C LIT - Comparative Literature

An introduction to major works of the world's literary heritage, presented in their historical, social, and cultural contexts. Covers the period from the beginnings of literary civilizations until the 17th century. Not open to students with C LIT 100.

An introduction to major works of the world's literary heritage, presented in their historical, social, and cultural contexts. Covers the period from the 17th century through the present day. Not open to students with credit in C LIT 100.

Introduction to forms, genres, and critical approaches to world literature combined with close readings of texts from a variety of historical and cultural contexts.

A survey of key ideas about literature, from Plato through 20th century New Criticism.

Major modern and contemporary theoretical schools, such as structuralism, poststructuralism, reader response, psychoanalytic critique, gender and queer theory, postcolonialism, ecocriticism and transhumanism.

An introduction to the relations between literature and digital textuality.

Examines how world mythologies have been given literary expression, both in ancient texts and modern reworkings.

Poetics of such popular genres as crime fiction, spy fiction, the horror story, etc., and their relation to mainstream literature and culture.

The importance of scandal both to the reception of particular literary works, and to literary history in general.

An introduction to science fiction as an international genre and a survey of works and trends

A survey of European fairy tales and an introduction to critical and theoretical approaches to the folk tale in general and the fairy tale in particular.

An examination of major works of world literature by women from antiquity to the present.

Variable content. A detailed survey of the main features of one given genre, either narrative fiction, poetry, or drama. Not open to students who have completed C LIT 344, 345 or 346.

Variable content. A study of an international literary movement or period in its historical, social, and cultural contexts.

Throughout history, literature had close relations with the other arts (such as painting and sculpture, music and theatre): more recently these relations extended to cinema television, and other media. Each year, the course will emphasize one of these relations, in an interdisciplinary perspective which stresses contacts and commonalities, but also the specific differences of art forms and the media.

The international and interdisciplinary study of selected international mythical and legendary themes and motifs, such as Faust and Don Juan, their origin, and their literary and artistic developments.

Readings in English of East Asian and Euro-American philosophers and critics. Prerequisite: 3 units in a humanities discipline, or consent of Department. Not to be taken by students with credit in EASIA 425.

Critical reading of Western representations of the East, and Eastern representations of the West. All readings in English. Prerequisite: 3 units in a humanities discipline, or consent of Department. Not to be taken by students with credit in EASIA 426.

An international historical and typological analysis of selected topics in popular literature and media, their changing status in society and culture, as well as their interaction with canonized forms of literature and the arts.

From ancient tocontemporary times, this course approaches a wide selection of World Literature through an ecocritical lens, bringing into focus received ideas about nature vs. culture, human vs. animal, and animate vs. inanimate nature.

Disciplinary issues, approaches and methodologies in Comparative Literature as they differ from those of national literatures.

Preparation of the Honors Essay.

An advanced-level survey of major works of world literatures and literary movements from 18th century to 21st century. Prerequisite: Reading knowledge of one language other than English.

Prerequisite: consent of Program Coordinator.