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Comparative Literary Traditions

Faculty

Director and Associate Professor J. Eidt; and Participating Faculty

About Comparative Literary Traditions

The program in Comparative Literary Traditions proposes studying the European cultural legacy as forming a complex but coherent whole. It conceives of Europe rather as one might a closely-knit family whose members, with all their differences, possess a common heritage and individually have influence and continue to influence each other in myriad ways. In considering these intertwining traditions, the program studies chiefly their higher cultural manifestations: not only literary works in the narrow sense, but any products of human art which can be said to bear a meaning and are in some way expressive of a culture. What we wish to investigate is how Europe has imagined itself and how its self-imagination has developed over time.

Basic Requirements

Thirty advanced credits in all, consisting of one introductory course, Principles of Comparative Studies (MCT 3309); three epoch courses organized around historical eras, one from each of three periods: Medieval-Renaissance (MCT 3310–29, or an appropriate 4000-level course), Early Modern (3351–69, or an appropriate 4000-level course) and Modern (MCT 3370–89, or an appropriate 4000-level course); two literary survey courses in two different literary/linguistic traditions, one of which must be in the target language; two 4000-level focus courses (in particular linguistic/lit­erary traditions); Senior (Honors) Thesis (MCT 4347 or 4349); and one CLT elective. Students must pass a comprehensive exam in the Spring of the Senior year.

Students electing to major in this program should have reading competence in one European language by the beginning of the Junior year and are strongly encouraged to acquire reading knowledge in another European language.

The CLT major allows integration of various kinds of foreign-language com­ponents, notably a Language Concentration (four courses). The CLT major can also be combined with a French, German, or Spanish major.

Degrees in Comparative Literary Traditions

Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literary Traditions

Concentration in Comparative Literary Traditions

Course Information

Courses in Comparative Literary Traditions