Logo UAB
2020/2021

Theory and Practice of Comparative Literature

Code: 100254 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2500243 Classics OT 3 0
2500243 Classics OT 4 0
2500245 English Studies OT 3 0
2500245 English Studies OT 4 0
2500247 Catalan Language and Literature OT 4 0
2500248 Spanish Language and Literature OT 3 0
2500248 Spanish Language and Literature OT 4 0
2501801 Catalan and Spanish OT 3 0
2501801 Catalan and Spanish OT 4 0
2501902 English and Catalan OT 3 0
2501902 English and Catalan OT 4 0
2501907 English and Classics OT 3 0
2501907 English and Classics OT 4 0
2501910 English and Spanish OT 3 0
2501910 English and Spanish OT 4 0
2501913 English and French OT 3 0
2501913 English and French OT 4 0
2504012 Spanish and Chinese Studies: Language, Literature and Culture OT 4 0
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Jessica Faciaben Lago
Email:
Jessica.Faciaben@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
spanish (spa)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
No
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Other comments on languages

The assessment exercises can be submitted in Catalan or Spanish (even in another language that the teacher can read). Compulsory readings are mainly in Spanish, some in Catalan, English and French

Prerequisites

Taking into account that the student has proved to acquire the basic competences by obtaining the credits corresponding to the basic and compulsory training subjects, it would be mandatory to show it with oral and written correctness.For this reason, any spelling and expression mistakes that may be committed will lead to a score decrease in the final grade.

The activities, practices and papers submitted in the subject must be original and under no circumstances will plagiarism of published materials from any means be admitted. The occasional submission of non-original material without a proper reference of its origin will automatically lead to the mark of "Suspenso" (0).

Likewise, it is considered that the student knows the standard rules of academic writing and work. However, the student can apply the specific rules that the teacher of the subject may indicate if it is necessary.

Objectives and Contextualisation

"Theory and practice of comparative literature" is part of the subject of 24 credits "Comparative Literature". The purpose of the subject is that the student becomes familiar with the concepts, methods and practices of comparative literature. The student must:

  • To be able to write and value the contributions of comparative literature in areas such as historiography, the study of literary genres, the study of topics and literary relations.

  • To know which relations of comparatism have been with Literary Theory and with other disciplines, especially since the paradigm change of the 80s

  • To know which are the new comparative approaches tendencies and to be able to explain which are their contributions in relation to older paradigms;

  • To learn how to apply in a proper manner the acquired principles and methods in the cultural analysis of texts of different types.

