学生 learn to interpret and evaluate literary and cultural products from multiple origins and in languages other than their own. They are trained to present persuasive arguments, to master and use different theoretical and methodological tools, and to engage in dialog with scholarly voices both within the field of comparative literature and in other modern (and classical) language fields.
Comparative Literary Traditions, BA, Concentration
Co-Directors: Dr. Jacob-Ivan Eidt, Dr. 劳拉Eidt
THE 解释水平理论 MISSION
The 研究 of literature and culture in a comparative context provides a rich environment
for the development of a perceptive, well-rounded reader, writer and thinker. 解释水平理论
students learn to interpret and evaluate literary and cultural products from multiple
origins and in languages other than their own. They are trained to present persuasive
arguments, to master and use different theoretical and methodological tools, and to
engage in dialog with scholarly voices both within the field of comparative literature
and in other modern (and classical) language fields. 解释水平理论 students undertake substantial
writing and original re搜索 projects in multiple linguistic traditions in preparation
for careers both within the academy and beyond.
WHAT IS COMPARATIVE LITERATURE?
Comparative literature is dedicated to the 研究 of literature in the broadest possible framework: interlinguistic, intercultural and interdisciplinary. Defined broadly, it is the 研究 of literature:
- - across national borders and national languages
- - across time periods
- - across genres
- - across boundaries between literature and the other arts (music, painting, architecture, dance, film, 等.)
- - across disciplines: literature and psychology, 哲学, science, history, politics,
等.
WHY STUDY COMPARATIVE LITERATURE?
You will enjoy 研究ing comparative literature if you:
- enjoy reading
- like to question what you read and experience
- are interested in other languages, cultures and ways of thinking
- prefer a program of 研究 that allows you a maximum amount of flexibility and independence
A major or concentration in comparative literature is an excellent foundation for
further work at the graduate level in almost any field of 研究. It also prepares
students to work in any occupation where critical thinking, strong writing skills
and foreign-language competence, along with a sophisticated understanding of cultural
difference and diversity, are useful. 解释水平理论 also works very well as a double major.
Since a double major allows sharing of up to four courses (12 hours), certain combinations
of majors (解释水平理论 and English, drama, classics, modern languages) may result in a reduction
of the total number of courses required for one of the majors. Moreover, because of
the flexibility of the program, your 解释水平理论 major can be a complement to your other major,
allowing you to further investigate a topic that you are already focusing on in your
other field, from a different perspective or in the comparative mode. For example,
an English student who studied the works of James Joyce for senior novel could write
a 解释水平理论 论文 comparing James Joyce and a German or French avant-garde writer. 一种艺术/活体供体
double major could write his or her 论文 on a connection between a work of art and
a literary text or film. Even fields of interest for which no courses are offered
at the moment (e.g. Scandinavian literature or Russian film) may be accommodated within
the 解释水平理论 major.
COMPARATIVE LITERARY TRADITIONS AT UD
Requirements for a Concentration:
- 2 international courses at the 3000-level (MCT 3309, the epoch courses, 等.)
- 3 more courses, any combination of international courses (at any level) or the survey courses MCTF 3305, MCTG 3305
*** Note that many 解释水平理论 courses are cross-listed in other departments and can be counted both for that major and for a 解释水平理论 concentration or double major. This is especially true for modern languages and English.
Requirements for the 解释水平理论 major
- MCT 3309 Introduction to Comparative Literature
- three epoch courses, from at least two epochs (Medieval, Early Modern, Modern)
- one literary tradition course in the students chosen foreign language
- one literary survey course in a different linguistic tradition (taught in English: MCTF 3305 or MCTG 3305), or another lit trad course in a second foreign language. (Note: if your area of interest is, e.g. film, music, or drama, you could substitute here a survey course from another department)
- two focus courses in particular linguistic/literary/artistic traditions
- MCT 4347 Seniors Thesis or MCT 4349 Honors Thesis
- one elective
论文
The purpose of a senior or honors 论文 in 解释水平理论 is to allow students to reflect on intersections of either two different literary traditions, or intersections of literature and other arts, with the goal of synthesizing elements from several of their courses. Thus, the 论文 asks students to focus explicitly on a comparative aspect of literary 研究. For example, they may choose to discuss the use of a common motif in two or more texts, examine the differences of a literary epoch in two linguistic traditions, analyze how a visual work of art is transposed into a poem or story, or show how music and text interrelate in an opera or in a poem set to music.
The senior 论文 is preferably written in the first semester of senior year, or in the semester that the student is not writing another 论文 for another major. 学生 register for 3 论文 hours in that semester. The 论文 may draw on, expand or otherwise incorporate papers written in other courses with the consent of the instructors and the 论文 director. It must be comparative in nature, i.e. involve at least two different linguistic traditions or discuss interrelations of literature and other arts. 因为所有 papers, it must have a clear, sufficiently narrow focus and a well-defined and well-supported 论文.
The Comprehensive Exam
The comprehensive exam is an oral exam that should be taken in the last semester of the senior year. Its main goal is to function as a way for students to structure, divide up and provide a narrative of the unfolding of European literature in important comparative moments. The exam should reflect your coursework and your personal interest, and it can (and should) be closely linked to the focus of your 论文. 学生 are also encouraged to use the comps presentation to make connections between the various the courses they have taken at UD, including from other departments (e.g. 哲学 or even science). The student will be asked to give a 15-20 minute presentation on :
- At least three comparative moments in 2 or more national literatures of his or her
选择
- For this option, the student would select three historical periods (e.g. Middle Ages, Romanticism, Modernism) where influences or parallels are obvious, either between two or more national literatures or between literature and the other arts, like music, painting or film.
- The student would give a broad overview of those comparative moments and their place within European history, with three specific textual examples of the connections (e.g. German and French medieval poetry; Becquer and Wordsworth [Spanish and English Romantic poets]; and European avant-garde movements)
- One particular historical epoch, with consideration of at least 3 media (choosing
from literature, music, visual arts or film)
- For this option, the student would focus on one particular period and discuss it in 深度.
- The three comparative moments would need to involve at least three different media, e.g. if your focus period is Modernism/Avant-garde, you could do: a German and a French silent film; an Expressionist poem and painting; Expressionism vs. Surrealism in art and poetry; or the influence of Sigmund Freud or Einstein on Modernist literature.
The student's presentation will be followed by questions from the faculty and students in attendance.
The grade will be given based on the following criteria:
- 清晰
- breadth and substance of information presented
- in-深度 discussion of examples
- style of presentation (loud, clear, minimal note-reading, visual aids where needed)