Comparative Literature

The Discipline

Comparative Literature is the study of literature in its totality. The Comparative Literature major not only acquaints students with literary study beyond the confines of any particular national tradition but also with the relationship between literature and other areas of knowledge. Combining the synthesizing skills and knowledge related to individual national literatures, the comparative literature major utilizes a wide range of linguistic and philosophical knowledge unique to an undergraduate program. Pursued as a major, the field offers students unusual latitude in developing a broad and full program in the liberal arts, as well as developing competence in reasoning, language, writing, and research—essential for later independent learning.

Objectives

Students who graduate with a BA in Comparative Literature should:

have acquired a thorough knowledge of two language traditions relevant to an individual program of study (one of these may be English for students who emphasize the Anglo-American literary tradition). Students who are planning advanced work in the discipline should have gained a reading knowledge of an additional foreign language.
have a solid general acquaintance with the Western literary tradition and some familiarity with the Asian tradition by completing a reading list, chosen in consultation with a faculty adviser.
possess strong critical reading and writing skills.
understand the basic concepts of literary analysis withincomparative literature, which include methods of literary analysis, emphasizing the basic issues of comparative literaterary history, prosody, and other problems related to foreign language texts as well as basic issues in contemporary critical and theoretical discussions.
understand the place of classical literature within the development of the Western literary tradition.
demonstrate facility in comparative analysis of Asian literary works spanning several traditions.

For requirements, see "Major" below.

Career Opportunities

Comparative Literature majors are well prepared for graduate programs in languages and literature and for employment in the foreign service, library science, business, education, and tourism. In addition, comparative literature is an outstanding preprofessional major for those interested in law, public administration, management, and medicine.

Major

BA in Comparative Literature

Comparative Literature Faculty

Benfell, V. Stanley	Associate Professor. Joined BYU faculty in 1993; BA Brigham Young University, 1987; MA New York University, 1990; PhD New York University, 1994.
Lounsbury, Richard C.	Professor. Joined BYU faculty in 1982; BA University of Calgary, Canada, 1970; MA University of Texas, Austin, 1972; PhD University of Texas, Austin, 1979.
Peer, Larry H.	Professor. Joined BYU faculty in 1975; BA Brigham Young University, 1963; MA Brigham Young University, 1965; PhD University of Maryland, College Park, 1969.
Sondrup, Steven P.	Professor. Joined BYU faculty in 1973; BA University of Utah, 1968; MA Harvard University, 1969; PhD Harvard University, 1974.
Tate, George S.	Professor. Joined BYU faculty in 1974; BA Brigham Young University, 1969; MA Brigham Young University, 1970; PhD Cornell University, 1974.

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last modified: 10/10/06
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