserted into another text, literally figuratively disturbs intervenes. embedding foreign reshapes way, disturbing. It equally troubles any certainty about status object, disturbing those who cherish integrity authorial prestige markers authority. Indeed, practice often associated falsification harm, particularly since sticklers insist true attempt fool readers passing off authorial.1 A mass evidence points something destructive similar other literary "crimes" forgery, plagiarism, pseudepigraphy. his entry (to interpolate), seventeenth-century lexicographer Charles Du Cange sums up opinion dominated some two thousand years when he writes, "Interpolations … are said additions or insertions, their insertion harm books, originals not copied faithfully carefully, whether was done purpose not."2 Worry over authority purity transmission exudes definition. power change essential work––a reads invariably harmful. Perhaps tenacious evaluations, received much scholarly attention date.3 Disdainful notwithstanding, fact common manuscript western Middle Ages, large-scale dozens even hundreds lines appeared works generically diverse histories, chivalric romances, fabliaux, lays, allegories, Bible, various vernaculars. habit persisted early print period, pages quires could still added easily books sold unbound.4 For nonspecialists, tremendous adaptability characterizes textuality might come surprise, nowadays usually encountered tidy editions physically resemble large run. Medievalists, however, have investigated flexibility [End Page 1] Ages.5 Texts recognized fundamentally systems, susceptible intervention named unnamed contributors. Over last half-century, critics described immense mutability textualities suite nonidentical but related terms, notably mouvance, variance, "mutable stability."6 From perspective, amount revisionary energy text attracts can indicate continuing relevance high status, lack respect degradation.7 Yet, although participates characteristic lost shadow critical opprobrium. close kinship many more celebrated compositional practices, including compilation, continuation, citation, performed number people text.8 But differs always...