Competences

    Classics
  • Analysing the formal, thematic, cultural and historical characteristics of the works of literary creation and reflection on literature of different languages and countries.
  • Demonstrating they know the basic theoretical foundations of the main methods and currents of literature and criticism.
  • Identifying the specific concepts and methods of each of the fields of comparatism.
  • Interpreting and assessing literary texts and explaining the results of the process.
  • Relating literary works from different countries, languages, periods and authors according to genres, topics, modalities and forms.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
    English Studies
  • Analysing the formal, thematic, cultural and historical characteristics of the works of literary creation and reflection on literature of different languages and countries.
  • Demonstrating they know the basic theoretical foundations of the main methods and currents of literature and criticism.
  • Identifying the specific concepts and methods of each of the fields of comparatism.
  • Interpreting and assessing literary texts and explaining the process results.
  • Relating literary works from different countries, languages, periods and authors according to genres, topics, modalities and forms.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
    Catalan Language and Literature
  • Analysing the formal, thematic, cultural and historical characteristics of the literary works and works of reflection on literature of different languages and countries.
  • Demonstrating they know the basic theoretical foundations of the main methods and currents of literature and criticism.
  • Identifying the specific concepts and methods of each of the fields of comparatism.
  • Interpreting and assessing literary texts and explaining the process results.
  • Relating literary works from different countries, languages, periods and authors according to genres, topics, modalities and forms.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
    Spanish Language and Literature
  • Analysing the formal, thematic, cultural and historical characteristics of the literary works and works of reflection on literature of different languages and countries.
  • Demonstrating they know the basic theoretical foundations of the main methods and currents of literature and criticism.
  • Identifying the specific concepts and methods of each of the fields of comparatism.
  • Interpreting and assessing literary texts and explaining the process results.
  • Relating literary works from different countries, languages, periods and authors according to genres, topics, modalities and forms.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
    Catalan and Spanish
  • Analysing the formal, thematic, cultural and historical characteristics of the works of literary creation and reflection on literature of different languages and countries.
  • Demonstrating they know the basic theoretical foundations of the main methods and currents of literature and criticism.
  • Identifying the specific concepts and methods of each of the fields of comparatism.
  • Interpreting and assessing literary texts and explaining the process results.
  • Relating literary works from different countries, languages, periods and authors according to genres, topics, modalities and forms.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
    English and Catalan
  • Analysing the formal, thematic, cultural and historical characteristics of the works of literary creation and reflection on literature of different languages and countries.
  • Demonstrating they know the basic theoretical foundations of the main methods and currents of literature and criticism.
  • Identifying the specific concepts and methods of each of the fields of comparatism.
  • Interpreting and assessing literary texts and explaining the process results.
  • Relating literary works from different countries, languages, periods and authors according to genres, topics, modalities and forms.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
    English and Classics
  • Analysing the formal, thematic, cultural and historical characteristics of the works of literary creation and reflection on literature of different languages and countries.
  • Demonstrating they know the basic theoretical foundations of the main methods and currents of literature and criticism.
  • Identifying the specific concepts and methods of each of the fields of comparatism.
  • Interpreting and assessing literary texts and explaining the process results.
  • Relating literary works from different countries, languages, periods and authors according to genres, topics, modalities and forms.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
    English and Spanish
  • Analysing the formal, thematic, cultural and historical characteristics of the works of literary creation and reflection on literature of different languages and countries.
  • Demonstrating they know the basic theoretical foundations of the main methods and currents of literature and criticism.
  • Identifying the specific concepts and methods of each of the fields of comparatism.
  • Interpreting and assessing literary texts and explaining the process results.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
    English and French
  • Analysing the formal, thematic, cultural and historical characteristics of the works of literary creation and reflection on literature of different languages and countries.
  • Demonstrating they know the basic theoretical foundations of the main methods and currents of literature and criticism.
  • Identifying the specific concepts and methods of each of the fields of comparatism.
  • Interpreting and assessing literary texts and explaining the process results.
  • Relating literary works from different countries, languages, periods and authors according to genres, topics, modalities and forms.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
    Spanish and Chinese Studies: Language, Literature and Culture
  • Apply knowledge of Spanish and Latin American literature to the identification of genes, movements, tendencies and styles.
  • Comment on literary texts in Spanish and in Chinese, situate them historically and relate them to the literary trends to which they belong.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse literary texts using the different concepts and methods of comparative literature.
  2. Analysing literary texts using different concepts and methods of comparative literature.
  3. Apply different instruments of analysis to different kinds of literary works.
  4. Argue about several issues and literary problems for the purpose of different works and the assessment of the results.
  5. Arguing about several issues and literary problems for the purpose of different works and the assessment of the results.
  6. Arguing on various subjects and literary works about different problems and evaluate the results.
  7. Carry out a play for the development of a subject-related work.
  8. Carrying out a planning for the development of a subject-related work.
  9. Comment on literary texts, applying the instruments acquired, taking account of the historical and sociocultural context.
  10. Critically interpret literary works considering the relationships between different fields of literature and its relation to human, artistic and social areas.
  11. Critically interpret literary works take into account the relationships between different areas of literature and its relationships with human, artistic and social areas.
  12. Critically interpreting literary works taking into account the relationships between different areas of literature and its relationships with human, artistic and social areas.
  13. Critically interpreting literary works taking into account the relationships between the different areas of literature and its relationships with human, artistic and social areas.
  14. Evaluate the result with the argumentation on different topics and literary problems with regard to different works.
  15. Explain the basic characteristics of comparative literary texts.
  16. Explaining the basic characteristics of comparative literary texts.
  17. Identify and explain the basic characteristics of literary texts.
  18. Identify and explain the basic characteristics of the interpretation process.
  19. Identify and explain the basic structures of literary works.
  20. Identify and explaining the basic structures of literary works.
  21. Identify the different literary elements and their insertion in different texts and discursive styles.
  22. Identify the key elements in the Western cultural tradition from the nineteenth century to the current day.
  23. Identify the relationship between literature and history, art and other cultural movements.
  24. Identifying and explaining the basic structures of literary works.
  25. Identifying various literary elements and inserting them into different texts and discursive styles.
  26. Interpret literary works critically taking into account the relations between the different areas of literature and its relation to human, artistic and social areas.
  27. Offer argument on different topics and literary problems about different works and evaluate all the results.
  28. Present work in formats adapted to demands and personal styles, both individual and in small groups.
  29. Present works in formats tailored to the needs and personal styles, both individual and small group.
  30. Resolve tasks about authors, methods and trends in comparative literature, relating to it knowledge of other humanistic disciplines.
  31. Solve problems about writers, methods and currents of comparative literature, connecting them with knowledge of other humanistic disciplines.
  32. Solve problems related to the methods of studying different literatures.
  33. Solve problems related to the study of different literatures.
  34. Solving problems about authors and currents of comparative literature, connecting them with knowledge of other humanistic disciplines.
  35. Solving problems about writers, methods and currents of comparative literature, and connecting them with knowledge of other humanistic disciplines.
  36. Solving problems related to the study of different literatures.
  37. Solving tasks on authors, and current methods of comparative literature, relating knowledge from other human disciplines.
  38. Submitting works in accordance with both individual and small group demands and personal styles.
  39. Summarise the knowledge acquired about the origin and changes experienced by the different fields of study in the discipline.
  40. Summarising acquired knowledge about the origin and transformations experienced in its several fields of study.

