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Literature and the Practice of Comparative Literature

Code: 100254 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2504012 Spanish and Chinese Studies: Language, Literature and Culture OT 4
2504211 Spanish Language and Literature OT 3
2504211 Spanish Language and Literature OT 4
2504212 English Studies OT 3
2504212 English Studies OT 4
2504380 English and Catalan Studies OT 3
2504380 English and Catalan Studies OT 4
2504386 English and Spanish Studies OT 3
2504386 English and Spanish Studies OT 4
2504388 Catalan and Spanish Studies OT 3
2504388 Catalan and Spanish Studies OT 4
2504393 English and French Studies OT 0
2504393 English and French Studies OT 3
2504393 English and French Studies OT 4
2504394 English and Classics Studies OT 3
2504394 English and Classics Studies OT 4

Contact

Name:
Maria Angeles Torras Frances
Email:
meri.torras@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


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 minor in 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

    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.
    Spanish Language and Literature
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams in order to achieve the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Develop arguments applicable to the fields of Hispanic literature, literary theory, Spanish language and linguistics, and evaluate their academic relevance.
  • 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.
  • Use the methodology and concepts of literary analysis taking into account sources and contexts.
    English Studies
  • Apply the methodology of analysis and critical concepts to analysing the literature, culture and history of English-speaking countries.
  • Demonstrate skills to work autonomously and in teams to fulfil the planned objectives.
  • Develop arguments applicable to the fields of literature, culture and linguistics and evaluate their academic relevance.
  • Produce effective written work or oral presentations adapted to the appropriate register in distinct languages (except English).
  • 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.
    English and Catalan Studies
  • Carry out effective written work or oral presentations adapted to the appropriate register in different languages.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams with the aim of attaining the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Identify and interpret literary texts in different languages, analysing the generic, formal, thematic and cultural characteristics in accordance with the concepts and methods of comparative literature and literary theory.
  • 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.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
    English and Spanish Studies
  • Carry out effective written work or oral presentations adapted to the appropriate register in different languages.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams in order to achieve the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Identify the foundations of human language and the principles, methods and results of structural analysis of languages.
  • 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.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
    Catalan and Spanish Studies
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams with the aim of attaining the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Identify and interpret literary texts in Catalan and Spanish, analysing the generic, formal, thematic and cultural traits in accordance with the concepts and methods of comparative and literary theory.
  • 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.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
    English and French Studies
  • Carry out effective written work or oral presentations adapted to the appropriate register in different languages.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams with the aim of attaining the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Identify and interpret literary texts of different languages (English and French), analysing generic, formal, thematic and cultural features according to concepts and methods proper to comparative literature and literary theory.
  • 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.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
    English and Classics Studies
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams in order to achieve the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Identify and interpret literary texts of different languages, analysing the generic, formal, thematic and cultural features according to concepts and methods of comparative literature and literary theory.
  • Produce effective written work or oral presentations adapted to the appropriate register in distinct languages.
  • 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.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse literary texts using the different concepts and methods of comparative literature.
  2. Apply different instruments of analysis to different kinds of literary works.
  3. Argue a case regarding several literary topics and problems arising from different works and evaluate the results.
  4. Argue about several issues and literary problems for the purpose of different works and the assessment of the results.
  5. Argue on various literary themes and problems in relation to different works and evaluate the results.
  6. Arguing about several issues and literary problems for the purpose of different works and the assessment of the results.
  7. Autonomously search, select and process information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
  8. Autonomously searching, selecting and processing information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
  9. Comment on literary texts, applying the instruments acquired, taking account of the historical and sociocultural context.
  10. Critically interpret literary works take into account the relationships between different areas of literature and its relationships with human, artistic and social areas.
  11. Critically interpret literary works taking into account the relationships between the different fields of literature and their relationship with human, artistic and social areas.
  12. Critically interpreting literary works taking into account the relationships between the different areas of literature and its relationships with human, artistic and social areas.
  13. Effectively communicating and applying the argumentative and textual processes to formal and scientific texts.
  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. Express oneself effectively by applying argumentative and textual procedures in formal and scientific texts.
  18. Identify and explain the basic characteristics of literary texts and the process of interpretation.
  19. Identify and explain the basic characteristics of literary texts.
  20. Identify and explain the basic characteristics of the interpretation process.
  21. Identify and explain the basic structures of literary works.
  22. Identify the different literary elements and their insertion in different texts and discursive styles.
  23. Identify the key elements in the Western cultural tradition from the nineteenth century to the current day.
  24. Identify the relationship between literature and history, art and other cultural movements.
  25. Identifying and explaining the basic characteristics of literary texts and the interpretation process.
  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 written work or oral presentations on the main concepts of literary theory.
  30. Resolve tasks about authors, methods and trends in comparative literature, relating to it knowledge of other humanistic disciplines.
  31. Solve problems related to the methods of studying different literatures.
  32. Solve problems related to the study of different literatures.
  33. Solve problems related to the theoretical foundations and major concepts in the study of literary criticism.
  34. Solve problems related to the theoretical foundations and the main concepts in the study of literary criticism.
  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. Submitting works in accordance with both individual and small group demands and personal styles.
  38. Summarise the knowledge acquired about the origin and changes experienced by the different fields of study in the discipline.
  39. Use digital tools to obtain, classify, interpret and analyse relevant data related to the study of literary theory.
  40. Use the skills acquired with autonomy.
  41. Use traditional sources to collect, classify, interpret and analyse relevant data related to the study of literary theory.
  42. Write text commentaries from a critical standpoint.

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.

Reading: text file (Campus Virtual)

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.

Reading: text file (Campus Virtual)

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.

Reading: text file (Campus Virtual)

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.

Readings:

Text file (Campus Virtual)

Emmanuel Carrère, L'adversari, Anagrama, Barcelona, 2020. 

 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.

Readings:

Text file (Campus Virtual)

Lana Bastašić, Atrapa la llebre, Periscopi, Barcelona, 2020. 

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.

Readings: 

Text file (Campus Virtual)

Ngugui wa Thiong'o, Descolonitzar la ment, Raig Verd, Barcelona, 2017.

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.

Readings:

Text file (Campus Virtual)

Kopano Matlwa, Coconut, Sembra, València, 2020

Sebastià Portell, Transbord, Lleonard Muntaner, Palma, 2018. 

 

 


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lecture preparation, exams, courseworks 75 3
Master classes, oral presentations and assesment 60 2.4
Tutoring (scheduled in advance) 15 0.6

 

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.

 

 

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Critical reviews (3 in total) 50% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
Delivery of the structure and topics of the oral presentation: planning, development and tools 10% 0 0 29
Oral Presentation and participation in the classroom 40% 0 0 29, 39, 41, 42

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.
    • The student who does not perform ANY of the mandatory activities or tests will be considered "Not evaluated"

 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 asthe final grade for this subject.

 

On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.

 

UNIQUE ASSESSMENT

In the event that students opt for the single assessment, they will have to sit a final exam (40%), make a video presentation of one of the subject's topics (40%) and a review of one of the compulsory readings (20%).

These activities must be handed in the first week of January after the holidays.

 

 


Bibliography

Specific bibliography of each subject:

It will be specified throughout the course and the dossiers and the obligatory readings will be delivered

(some of them already appear in the content of this teaching guide).

 

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.

 

Software

Office.

Microsoft Team's Platform & One Drive.

UAB Moddle/Campus virtual.


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Spanish first semester morning-mixed