TANAUAN INSTITUTE

Introduction to
Comparative
Literature
Submitted by Tristan R. Mala banan
Junnel P. Qui as

BSCRIM 1H
 The world is more interconnected than ever
before, meaning information travels faster than
ever before. While this makes communication
easier, it also poses a risk not only of
misinformation but also misunderstanding
between cultures. Messages get lost in
translation frequently enough within a single
language or culture, but across languages and
cultures the picture gets even more
complicated.

Introduction
Origin Comparative literature is an
academic discipline devoted to
studying how culture and literature are
expressed differently in different
nations and languages. According to
some scholars, the term “comparative
literature” was first introduced in
French in 1816, as litté raturecomparée.
It wasn’t until the later 19th century
that the field was institutionalized
across some European and American
universities.
What is
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE IS AN
Comparative ACADEMIC FIELD DEALING WITH THE
STUDY OF LITERATURE AND
CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS ACROSS
Literature? LINGUISTICS, NATIONAL,
GEOGRAPHIC, AND DISCIPLINARY
BOUNDARIES.
UNLIKE OTHER FORMS OF LITERARY
STUDY, COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
PLACES IT EMPHASIS ON THE
INTERDISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS OF
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL PRODUCTION
WITHIN THE “ ECONOMY, POLITICAL
DYNAMICS, CULTURAL MOVEMENTS,
HISTORICAL SHIFTS, RELIGIOUS
DIFFERENCES, THE URBAN
ENVIRONMENT, INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS, PUBLIC POLICY, AND THE
SCIENCES.
Additional
Info • THE TERM COMPARATIVE
LITERATURE DENOTES ANY LITERARY
WORK OR WORKS WHEN COMPARED
WITH ANY OTHER LITERARY WORK
OR WORKS. HENCE, COMPARATIVE
LITERATURE IS THE STUDY OF INTER
-
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANY TWO
OR MORE THAN TWO SIGNIFICANT
LITERARY WORKS OR LITERATURES.
 Definitions

• DEFINITIONS HENRY REMAK DEFINES: "COMPARATIVE LITERATURE IS THE STUDY OF

LITERATURE BEYOND THE CONFINES OF ONE PARTICULAR COUNTRY.

• IT IS THE STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LITERATURE ON THE ONE HAND,

AND OTHER AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF:

• SUCH AS THE ARTS ( E.G. PAINTING, SCULPTURE, ARCHITECTURE, MUSIC),

• PHILOSOPHY, HISTORY, THE SOCIAL SCIENCE ( E.G. POLITICS, ECONOMICS,

SOCIOLOGY).
 When Making • It is essential that while making comparative

a Comparative study we must take the sources, themes,

myths, forms, artistic strategies, social and
Study religious movements and trends into
consideration.

•The Comparatist (one that uses a

comparative method) with his critical
approach and investigations will find out, the
similarities and dissimilarities among various
works that he has undertaken for the purpose
of comparison and justification lies in the fact
that his approach must be unbiased and
unprejudiced to reach the ultimate truth.
Scope
•Comparative literature is a comprehensive term.

• Its scope encompasses the totality of human

experiences into its embrace.

• All internal human relationships among the various parts

of the world are realized.

•Through the critical approach to literatures under

comparative study. It helps to vanish narrow national and
international boundaries, and in place of that universality
of human relationships emerges out.
• IT GOES ACROSS NATIONAL BORDERS, ACROSS TIME PERIODS,
ACROSS LANGUAGES, ACROSS GENRES, ACROSS BOUNDARIES
BETWEEN LITERATURES AND OTHER ARTS.

Purpose
• THE PURPOSE OF COMPARATIVE
LITERATURE IS TO CROSS THE BORDER
AND BOUNDARIES OF NATION, PEOPLE,
CUSTOMS, BEHAVIORS, MYTHS,
HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY AND SOCIAL
MOVEMENTS.