prof tutun - 11/08/09

11-08

TM – Comparative Theory.

What is comparative literature?

Comparative is the method through which literature in its broader sense is studied. This approach is based on philological and historical enquiry. It proposes to trace the philology and history of literature. As such it defies definition and is not confined to the printed word.

The enquiry hence traces the influence, relationships, interaction, juxtapositions and inter-textuality of literatures.

How can one define comp. lit?

Comp lit is Trans – literary, - language and – culture. Hence it denotes plurality. It goes beyond boundaries. It is based on the knowledge of sociology and cultural studies. Therefore it is multi-disciplinary. By nature it defies disciplines.

One may study comparative literature through - a. literary history, b. social history, c. cultural history.

Hence, often historiography happens in the study of comparative literature.

Shared history –

In the late 18^th century the French – German relationship was sore. There were internecine wars. The political climate was tense. Hence there was a need to open up different avenues for negotiation. Comparative literature was one such avenue opened up by the Germans in particular.

Johann Herder wrote a book called the trans-national history of literature. A trans-national perspective was supported to a parochial and a narrow minded approach to nation and literature. Madame de stael too thought beyond the nation. She was the first woman to do that. The Schlegel brothers (1815) called for a cosmopolitan spirit in approaching literature. However, it was johann von Goethe who came up with the notion of ‘welt literatur’. It was an attempt to view literature in a new way.

This text was published in 1945. The political context was tense. A request to have a cosmo-politan outlook was promoted. However, the concept itself was euro-centric.

Goethe speaks of ‘relations’ and ‘influences’ between humans and nations. However, his opinion and desire for a trans-national spirit as well as german involvement in this movement is paradoxical. He suggests certain methods to know about other cultures. His insistence on the social awareness of another nation was primal. His concept of the world as a homeland was precursor to globalization.

His claimed for a free exchange of ideas – circulation in particular – where access ironically is through one language. Perhaps, ideally it was a good proposition. However, practically world literature can be possible only as a circulation of the mode and idea.