Content

Theory and Practice of Comparative Literature

Code 100254

 Contents

 Introduction to the bases and methods of literary comparatism. Brief historical review of the discipline’s different approaches. Knowledge, reflection and use of the concepts and methods of comparative literature in a dialogue with literary theory. Analysis of texts, issues and problems of literary studies from a comparative and cultural approach, typical of the new paradigm (since the 80s).

 Topic:

1- Problems and proposals for the delimitation of the discipline. The paradigm shift in literary studies

Comparative literature and the objections that have defined the discipline: national/supranational, unity/diversity, local/universal. Comparative fields: supranationality, internationality, universality, interdisciplinarity, difference. The comparability. Relation of comparative literature and between theory of literature. The paradigm shift of the 80s in literary studies. The tools of comparatism and its key concepts: intertextuality, interpretation and value. The impact of reception theories in literary relations. The post-structuralist, Marxist and feminist legacies. The subaltern voices. Multiplication and widening of border spaces. Diversification (dispersion?) of comparative literature. Interdisciplinarity or criticism of disciplines.

2-Literary historiography, periodization and comparatism

What does writing history of literature entail? Assumptions of literary history: relations of history with past, present, narrativity and ideology. National literary history and nationalism. General literary history and canon. Criteria for periodization and historical-literary cataloguing. Categories, terminologies and implications. The universality of History. The idea of evolution. The concept of genealogy (Foucault). The archive.

3-Literary relations: the influenceon intertextuality. The translation

The notion of influence and other related concepts. Towards overcoming the concept of influence: intertextuality.

The limits of intertextual analysis. Issues of subjectivity and authority in literary relations. Translation as an intertextual phenomenon. The tyranny of the original. The unavoidable need for rewriting.

