Comparative Literature in America
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Questions and Answers

Who is considered the founding father of the American School of Comparative Literature?

  • Matthew Arnold
  • Henry Remak (correct)
  • Susan Bassnett
  • Charles Mill

The American perspective on comparative literature emphasizes a nationalistic approach.

False (B)

What is the primary focus of the American perspective on comparative literature?

Interdisciplinary and universalism

According to Henry Remak, comparative literature serves as a connecting link between literature and other fields such as _____.

<p>psychology</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following did American comparatists reject as a focus for their studies?

<p>Nationalism (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the scholars to their contributions regarding comparative literature:

<p>Henry Remak = Founding father of American Comparative Literature Charles Mill = Distinctive line of literature philology Gayley = Proposed single literature study as comparative Susan Bassnett = Ideas of interdisciplinary and universalism</p> Signup and view all the answers

Comparative literature, according to American scholars, should only focus on two different literatures at a time.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did critics claim about the American perspective on comparative literature?

<p>An offshoot of modernist literary criticism</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which philosophy emphasizes that individuals have control over their choices and actions?

<p>Existentialism (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The philosophy of existentialism is only relevant to French literature.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name one of the leaders of existentialism.

<p>Jean Paul Sartre or Albert Camus</p> Signup and view all the answers

Literary texts from __________ and other countries show parallel lines that reflect common literary properties.

<p>both foreign works</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the authors to their literary influence:

<p>Adonis = Influenced by existentialist philosophy Abdul Rahman Muneef = Influenced by Western literature Tawfiq Al Hakeem = Wrote existential-themed works Jean Paul Sartre = Leader of French existentialism</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary motivation for the emergence of the American School of Comparative Literature?

<p>The rigid constraints of the French School (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The French School of Comparative Literature encourages comparisons between texts from the same country.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name one field that American comparatists emphasize alongside literature.

<p>Psychology</p> Signup and view all the answers

American comparatists aim to challenge _____ nationalism in literary studies.

<p>chauvinistic</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a distinguishing feature of the American School of Comparative Literature compared to the French School?

<p>Encouraging comparisons across various disciplines (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The American School's perspective on comparative literature is an offshoot of modernist literary criticism.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to early American perspectives, comparative literature should incorporate elements from fields such as literature, ______, and social sciences.

<p>anthropology</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'parallelism' refer to in the context of comparative literature?

<p>The correspondence of poetry in form or content across cultures. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The American perspective on comparative literature prioritizes a humanistic approach over a historical one.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main criticism that has been made regarding the French school of comparative theory?

<p>It focuses too heavily on direct influences between literatures rather than parallel developments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to N.I. Konrad, the idea of parallelism stems from the similarities in humanity's social and historical __________.

<p>evolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

What key aspect did Arthur Richmond Marsh emphasize in his definition of comparative literature?

<p>Purely literary criticism. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following types of literary study with their characteristics.

<p>Influence theory = Focuses on direct cultural impact between literatures. Parallelism theory = Explores commonalities in social evolution among literatures. Humanistic approach = Emphasizes the collective achievements of humanity. Historical analysis = Examines the historical context of literary works.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The American comparative literature approach dismisses the influences between international literatures.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe how political and social relations during the feudal period influenced literature according to comparatists.

<p>They resulted in similar patterns of thought, art, and literature in different parts of the world.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the philosophy of existentialism?

<p>People are free agents with control over their choices. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus are significant figures in the development of existentialism.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What main privilege does the American school of comparative literature emphasize?

<p>finding parallelism in literary texts across different cultures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The influence of existentialism reached writers in the Arab World such as Adonis, Abdul Rahman Muneef, and __________.

<p>Tawfiq Al Hakeem</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the authors to their respective literary trend:

<p>Jean Paul Sartre = Leads in existentialism Albert Camus = Leads in existentialism Adonis = Influenced by existentialism Tawfiq Al Hakeem = Influenced by existentialism</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the American School of Comparative Literature?

<p>Encourages interdisciplinary approaches in literature (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The American School of Comparative Literature supports the idea of comparing texts only from different linguistic backgrounds.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason for the decline of the French School of Comparative Literature?

<p>Its rigid constraints on comparisons and narrow focus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The American School of Comparative Literature emerged as a reaction against the __________ School.

<p>French</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of early American scholars towards comparative literature?

<p>Humanity's collective achievements (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Parallelism theory is primarily rooted in the understanding of linguistic similarities between texts.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect did American comparatists seek to eliminate from literary studies?

<p>Rigid nationalistic perspectives (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who linked comparative literature to social evolution and the influence of the environment?

<p>Posnett</p> Signup and view all the answers

The American School considers literature in isolation from other disciplines.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The correspondence of poetry in form or content is referred to as __________.

