Comparative Literature
Comparative Literature (commonly abbreviated as “Comp. Lit.”) appeals to students who love to read, discuss ideas, and explore the creative possibilities of language. Situating the study of literature within a transnational context and expanding the range of literary study beyond both national and disciplinary boundaries, Comp. Lit. attends to cultural and linguistic diversity as well as changing technologies and new media. Majors work in at least one language other than English and with texts from different historical periods; they consider forms of cultural production from non-Western cultures as well as classics from the Western tradition. While the primary focus of Comp. Lit. courses is on literary texts, they also examine the relationships between literature and other media (e.g. film, visual art, digital media) or between the study of literature and other disciplines (including philosophy, religion, history, law, medicine, psychoanalysis, creative writing, theater). Through the practice of close reading students learn how texts create meaning; through critical engagement with different methods of analysis they explore the interpretive power of theory. Treating subjects as varied as fantasy, science fiction, and anime; Shakespeare in Russian culture; the politics of emotion; global feminist literature; literature and visual culture in the Americas; literature, history, and memory; literature, psychoanalysis, and law; race and/in popular music; and postcolonial theory, Comp. Lit. courses engage fundamental questions integral to the contemporary humanities: How do we define “human” and what rights do we attach to this concept? How does language function and what are its limits? How do ethics, politics, and religion understand justice differently? How does memory shape our view of history? How do different communication technologies affect us? Why does aesthetic form matter?
Concentrations
Faculty
- Chair
- Geoffrey Bennington
- Director of Undergraduate Studies
- Angelika Bammer
- Core
Courses
CPLT 100-Level Courses
Instruction in rhetorical composition, critical reading, reflection, and writing as recursive process. Across themed sections, students engage with diverse genres. Courses share some common assignments including research writing and final student-curated portfolio with reflection project.
- Credit Hours
- 4
- GER
- FW
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
Freshman-only seminar designed to engage students in various aspects of inquiry and research with the close guidance of a faculty member.
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GER
- FS
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
CPLT 200-Level Courses
This course draws on classical, modern, and contemporary texts to introduce skills required for reading comparatively across national traditions and academic disciplines with an emphasis on close reading, critical interpretation, and the multiplicity of linguistic traditions around the world. *Note: This course is non-repeatable.
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GER
- HA
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
This course draws on classical, modern, and contemporary texts to introduce skills required for reading comparatively across national traditions and academic disciplines with an emphasis on close reading, critical interpretation, and the multiplicity of linguistic traditions around the world. *Note: This course is non-repeatable.
- Credit Hours
- 4
- GER
- HAW
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
This course introduces students to the way translation between different literatures, literary genres, and new media impacts our comparative reading of texts. *Note: This course is non-repeatable.
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GER
- HA
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
This course introduces students to the way translation between different literatures, literary genres, and new media impacts our comparative reading of texts. *Note: This course is non-repeatable.
- Credit Hours
- 4
- GER
- HAW
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
CPLT 300-Level Courses
An introduction to different methods of literary criticism and textual interpretation, applying a variety of theoretical approaches to selected literary texts. Readings include essays, fiction, poetry, and drama. *Note: This course is non-repeatable.
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GER
- HAP
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
An introduction to different methods of literary criticism and textual interpretation, applying a variety of theoretical approaches to selected literary texts. Readings include essays, fiction, poetry, and drama. *Note: This course is non-repeatable.
- Credit Hours
- 4
- GER
- HAPW
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
Learning to read literature from a rheoretical viewpoint, its formal properties, distinctive features, origins, purposes, and capacities for representing the world; representative critics and schools from contemporary and earlier periods. *Note: This course is non-repeatable.
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GER
- HAP
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
Learning to read literature from a rheoretical viewpoint, its formal properties, distinctive features, origins, purposes, and capacities for representing the world; representative critics and schools from contemporary and earlier periods. *Note: This course is non-repeatable.
- Credit Hours
- 4
- GER
- HAPW
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
A study of literary texts and their complex interplay with other disciplines (e.g., literature and psychoanalysis, literature and philosophy, literature and law, and literature and religion.)
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GER
- HAP
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
A study of literary texts and their complex interplay with other disciplines (e.g., literature and psychoanalysis, literature and philosophy, literature and law, and literature and religion.)
- Credit Hours
- 4
- GER
- HAPW
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
Modern literatures form around the world taught in a comparative or global framework. Course may be repeated when topic changes.
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 3
- GER
- HAP
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
Modern literatures form around the world taught in a comparative or global framework. Course may be repeated when topic changes.
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 4
- GER
- HAPW
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
Lively topical or theoretical approaches to a given set of literary texts or problems. May be repeated for credit when subject varies..
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 4
- GER
- HAP
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
Lively topical or theoretical approaches to a given set of literary texts or problems. May be repeated for credit when subject varies. Fulfills the post-freshman writing requirement.
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 5
- GER
- HAPW
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
CPLT 400-Level Courses
This course is designed to give advanced students the opportunity to investigate intensively an area of special interest. A reading knowledge of one foreign language is prerequisite. Topics may vary, but the goal of the course remains unchanged: the courses focuses on contemporary literary theory.
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 4
- GER
- HAP
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
This course is designed to give advanced students the opportunity to investigate intensively an area of special interest. A reading knowledge of one foreign language is prerequisite. Topics may vary, but the goal of the course remains unchanged: the courses focuses on contemporary literary theory.
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 5
- GER
- HAPW
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
Intensive reading of literary and theoretical texts that raise critical issues in the field of Comparative Literature and related disciplines. Note: This course is non-repeatable.
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GER
- HAP
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
Intensive reading of literary and theoretical texts that raise critical issues in the field of Comparative Literature and related disciplines. Note: This course is non-repeatable.
- Credit Hours
- 4
- GER
- HAPW
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
Prerequisite: approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Open to candidates for honors in their senior year.
- Credit Hours
- 3
- GER
- XA
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
Prerequisite: approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Open to candidates for honors in their senior year.
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 8
- GER
- CW
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None
Directed studies of special topics in literature. Open to students with consent of instructor and approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
- Credit Hours
- 1 - 4
- GER
- None
- Requisites
- None
- Cross-Listed
- None