Due appropriations: translation and canon; translation and national literary history. Prominence of studies of/on translation in recent comparatism.

4-The study of genres and forms

The formal elements and the literary object. The notion of genre: classification criteria, historical criteria.

Conventions. Genre and paratexts. The law of genre. Study of a practical case.

 5-Study of topics and literary motifs

The notion of topic and related concepts. The textual indications. Thematology and comparatism: supranational study of themes and motifs; interdisciplinary study of topics and motifs. The continuation and transformation of topics: rewritings. Study of a practical case.

6-Comparatism and postcolonial studies

Eurocentrism of traditional models of comparatism. West/east relations. Imperialism, language and literature. Cultural brand in methods and tools of literary analysis. National identity and comparative literature. Dangers of precolonial mythification. Multiculturalism, mestizaje and hybridism. Analysis of a text.

7-Comparatism and studies of gender, ethnicity and sexuality.

The criticism of difference. The centrality and the periphery. Around a difference. Creation, representation and profitability of the stereotype. Dynamics inside/outside. The irreducibility of the difference. Claims of the prefix RE-. Strategic essentialisms. Subaltern voices. The danger of institutionalization. Analysis of a text.

8-Comparatism and cultural studies

Literature andthe other arts according to the comparative approach. Digital studies and comparatism. Popular culture.

 

Methodology

The learning achievement of this subject by the student is distributed as follows:

  • Guided activities (10%). Lectures  with ICT support and debates in a big group.
  •  Supervised activities (40%). Individual presentations. Guided review or course work (individual or group). 
  • Individual activities (50%). Comprehensive and critical reading of literary and theoretical texts. Schemes, conceptual maps and summaries making.














 

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lecture preparation, exams, courseworks 75 3 2, 5, 6, 8, 16, 24, 20, 13, 10, 12, 38, 33, 36, 34, 35, 37, 40
Master classes, oral presentations and assesment 60 2.4 2, 5, 6, 8, 16, 24, 20, 13, 10, 12, 38, 33, 36, 34, 35, 37, 40
Tutoring (scheduled in advance) 15 0.6

Assessment

The student:

  • You will have to submit (as a preliminary and complementary group work) a script of the oral presentation that you will perform: planning, subject, lines of research, use of comparative methods, readings of literary and non-literary texts,basic structure of your exposition, bibliography, etc. This delivery will have been done in between 7 and 14 days before the oral presentation date through a group tutorial with the teacher. That submission represent 10% of the final grade..


    You will have to submit ONE reading in class and guide the subsequent debate. The time of the exposition will be, at least, 30 minutes. This task will be done in group and it implies -with interventions and class participation-  a 40% of the final grade. It will be valued that students can analyze the literary texts using the various concepts and methods of comparative literature, as well as that they can explain the basic characteristics and structures of comparative literary texts.
  • At the end of each topic-and according with the time schedule marked by the teacher- the students must:
  • Individually submit a critical review referring, completing, developing or focusing on one or more of the themes emerged in the readings or in the discussions raised in the classroom. This set of critical reviews (or course diary) constitutes a continuous evaluation system that is worth the remaining 50% of the final grade. Students who do not comply with the designated schedule and dates indicated must proceed to take a final exam, in order to cover that 50% of the grade.
  • The student who does not perform ANY of the mandatory activities or tests will be considered "Not evaluated"

In the event that tests or exams cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to accessthese virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
 
 

 

 

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Critical reviews (4 or 5 in total) 50% 0 0 2, 1, 3, 5, 6, 4, 27, 14, 9, 8, 7, 16, 15, 25, 21, 22, 18, 17, 24, 20, 19, 23, 13, 10, 12, 11, 26, 38, 29, 28, 33, 36, 32, 34, 30, 35, 37, 31, 40, 39
Delivery of the structure and topics of the oral presentation: planning, development and tools 10% 0 0 2, 5, 6, 4, 8, 7, 16, 25, 24, 20, 13, 10, 12, 11, 38, 29, 33, 36, 34, 35, 37, 31, 40
Oral Presentation and participation in the classroom 40% 0 0 2, 5, 6, 4, 8, 7, 16, 25, 24, 20, 13, 10, 12, 11, 38, 29, 33, 36, 34, 35, 37, 31, 40

Bibliography

Specific bibliography of each subject:
										
											
										
											It will be specified throughout the course and the dossiers and the obligatory readings will be delivered.

