Comparative Literature 500B
Introduction to Comparative Literature: Theory Survey
January-April 2002
SCHEDULE
Week Topic
January 8 Introduction to the Course
January 15 Some classical texts in literary criticism: The critical tradition
Plato, Republic, Book X
Ion
Aristotle, Poetics
Longinus, On the Sublime
Kant, Immanuel. From Critique of Judgment
January 22 Wordsworth, William. Preface to Lyrical Ballads
Coleridge, Samuel T. Shakespeare’s Judgment Equal to His Genius
From Biographia Literaria
January 29 Nietzsche, Friedrich. From The Birth of Tragedy from the Spirit of Music
Tolstoy, Leo. From What is art?
Eliot, T. S. Tradition and the Individual Talent
February 5 Heidegger, Martin. Hölderlin and the Essence of Poetry
Sartre, Jean-Paul. Why Write?
February 12 Frye, Northrop. The Archetypes of Literature
Auerbach, Erich. Odysseus’ Scar
February 19 Midterm Break
February 26 Multiple Choice Examination on selected terms from: Cuddon, Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory
March 5 Structuralism, Semiotics and Deconstruction
Barthes, Roland. From Work to Text.
Derrida, Jacques, Selections from L’écriture et la difference
Dissemination
De la Grammatologie
Man, Paul de Criticism and crisis.
March 12 Psychoanalytic Theory
Felman, Shoshana..Writing and Madness, or Why this book?.
Kristeva, Julia. Psychoanalysis and the Polis.
March 19 Marxist Criticism
Adorno, Theodor. Selections from Aesthetic Theory .
Benjamin, Walter (Selections)
March 26 Unclassified
Bataille, Georges. Selections from L’Experiénce Intérieure ,
L’impossible.
Blanchot, M. Selections from: L’écriture du desastre, L’espace littéraire, Le livre a venir.
April 2 ESSAY due. Final Discussion.
THE PROGRAM IN COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
Comparative Literature 500b
Spring Term 2002: Introduction to Comparative Literature: Theory Survey
Information for Students
a) Instructor
Dr. Daniel H. Scarfo Office: Buchanan Tower 720
Assistant Professor Phone: 604-822-4679
Office Hours: By appointment e-mail: scarfo@interchange.ubc.ca
b) The Course
The goal of this course is to introduce students to some of the more influential theories and approaches practiced in comparative literature. The course is primarily designed for those with little or no background in theory who need an initial survey to focus their interests. While it can neither offer a complete survey of literary study from antiquity onward nor hope to cover all the theories currently in use, students are encouraged to go beyond the material covered in class in individual assignments. A selection of literary texts will be part of the course.
c) Marking Scheme (Term I)
Essay (8 pages) = 100
In class participation and exposés = 100
February Multiple Choice Exam on literary terms and literary theory = 100
Total =300/3=100 (- number of absences)
Each absence results in a one-point deduction from the Final Grade for the term. Minimum attendance requirement to pass the course: 9 classes out of 12: 75%.
d) Participation
All members of the class are encouraged to participate actively in discussions and debates. Such participation is an important part of your performance. Please come to class with written notes, your questions and thoughts about the possible meanings of the texts your have read. What strikes you? What paragraphs or points seem to you to be the most significant or enigmatic? Why? Students will be asked to read these notes and make very short (5 minutes) exposés on the spot that will count as part of their participation mark.
We also expect a selected group of invited professors to come to the seminars and contribute with special short lectures on the topics to be discussed.
e) On-line Resources
Research Guide
http://www.library.yale.edu/rsc/complit/index.html
http://clcwebjournal.lib.purdue.edu/clcweb99-3totosy99.html
Selected Internet Resources
http://kokopeli.library.yale.edu/rsc/complit/intsrcs.html
Online Journals
http://www.library.yale.edu/rsc/complit/journals.html
http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/clcwebjournal/library.html
Basic links
http://rrpac.upr.clu.edu:9090/~humanity/litcomp.htm
http://rrpac.upr.clu.edu:9090/~humanity/litcomp/enlaces.htm
THE PROGRAM IN COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
Comparative Literature 500b
Spring Term 2001: Introduction to Comparative Literature: Tbeory Survey
Some Other Cultural and Historical Interpretation and Approaches
Auerbach, Mimesis.
Bernheimer, Ch. Comparative Literature in the Age of Multiculturalism. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1995.
Chaudhary, Angraj. Comparative Aesthetics, East and West. New Delhi: South Asia Books, 1991.
Guillén, Claudio. Múltiples Moradas: Ensayo de Literatura Comparada.
Other Theories of Literature and Books on Literary Theory
Culler, Jonathan. Literary Theory. A very short introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
De Man, Paul. Resistance to Theory.
Eagleton, T. Literary Theory: An introduction.
Jefferson, Ann, and David Robey, eds. Modern Literary Theory: A Comparative Introduction. 2nd ed. London: Batsford, 1986.
Marshall, Donald G. Contemporary Critical Theory: A Selective Bibliography. New York: The Modern Language Association of America, 1993. A fundamental resource in the field for English language books. An annotated bibliography with sections devoted to individual shcools/theories and theorists.
Selden, Raman, and Peter Widdowson. A Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory. 4th ed. New York: Prentice Hall/Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1997.
Webster, Roger. Studying Literary Theory: An Introduction. 2nd ed. London; New York: Arnold, 1996. Essays on literary theory, including fundamentals and background. Includes a brief bibliography.
Wellek, Rene and Warren, Austin: Theory of Literature. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1956.
