Program Overview

Comparative Literature Program

The Comparative Literature Program offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to the study of literature, exploring the interactions between social, political, and cultural change in the development of modern literary traditions.

About the Program

• The program provides an introduction to modern Arabic literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, examining the interaction between social, political, and cultural change in the Middle East and the development of a modern Arabic literary tradition.
• The program aims to reflect the different spaces of literary development in diverse parts of the Arab world, including North Africa.

Academics

• Undergraduate Program: The undergraduate program offers a major and minor in Comparative Literature, with courses that meet the SAS Core requirements.
• Graduate Program: The graduate program offers advanced study in Comparative Literature, with a focus on research and critical analysis.

Course Detail

• 195:398: Issues in Comparative Literature: Modern Arabic Literature: This course provides an introduction to modern Arabic literature, examining the interaction between social, political, and cultural change in the Middle East and the development of a modern Arabic literary tradition.
• Required Texts:
  • Samar Yazbek, A Woman in the Crossfire: Diaries of the Syrian Revolution
  • Emil Habibi, The Pessoptimist
  • Tayeb Salih, Season of Migration to the North
  • Ghassan Kanafani, Men in the Sun and Other Palestinian Stories, Return to Haifa
  • Yahya Haqqi “The Lamp of Um Hashim” in The Lamp of Um Hashim and Other Stories
  • Abdul Rahman Munif
• Grading and Requirements:
  • Attendance/Participation: 20%
  • Reading Responses: 20%
  • Oral Presentation: 10%
  • Midterm: 20%
  • Final Paper (5-7 pgs.): 30% (including Outline and Annotated Bibliography)

People

• Leadership & Staff: The program is led by a director and supported by a team of staff members.
• Core Faculty: The program has a core faculty of scholars with expertise in Comparative Literature.
• Affiliated Faculty: The program also has affiliated faculty members from other departments and institutions.
• Lecturers: The program employs lecturers to teach courses and provide additional support to students.
• Graduate Students: The program has a community of graduate students pursuing advanced study in Comparative Literature.
• Emeritus Faculty: The program has emeritus faculty members who continue to contribute to the program's activities and research.

Events

• Event Calendar: The program has an event calendar that lists upcoming events, including lectures, workshops, and conferences.
• Faculty Lecture Series: The program hosts a faculty lecture series, featuring talks by scholars and experts in the field.
• Distinguished Speaker Series: The program also hosts a distinguished speaker series, featuring talks by prominent scholars and writers.
• Graduate Student Colloquia: The program has a graduate student colloquia series, featuring presentations by graduate students on their research.
• Biennial Graduate Conference: The program hosts a biennial graduate conference, bringing together graduate students and scholars from around the world.
• Undergraduate Workshops: The program offers undergraduate workshops, providing students with hands-on experience and training in research and critical analysis.
• Senior Symposium: The program hosts a senior symposium, featuring presentations by undergraduate students on their research and projects.
• Photo Gallery: The program has a photo gallery that showcases images from events and activities.

News

• Faculty News: The program has a faculty news section, featuring updates on faculty research, publications, and awards.
• Graduate News: The program also has a graduate news section, featuring updates on graduate student research, publications, and awards.
• Undergraduate News: The program has an undergraduate news section, featuring updates on undergraduate student research, projects, and achievements.

Magazines

• Proteus: The program publishes a magazine called Proteus, featuring articles, reviews, and creative writing by students and faculty.
• Comparative Literature Blog: The program also has a blog, featuring updates, news, and commentary on topics related to Comparative Literature.

Alumni & Friends

• The program has an alumni and friends section, featuring updates on alumni achievements and news.

Undergraduate Menu

• Why Comparative Literature?: The program provides information on why students should study Comparative Literature.
• Prospective Students: The program has a section for prospective students, featuring information on admission requirements, course offerings, and program details.
• Learning Goals: The program outlines its learning goals, including the skills and knowledge that students can expect to gain.
• Major: The program offers a major in Comparative Literature, with a set of required and elective courses.
• Minor: The program also offers a minor in Comparative Literature, with a set of required and elective courses.
• Course Schedule: The program provides a course schedule, listing the courses offered each semester.
• Course Descriptions: The program provides course descriptions, outlining the content and requirements of each course.
• Courses meet SAS Core: The program indicates which courses meet the SAS Core requirements.
• Advising: The program provides advising services, helping students to plan their course of study and achieve their academic goals.
• Honors: The program offers honors options, allowing students to pursue advanced study and research in Comparative Literature.
• Study Abroad: The program has study abroad options, allowing students to study Comparative Literature in international contexts.
• International Programs: The program has international programs, featuring collaborations and partnerships with institutions around the world.