Major in Comparative Literature (1141)
Comparative Literature majors learn to read literature in one or more foreign languages and to trace the transformations and travels of literary genres and texts across languages, borders, and historical periods. They explore the connections of literature with history, philosophy, politics, and literary theory, and learn how literature intersects with other cultural forms such as film, drama, the visual arts, music, and new media.
Like all WLL majors, Comparative Literature majors begin with XL100: Leaving Home: Explorations in World Literature, a team-taught course in which students meet the WLL faculty through guest lectures and get oriented in the rich diversity of the world’s literary traditions. Courses at the 200 level (XL 222, XL 223, XL 224, and XL 225) introduce Western, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and South Asian regional literary traditions. Students take at least two of these courses, acquiring a comparative perspective on the global diversity of literary forms and genres.
Choosing two literatures to focus on from those taught in WLL, Romance Studies, Classics, and English, Comparative Literature majors take three courses in each. Another option is to emphasize only one non-English literature along with three upper-level XL courses focused on literary theory or on comparing literary works across languages. A language course beyond the CAS requirement level is built into the major, ensuring some ability to encounter literary texts in the original language. The elective TL 540, BU’s legendary seminar in literary translation, gives Comparative Literature majors the opportunity to interact with important literary translators and to hone their own translation practice. Finally, in the capstone seminar XL 479, Comparative Literature majors reconvene with all senior WLL majors, working with a faculty mentor on a final project.
Many Study Abroad courses may count for the Comparative Literature major and minor.
Major in Comparative Literature Course Requirements
Eleven 4-credit courses with a grade of C or higher are required.
- CAS XL 100 Leaving Home: Explorations in World Literature (or a substitute XL course for students declaring the major as juniors or seniors)
- Two courses chosen from
- CAS XL 222 Introduction to Western Literatures
- CAS XL 223 Introduction to Middle Eastern Literatures
- CAS XL 224 Introduction to East Asian Literatures
- CAS XL 225 Introduction to South Asian Literatures
These may be taken in any order. CAS CC 101 and 102 together may be substituted for CAS XL 222.
- Three courses in a single non-English-language literary tradition, normally in the Department of World Languages & Literatures (Arabic, Chinese, German, Japanese, Hebrew, Hindi/Urdu, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Turkish literature), Romance Studies (French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish), Classical Studies, or related study abroad programs. Courses must focus principally on literary topics. They may be taught in English or in the original language.
- One language course beyond the fourth-semester level in a language of the student’s foreign literature of specialization, or a literature or culture course taught entirely in the language.
- Three literature courses in a second tradition, English or non-English, OR three CAS XL or TL courses numbered above 300 (these could include the “Cities” courses LG 388 Berlin, LJ 388 Tokyo, and/or LT 388 Istanbul).
- XL 479 WLL senior capstone seminar: Seniors majoring in WLL come back together in XL 479, the senior capstone in which students produce a substantial project in their major and share their work with other WLL seniors working in other languages. The course provides students with structure and research guidance for developing and discussing their projects, while meetings with a faculty language mentor hone students’ advanced language skills as applied to the area of their research. Student presentations build oral communication skills and the ability to describe one’s work to others. Possible final projects could include a research paper on literature, film, or popular culture; an annotated translation or work of subtitling; a video essay; or an interactive map, timeline, or other digital humanities project. Students producing excellent capstone projects will be encouraged to develop them into senior honors work.
Major in Comparative Literature Learning Outcomes
- Engage meaningfully with the literary traditions of at least two of the following regions: Europe, East Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia
- Master a non-English language/s to at least a level of ACTFL intermediate-low oral proficiency or its written equivalent
- Read, discuss, and analyze literary and cinematic texts in at least two languages
- Write clearly, responsibly, and insightfully about literary texts
- Analyze texts in comparative perspective; understand how specific literary works make meaning in response to their literary, cultural, historical, and political contexts; and trace how and why literary genres and texts travel across historical periods, borders, and languages through translation and adaptation
To graduate with honors, students will maintain a GPA in the major of at least 3.4 and will take two additional courses above the 11 required for the major:
- one additional literature course chosen with the advisor’s approval.
- either TL 540 (translation seminar) or XL 401 or 402 (continuation of the thesis begun in the capstone seminar).
Minor in Comparative Literature (1141)
Six courses with a grade of C or higher are required. Internships taken on study abroad programs may not be credited toward a minor in Comparative Literature.
Minor in Comparative Literature Course Requirements
1. Two introductory courses in Comparative Literature chosen from:
- CAS XL 100 Explorations in World Literature: Leaving Home
- CAS XL 222 Introduction to Comparative Literature: Western Literature (in English translation)
- CAS XL 223 Introduction to Comparative Literature: Middle Eastern Literature (in English translation)
- CAS XL 224 Introduction to Comparative Literature: East Asian Literature (in English translation)
- CAS XL 225 Introduction to Comparative Literature: South Asian Literature (in English translation)
These may be taken in any order. CAS CC 101 and 102 together may be substituted for CAS XL 222.
2. Two courses in a single non-English literature
Any literature course taught in WLL, Romance Studies, Classical Studies, or at the African Studies Center.
3. Two more advanced courses.
Either
- Two comparative literature courses numbered CAS XL 300 or higher (CAS CC 201 and 202 together may be substituted for one XL 300-level course)
or
- Two courses in another literature, chosen from one of the following: two courses in English-language literature numbered CAS EN 300 or above; or two courses in a single non English-language literature, read in the original language or in English translation.
or
- One course in another literature and CAS XL 479 Techniques of Literary Interpretation (senior seminar)