Comparative Literature

What it’s about:

As a comparative literature major, you study the literature of different countries, cultures, and languages. You explore poetry, prose, and drama and consider the relation of literature to other arts and other fields of study. The major requires you to study at least two bodies of literature (one of which may be English) in their original languages.

What the study of this major is like:

Comparative literature majors study subjects that cross national, historical, and language boundaries. Topics include literary movements (for example, Romanticism), literary periods (the Renaissance), literary forms (the novel), literary issues (the treatment of science and technology), and literary theory and criticism. You’ll study at least two bodies of literature (American students usually choose English or American literature as one of the fields) and at least one foreign language.

Then you’ll focus on comparisons and contrasts between the two cultures and their literature. You may also explore the connections between literature and other artistic fields, such as painting, photography, film, or sculpture, or between literature and other academic areas, such as anthropology, psychology, or history. The field is strongly interdisciplinary, and the possibilities for comparative study are nearly endless. And if you’d enjoy reading works of literature from as many societies as you can, this is the major for you.

Most programs require one or more courses that introduce you to comparative analysis and to new approaches to reading. You may focus on the text alone; or on the society and the times in which it was written; or on the link between the text, its author, and its readers. Which traditions did an author draw upon? What influences can be seen underlying s poem, play, or novel?

In advanced courses you may read works in the language in which they were written. Most colleges offer the study or English, French, Spanish, German, Latin, and Greek language and literature; other offer Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Polish, or others. Because you study these bodies of literature in their own language departments, you come across a variety of critical approaches. Many programs also require a capstone project-such as researching and writing a fourth-year thesis.

Comparative literature departments and classes are usually small, and tend to identify with a particular literary theory, interpretative tradition, and attitude towards language study. The major requires a lot of reading and writing, sometimes in a foreign language. Also, you should be ready, willing, and able to see the world from a perspective that differs from the one you are familiar with. Therefore, study abroad can be an exciting and important part of your college work. By graduation, most students have developed a powerful connection to at least one other culture-its literature, art, and unique view of life.

Career options and trends:

Comparative literature majors pursue jobs in journalism, business, cultural institutions, education, publishing, law, government, radio, television, and film. Graduate or professional school is also a popular option. Prospects are best for majors who have mastered another language.

Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors