Definition Of Comparative Literature Essay

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE FROM EUROCENTRIC ORIGINS TO THE NEW WORLD

1. Introduction The term “comparative literature” has given rise to so much discussion, has been interpreted so differently and misinterpreted so frequently (Wellek, p1). So, what is Comparative Literature then? Comparative Literature means the knowledge of more than one national language and literature, and/or it means the knowledge and application of other disciplines in and for the study of literature.(CITATION) Therefore, “comparative” literature, as its name suggests, presents an international perspective and helps to establish a connection between the “other” nations’ literary histories, movements, genres, theories and texts on the basis of the sociocultural functions

Historically, it is noticeable that Comparative literature is basically Eurocentric in its origins and still attributed to the European literatures mainly like English, French, German literary traditions. In spite of its contradictive history of Eurocentrism, over the years, Comparative literature has been contributed and widened its dimensions beyond Europe through the studies of non-European languages and literatures. Of course, regarding Comparative Literature’s nature, it has a huge of diversity in the literary perspective. One nation’s history and sociocultural and economic conditions determine its standpoint on literature and shape its approach to Comparative

With the publication of Introduction to the Literature of Europe in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, Henry Hallan became the most prominent figure during the 1830s. Afterward, it was Matthew Arnold who gave the broadest contribution to the comparative studies. In his work, Culture and Anarchy, he ingeniously embraced the comparative approach by correlating the similarities and distinguishing the differences between the cultures and civilizations; in this manner, he reinforced the advancement of English Comparative