Is comparative literature the course for you?

 

In today’s world, with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping people at home, we have oodles of time. And it’s incredibly fortunate that so many have taken advantage of all this time to further their studies.

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For those who are still trying to make up their mind, this blog may be of help. John Eilermann St. Louis.

A lot of people may say comparative literature is not an ideal course, but there are plenty of reasons to pursue a degree in it. People just need to ask themselves if it’s for them.

Studying comparative literature in college opens up a door for one to explore a broad range of texts. Comparing one manuscript to another isn’t the sole aspect of comparative literature. It is about looking closely into different nations, cultures, and periods. John Eilermann St. Louis.

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Having a degree in comparative literature also offers a person the chance to work in another language. Those whose mother tongue isn’t English can study and write texts in different languages. It’s almost like taking a tour around the world.

Another advantage in studying comparative literature is that it challenges perspective. More than analyzing literature, comparative literature dares to ask the how’s and why’s of every written piece. John Eilermann St. Louis.

Comparative literature also provides a cross-discipline approach, allowing a person to dissect history, politics, philosophy, and culture. It also encourages an extensive and up-to-the-minute understanding of cultural differences in opinions and diversity. John Eilermann St. Louis.

What is the importance of studying literary theories?

Importance of literary theories -- John Eilermann St. Louis

When studying literature, whether it be fiction, poetry, or even essays, it is not enough to simply look at the work alone. In certain classes like comparative literature, knowledge in literary theories can make readings and discussions a lot more interesting. Literary theories provide a conceptual framework to view certain pieces of literature.

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John Eilermann St. Louis. One good example of literary theory is formalism for poetry. Formalism reviews the structural purpose of texts as separate entities apart from the writer who made the text. This literary theory is most known for championing the objective correlative. Objective correlative can be deduced as the author’s intention of creating emotions through imagery, linked together to form a central metaphor or image.

John Eilermann St. Louis. There are dozens of literary theories in the world of literature with even more interpretations from critics and writers. With the framework they provide, readers and other authors can read pieces of literature differently. For example, a reader can employ formalism and Russian formalism to a specific poem and have widely different interpretations for each run.

While literary theories can help readers interpret and better understand pieces of literature, it also gives incredible amounts of insight when it comes to the form and function of literature. Readers are often surprised how schools of thought like romanticism still resonate in today’s works, as well as how today’s literary masterpieces can still be read through the literary framework of theories created decades ago. John Eilermann St. Louis.

What makes comparative literature different from other English degrees?

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Taking up an English degree will let you choose from a number of majors in most universities, such as, often, English literature, Creative Writing, and Comparative Literature.


English Literature is focused on an in-depth study of literature of the U.K. and the U.S., from old English and Medieval works to the Romantic, Victorian, and modern era. A Creative Writing degree requires complementary subjects in English literature but is more concerned with the actual writing of works of poetry, fiction, drama, and creative non-fiction. In short, creative writing students must come up with their own collection of works to graduate.


Comparative Literature is distinct from the two as, as the first word in the phrase suggests, it is a degree informed by other fields. In other words, it cannot exist in a vacuum, but must take into account the social, cultural, economic, and historical context of a given piece of literature.

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Comparative literature graduates will gain the same set of career advantages as those of the two other degrees, from editing, technical writing, journalism, blogging, and copy writing. But they also have the likelier chance of becoming full-fledged literary critics and translators. Their better understanding of context and interdisciplinarity make them great academicians. Many comparative literature students end up staying in the academe and choosing a career in teaching.


My name is John Eilermann, a Comparative Literature student based in St. Louis. Comparative literature may be a seen as a poor choice for a degree to some, yet I truly believe that this discipline provides the foundations for sound critical thinking that applies to all fields. Know more about me by following this Facebook page.