The Codex Optimus Attitude: Methodological Bias in Editions of the Poetic Edda

This contribution addresses two topics: the methodological bias in critical editions of the Poetic Edda, and the classification and origin of variants. These points are addressed through discussion of selected variants in the most well-known critical editions. The methodological bias, here defined as “codex optimus attitude”, refers to editorial choices that prioritize the readings of the Codex Regius of the Poetic Edda as they are. This article argues that the lack of interest in emendations and evaluation of other manuscripts presenting a lectio difficilior, or a metrically more solid reading, implies that the editorial criteria are not in line with the methodological principles of textual criticism. This preference is applied inconsistently, however, since some famously corrupted readings in R are put aside in most editions in favour of other witnesses. This demonstrated that there is not always careful evaluation in the choice of variants, and it reveals that we are dealing with a bias, rather than a principled choice. In the article, the selected variants are also discussed in the light of oral and written transmission to establish how they originated, thus taking the discussion about textual transmission beyond the traditional confines of the written text.