Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE FRE2018

 
TITLE Introduction à la littérature comparée/ Introduction to Comparative Literature

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT French

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit is an introduction to comparative literature. It will present the different aspects of the discipline (the role of translation, the theory of reception, the thematic approach, universal literary history, the so-called ‘national’ literatures, the question of literary genres, the relation between the arts, themes, myths, etc). It will briefly expose the application of different approaches to a literary text through concrete examples. The aim of this study-unit is to initiate the student in the domain of comparative literature.

Le cours est une introduction à la littérature comparée. Il présentera les différents aspects de la discipline (le rôle de la traduction, la théorie de la réception, l'approche thématique, l’histoire littéraire universelle, les littératures dites « nationales », la question des genres littéraires, la correspondance des arts, le thème, le mythe etc.). Il exposera brièvement, à partir d’exemples concrets, l’application des différentes approches au texte littéraire.
L’objectif du cours est d’initier l’étudiant au champ de la littérature comparée.

Study-unit Aims

To present the different aspects of comparative literature, including the role of translation, the thematic approach, myths, etc. The main aim is to familiarise the student with the domain of comparative literature.

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to become aware of the different aspects studied by comparative literature (persistence and variation of myth, analysis of a theme, literature and translation, influences and posterity, local/national vs. universal literature, intertextuality, literature and its Other, etc.) in order to apply those different aspects to a literary text or to a group of literary texts from one or many cultures.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to acquire skills that allow him/her to have a synchronic and a diachronic approach to variations of a theme or of a myth. The study-unit will contribute to elaborate critical thinking, going beyond the modern idea of national literature and outlining the interdependence of literary texts.

Bibliography

Boyer, Alain-Michel, Éléments de littérature comparée ; III. Formes et genres. Paris, Hachette, « Les Fondamentaux », 1996.
Casanova, Pascale, La République mondiale des Lettres. Paris, Seuil, 1999.
Chevrel, Yves, La littérature comparée. Paris, PUF, « Que sais-je? », 1989.
Pageaux, Daniel-Henri, La littérature générale et comparée. Paris, Armand Colin, « Cursus », 1994

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite Qualification: A pass at Grade C or better at Matsec Advanced Level in French

Les étudiants inscrits ailleurs désirant suivre la deuxième partie de cette unité d’enseignement peuvent le faire après autorisation du professeur. Ils s’inscriront comme suit:
FRE2118
FRE2218

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation No 20%
Examination (2 Hours) Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S Thierry Tremblay

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit