Comparative literature can be simply defined as the study of texts across cultures. It’s said to be interdisciplinary. It’s concerned with patterns.

Comparative Literature/

Comparative literature can be simply defined as

the study of texts across cultures.

It’s said to be interdisciplinary.

It’s concerned with patterns of connection in

literatures across both time and space.

Definition

Tracing, for example, Shakespeare’s source materials through Latin or Spanish ones.

Borrowing from other writers

Source Studies

In 1816, a series of French anthologies entitled cours de

litterature comparee used for teaching literature were

published.

From that time and on, comparative literature carried this

name.

In 1857, Matthew Arnold mentioned the term in the plural

form “ comparative literatures” in a lecture at Oxford.

1854, the term first appeared in Germany when it was

mentioned in a book by Moriz Carriere.

Appearance of the Term

It has been clearly debatable whether

comparative literature is a discipline or is it simply

a field of study. (crises of CL) Rene Wellek

In her book, Bassnett frankly mentions that

comparative lit. is a field of study.

According to Croce, it is neither a subject nor a

separate discipline.

A discipline or a field of study ?

From his point of view, comparative

literature is a process since he considered it

as a process of exploring alterations and

developments of literary ideas across

literatures.

There are some nice definitions of the comparatist:

While art is generally thought of as an instrument of

universal harmony, the comparatist is simply the one

who is responsible for disseminating that harmony.

comparatively speaking, the comparatist resembles

an “international ambassador working on the

comparative literatures of united nations.”

Who is the comparatist?

Harry Levin complained that we spend far too much of our energy talking about the theory and not enough in comparing the literature’

In the late 1970s new programmes in CL began to emerge in China, Japan and other Asian countries.

Theory or Practice

In India, comparative literature has been “used

to assert the national cultural identity.”

A shift of perspective took place there.

While it used to start with Western literature and

then look outwards, nowadays comparative

literature especially in India is following a

completely opposite method: starting with India’s

own literature then looking outwards.

Comparative Literature and Nationalism

English Lit is in Crisis. How should we look at other literatures

written in English from all parts of the world (by Africans, or Arabs)

The work of Edward Saied (orientalism) has provided critics with new vision about the Orient and the Other in postcolonial literature.

Terry Eaglton

How to view Shakespeare or Milton?

Treat him comparatively by comparing his work with reference to Indian culture and literature.

CL declining in the west but rising in the east (in India, Latin America, Africa…)due to rise of nationalism.

Emergence of PCL in 1990 as another name of CL.

Translate to Arabic (activity) from Stylistics slides

Relationship bet CL and translation studies. Relationship bet linguistics and semiotics

Bassnette remarks that KL appears les like a discipline and more like a branch of something else.

Impact of Translation Studies on CL

First appearance of the term was in France 1816 Germany 1854 England 1848 Mathew Arnold

Influence studies (influence and imitation) How to perceive influence: as borrowing or

appropriation or theft. (forgery, plagiarism, attribution)

How CL Came into Being

Colonial writers usually underestimate the value of other literatures, Africans, Arabs…etc.

How to classify the works of African writers living in England and writing in English..a vexed question…(Altayab Saleh)

Edward Fitzgerald’s attack on Persian Lit. Racist and absurd one in the eyes of our author. This reflects the superiority of western culture which is part of the politics of imperialism.

The Imperial Perspective

Cultural Colonialism was also a form of Cl where native writers were evaluated negatively in comparison.

Even in Europe itself, French scholars advocate the superiority of French culture and lit. ( Cultural Chauvinism )

Establishment of Chairs of CL France (1897) and in the US at Harvard Un in 1890. A chair of CL at the Un of Colombia for Edward Saied.

Journals of CL were then founded in Europe.

The paradox of early CL

There has come to be two obviously different schools of comparative

literature:

the French and the American

Different Schools

The French school was too narrow and relied too heavily on factual evidence.

It argued that Comparative literature ought to involve the study of two elements ( two different languages).

Therefore, a study involving French and Germany was acceptable, but one including Beowulf and Paradise Lost was not.

The French CL tended to focus more on the products of the human mind, whereas the German CL were more concerned with the roots or spirit of the nation.

Different Schools

Paul Van Tiegham tried to solve the problem of the term by distinguishing bet cl, general lit and world lit. he is in favor of the assumption that CL should involve the study of two languages……binary study bet two literatures (restricted approach) linguistic barrier…..

Should we consider authors like Yeats and Shaw as English or Irish….

Wellek attacks the French schools regarding it as a cause of the crisis of CL.

The American school, however, was completely different. It was a lot more liberal. Henry Remak.

According to it, anything could be compared with anything else, regardless even of whether that was literature or not. Interdisciplinary and universal.

Unlike the French one, the American school will even allow you to compare a poem with a song.

Melting pot theory p33

Different Schools

To assert two needs

The need to involve politics in CL

The need to start from home culture ( as a model or center of excellence) and to look outwards.

Post-Colonial Approaches 1960

Decline of Greek and Latin languages . Spread of English as the new world of commerce and market place.

Names of Dept of Cl in the West Concept of Placing Ibsen and Chekov in London

The decline of Classical education and the 1990 Rise of English

Language and Culture Lit and Culture.

Edward Saied and his famous book Culture and Imperialism

CL and Cultural Studies 1990s

Simply speaking, a comparatist is

normally expected to

A. read the two texts to be compared.

B. highlight the similarities

C. find out the differences

D. make clear the idea of influence

What is the comparatist’s job?

The end