Literature is more than just books and stories. This realm has a variety of factors that are beneficial to its patrons and its broad array of genres and subjects are among the advantageous things a reader can get. One of the hit literary subjects that many have stumbled upon during their English classes or have seen on a particular aisle in bookstores is comparative literature. Thus, let us get to know this topic.
What is comparative literature
Comparative literature refers to the academic discipline that focuses on the study of literature and culture, which covers multiple frontiers, including language, country, geography, and discipline. In other words, the role that it plays is comparative to the academic field called international relations. However, the former deals with languages and artistic customs, as well as get a better grasp on cultural expression.
Moreover, it centers on the connection between literature and other types of cultural expression. There are various questions that this subject can give light to, such as the stand of literature in the society, ways of answering to values, movements in the society, and political aspects through literature, and more.
The main goal of comparative literature is to promote reading across linguistic extremities to put the spotlight on things that the entire concentration on national literature seems to go hazy. While most often tackled along with writings of diverse languages, this study can also be utilized on works of similar languages if they came from various countries and cultures among which the language is spoken.
The distinctively intercultural and cross-border field of this study examines the connection between literature, widely defined, and other domains of human events, such as politics, art, science, history, and the likes. In contrast to the other types of literary subjects, comparative literature gives emphasis on the multidisciplinary evaluation of social and cultural creation all throughout international relations, economy, cultural movements, economy, historical movements, religious diversity, etc.
George Brandes, furthermore, is considered the father of comparative literature. He was sensitive to Romanticism’s rejection in Europe, as well as to the emerging of realist, scientific, and pragmatic concepts and ideas in various fields. Brandes was acknowledged as the father of comparative literature because he is known as the first literary critic to get a better grasp of the native artistic creations as the outcome of an extremely particular mindset. Main Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature, which is titled his masterwork, showcases the cutting edge and the response in the three European kinds of literature added to his credibility.
Early Writers of Comparative Literature
There are many works that are considered comparative literature in today’s day and age. However, there are handfuls that are actually recognized as the foundations of this subject. These said writings are written by the following remarkable figures:
- Juan Andrés
- Hugo Meltzi de Lomnitz
- H.M. Posnett
But, precursors can be seen in the concepts of John Wolfgang von Goethe in his views of world literature. Many Russian formalists also gave credit to the Russian literary theorist Alexander Nikolayevich Veselovsskly for setting down the groundwork for comparative literature.
Modern and Contemporary Writings under Comparative Literature
Comparative literature has been an important part of the literary realm. Many have learned various things from this subject. Even from the modern to the contemporary period of literature, there are many works that have showcased the features of this subject. Listed below are the best comparative literature books in the modern and contemporary literary eras.
- One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – It was originally written in Spanish with the title Cien Años De Soledad. This particular work by Marquez was translated by Gregory Rabassa and was published by three different publishers.
- Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf – This remarkable book was first published in 1925 by Hogarth Press. It tackles different kinds of themes, such as mental health, existential concerns, feminism, time and secular living, and homosexuality.
- The Yellow Rose: A Novel of the Texas Revolution by Carl R. Bush and Bob Stewart – The words “Yellow Rose” in the title refers to a beautiful mulatto woman. Thus, the book centers on the story of Emily West, and her tale is connected to a song and legend with the 1836 Texas Revolution.
Therefore, comparative literature is definitely an interesting and a great subject to learn from and get to know.
The Damsel’s Files 