General bibliography:

Anthropos [monográfico: Teoría de la literatura y literatura comparada. Actualidad de la expresión literaria], 196 (2002).

Bassnett, Susan. Comparative Literature. A Critical Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell, 1993.

Bernheimer, Charles. Comparative Literature in the Age of Multiculturalism. Baltimore and London: The Johns

Hopkins University Press, 1995.

Brunel, Pierre y Yves Chevrel. Précis de Littérature Comparée. Paris: Puf, 1989.

Clausen, Christopher. "National Literatures in English: Toward a New Paradigm", New Literary History, 25

(1994): 61-72.

Clüver, Claus. "The Difference of Eight Decades: World Literature and the Demise of National Literatures".

Yearbook of Comparative and generla Literature 35 (1986): 14-24.

Curtius, Ernst Robert. Literatura europea y Edad Media latina.Vols. I y II. México: FCE, 1984.

Derrida, Jacques. Universidad sin condición. Trad. Cristina de Peretti y Paco Vidarte. Madrid: Trotta, 2002.

Fokkema, Douve W. "La literatura comparada i el nou paradigma", trad. Enric Bou, Els Marges 40 (1989):

5-18.

Gnisci, Armando (ed.). Introduzione alla letteratura comparata. Milano: Mondadori, 1999. [traducció castellana

de Luigi Giuliani. Barcelona: Crítica, 2002]

Guillén, Claudio. Entre lo uno y lo diverso. Introducción a la literatura comparada. Barcelona: Crítica, 1985.

Hunter, Lynette. Literary value / cultural power. Verbal arts in the twenty-first century. Manchester: Manchester

UP, 2001.

Marino, Adrian. Comparatisme et théorie de la littérature. Paris: Puf, 1988.

Moore, Alexandra S. & Goldberg, Elizabeth S. (eds.) Teaching Human Rights in Literary and Cultural Studies.

New York: MLA, 2015.

Remak, Henry H. H. "Comparative Literature. Its definition and Function". Comparative Literature: Method and

Perspective. Ed. Newton P. Stalknecht. Carbondale: Southern Illinois Press, 1971: 1-57.

Romero López, Dolores (ed.). Orientaciones en literatura comparada. Madrid: Arco libros, 1998.

Saussy, Haun (ed.) Comparative Literature in an Age of Globalization. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins UP,

2006.

Schmeling, Manfred. Teoría y praxis de la literatura comparada. Trad. Ignacio Torres Corredor. Barcelona:

Alfa, 1984.

Spivak, Gayatri Ch. Death of a discipline. New York: Columbia UP, 2003.

Valdés, Mario J. (ed.) Toward a Theory of Comparative Literature. Selected papers presented in the Division of

theory of Literature at the Xith International Comparative Literture Congress. New York, Bern, Frankfurt, Paris:

Peter Lang, 1990.

Vega, María José y Carbonell, Neus (eds.). La literatura comparada: principios y métodos. Madrid: Gredos,

1998. [MANUAL]

Villanueva, Darío; Domingo, César y Saussy, Haun. Lo que Borges le enseño a Cervantes. Madrid: Taurus,

2016.

Weisstein, Ulrich. Introducción a la literatura comparada. Trad. María Teresa Piñel. Barcelona: Planeta, 1975.

Wellek, René y Wallek, Austin. Teoría literaria. Madrid: Gredos, 1981.