COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

SAVITA
M.A. (Eng.) UGC-Net
Email ID: [email protected]

ABSTRACT:- Comparative Literature is a branch of Literacy study which traces the mutual
relations between two or more internationally and linguistically different Literatures or texts. In so
far as relations between nations have some historical roots, Literacy comparative studies are linked
to history. In the words of Jean Marie Care, "Comparative Literature is a branch of literacy history,
for it tackles the international spiritual affinities". The word "Comparative" not means there the
comparison in Linguistic sense, but it must note the historical meaning. Thus, comparative
literature, is the study of national Literature in the historical relations with other foreign Literatures
on the scope of the languages which are used for the writing of literature. As Vijay Kumar points out
in Comparative Literature: "Comparative Literature analysis the similarities and dissimilarities
and parallels two literatures. It further studies themes, modes, conventions and the use of folk tales,
myths in two different literatures or even more".

KEYWORDS: Affinity, Comparison, Cultural Studies, History, Influence.

INTRODUCTION: comparative literature, denotes any Literacy

Matthew Arnold used the term "Comparative work or works when compared with any other
Literature" in one of his letters in 1848. He Literacy work or works. Hence, comparative
wrote "How plain it is now, through an literature is the study of inter-relationship
attention to the Comparative Literature for the between any two or more than two significant
last 50 years might have instructed any one of Literacy works or literatures. It is essential
it". while making comparative study we must take
When Matthew Arnold wrote about the sources, themes, myths, forms, artistic
Comparative Literature he did not speak only strategies, social and religious movements and
of a single discipline, but of many disciplines in trends into consideration. The comparatist with
terms of the plurality of Comparative his critical approach and investigations and
Literature. He placed England and the dissimilarities among various works that he has
continent together not only for comparison but undertaken for the purpose of comparison and
for contrast. It was Posnelt who published the justification lies in the fact that his approach
first work in English on comparison in 1886. must be unbaised and unprejudiced to reach the
According to George Saintsbury, "It is Matthew ultimate truth. It is only his earnest and sincere
Arnold who was the very first critic to approach which will bring forth the naked truth
emphasize the importance and the necessity of or natural results and this really is the purpose
comparative criticism of different Literatures in of comparative study.
a systematic and impartial manner".
Tagore refers to comparative literature by theComparative Literature is a comprehensive
name of "Vishvasahita". Broadening the scope term. Its scope encompasses totality of
of comparative literature he remarks: human experiences into its embrace, and
“From narrow provincialism we must free this all internal human relationships among
ourselves, we must strive to see the works of the various parts of the world are realized,
each author as a whole as a part of man's through the critical approach to Literatures
universal creativity and that universal spirit in
under comparative study. It help to vanish
its manifestation through world literature” narrow national and international
boundaries, and in place of that universality
In order to understand the term of human relationships emerges out. Thus
"comparative literature", we must analyse its the term comparative Literature includes
momenclature. Etymologically, the term comparative study of regional literatures,
national literatures, and internal literatures. true without question or proof. The
However, there are many over-lapping terms in communication stands so deeply rooted in
this concern such as Universal Literature, human behaviour and the structures society
General Literature, International Literature and that scholars have difficulty thinking of it
World Literature. 'Repeatedly, we can mention while excluding social or behavioral events.
here that comparative literature includes Because the theory remains a relatively
experiences of human life and behaviour as a young field of inquiry and combines itself
whole. In the conception of world Literature, the with other area of the subject of knowledge
works of Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, such as philosophy, psychology, and
Emerson, Thoreau, Valmiki, Vyas should be sociology, one probably cannot yet expect a
taken as one for comparison. general agreement conceptualization of
Virgil's Aeneid, Homer's Illiad, Milton's Paradise communication across discipline
Lost, Indian Epics-the Ramayana and the development of mass communication. The
Mahabharta can be studied in comparison as underlying fact behind the genesis of this
world Literature. theory of this theory is that there can be no
In the preface to Shakespeare, as Dr. Johnson development without communication. The
expresses "without the knowledge of many media subordinated themselves to political,
mountains and many rivers; so in the economic, social and cultural needs.
productions of genius, nothing can be styled The concept of literary influence originated
excellent till it has been compared with other in the type of comparative study that seeks to
works of the same kind". trace the mutual relation between two or
One of the most common errors in the study of more literary works. More specifically, a
comparative literature in theory and practice is literary text can have not existence before its
mistake that the writers and their works of writer's reading of another writer's original
literatures of a nations could be examined in the text or having direct contact with him or her.
light of the science or comparative literature. S h a k e s p e a r e ' s o l d e r t e x t s ( h i s t o r y,
Each nation may compare its own writers or biographies, folktales, but it would be
literary works with each other's, but this is not a inaccurate to suggest that such materials are
comparative literature. This works is a behind his peculiar genius, because they
comparative development of that nation's were only the raw material that he reshaped
literature. It is a progressive and historical study into new formswith his genius.)
of a products of a national or local literature. If Criticism is an important factor in the field of
we want to make comparative literature or a more comparative study. Criticism of Literary
literatures of the different nations or languages, work does not mean to find out its
traditions or cultures. weaknesses or shortcomings only. Critics
For instance when we compare English poets, or should highly culogize the good qualities of
novelists to each other's we learn some things the work, 'if discovered'. The Renan-The
about English literature, but when we compare comparative method is a "grand instrument
English Literature to French Literature, of Criticism". Translations are valuable in
American, Russian or Turkish literature we make bringing about similarities and
comparative literature. In that case, aspects, dissimilarities between significant works of
parallels, similarities or developments of English literature and are very helpful in the field of
and Turkish poets of ninetieth century may be research. Fitzgerald's translation of Omar
compared and contrasted by comparative Khayyam's Rubaiyat is an important point to
literature or comparative cultural approaches. An be considered. Translations should be as
English poet to another English poet(s) can be close to the original work as possible.
compared but as we mention above such a study English translation of European classics will
will explore historical, social or political help Indian students to make their
development, similar and different aspects etc. of comparisons with Indian Literatures.
English poetry. However when an English poet Similarly, Indian Classics in English
or writer is compared and contrasted to Turkish translation will be helpful for European
one, this will be a study of comparative literature. students in comparative study with their own
The far reaching impact of Second World War literatures.
can also be seen in the study and development of To sum up, what benefits comparative
comparative literature. Europe, the United States literature provides us are obvious as we
and the Commonwealth were forced to discuss above comparative literature will
reconsider all kinds of previous acceptance as help us explore all literary values of the other
literatures as well as ours. However comparative
literature is a study behind the boundaries,
between different languages, cultures and
literatures. Comparative Literature is necessary
for the world literature. We can examine
importance of voltaire for French, Spencer for
English, Dante for Italian, Tolstoy for Russain,
Al-Farabi for Turkish. and all of them importance
for the world literature in the light of comparative
literature in the best way.
REFERENCES:-
1. On Comparative Literature
International Journal of Literature and Arts
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j/ijla)
ISSN: 2331-0553.
2. ComparativeLiterature-Wikepedia,
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/comparati
ve_literature.
3. On Comparative Literature,
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