<p>parallelism</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following scholars to their theories regarding comparative literature:

<p>Bassnett = Emphasis on interdisciplinarity and universalism Arthur Richmond Marsh = Focus on literary criticism N.I. Konrad = Definition of parallelism Posnett = Links to social evolution and environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which theory has replaced the French school of influence in American comparative literature?

<p>The theory of parallelism (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The American perspective on comparative literature aims to break down barriers between different forms of literature.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What social conditions do comparatists often examine for common features in literature?

<p>Political and social relations</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

American School of Comparative Literature

A school of thought in comparative literature emphasizing interdisciplinarity and universalism.

Henry Remak's Perspective

Comparative literature is not a separate discipline but a link between subjects, allowing comparisons between literatures and other fields.

Interdisciplinary Approach

Combining multiple fields of study (e.g., literature, music, psychology) in analysis.

Depoliticization of Comparative Study

Avoiding focus on nationalistic differences and emphasizing universal themes.

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Charles Mill's View (1890s)

Literature should involve philology, psychology, and other social sciences.

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Universalism

The belief that there are shared human experiences applicable across cultures and times.

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Interdisciplinary Work Model Construction

Emphasis on relating literature with other fields like psychology, sociology.

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Comparison beyond Binary

Expanding on the comparative view by comparing single literatures and understanding the reasons/laws of literature.

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French School's Restriction

The French School of Comparative Literature limited comparisons to texts from different countries and languages, excluding comparisons within the same country.

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American School's Focus

The American School emphasizes interdisciplinary study, comparing literature with other fields like psychology, history, and art.

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Chauvinistic Nationalism

The American School aims to move beyond nationalism by focusing on universal themes found in literature across cultures.

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Charles Mill's View on Comparative Literature

Charles Mill believed comparative literature should incorporate philology, psychology, anthropology, and other social sciences.

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Beyond Literary Text Comparison

The American School challenged the French School's narrow view by arguing that literary texts can be compared with other genres like painting and cinema.

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The American School's Reaction

The American School emerged as a response to the restrictive nature of the French School of Comparative Literature.

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Shared Human Experiences

The American School views literature as reflecting shared human experiences across cultures and languages.

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Interdisciplinary Work Model

The American School aims to create a model for comparative study that integrates multiple disciplines.

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Parallelism in Literature

The concept that literary works from different cultures and times can share similar themes, ideas, and even stylistic elements.

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Existentialism's Influence on Literature

The philosophy of existentialism, emphasizing individual freedom and choice, influenced writers in both Europe and the Arab world, leading to themes of personal responsibility and societal constraints in their works.

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Comparative Literature: American School

A school of thought in comparative literature that emphasizes interdisciplinarity and universalism, acknowledging that literature can share common themes despite cultural differences.

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Influence of French Existentialism on Arab Literature

French existentialist writers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus influenced Arab writers like Adonis, Abdul Rahman Muneef, and Tawfiq Al Hakeem, leading to similar ideas of freedom and responsibility in their works.

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Echoes and References in Literature

Literary works can often exhibit 'echoes' and 'references' to other works, showcasing influences and shared themes across cultures and time periods.

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Humanistic Approach

Early comparative literature scholars viewed the subject through a humanistic lens, focusing on humanity's shared experiences and achievements across time and place.

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Parallelism Theory

This theory explores similarities in literary forms and content between different cultures, emphasizing common social and historical evolution as a source of these parallels.

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Influence vs. Parallelism

The French school focused on literary influence, while the parallelism theory emphasizes shared social and historical patterns as the driver of similar literary expressions.

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Beyond Linguistic Similarity

Parallelism goes beyond simply finding similar words or structures in different texts. It explores deeper connections in themes, ideas, and overall literary development.

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Common Features in Literature

Comparatists using the parallelism theory aim to identify the underlying reasons and principles that lead to shared features and patterns in different literatures.

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Feudal Period Example

The feudal system is used as an example of how similar social and political structures across different regions can lead to parallel patterns in literature.

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Comparative Study's Goal

Comparative literature aims to understand the underlying reasons and principles that create connections between literatures and writers, exploring shared phenomena and their patterns.

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French School's Limitation

The French School of Comparative Literature insisted on comparing texts from different countries and languages, excluding comparisons within the same country.

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Universal Themes in Literature

The American School believes that despite differences in language and culture, all nations share certain universal experiences reflected in their literature.

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Beyond Nationalistic Boundaries

The American School aims to move beyond nationalism in literary studies by focusing on universal themes and human experiences.

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Charles Mill's Vision

Charles Mill, a pioneer of the American School, believed comparative literature should incorporate disciplines like philology, psychology, anthropology, and social sciences.

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Model of Comparative Study

The American School aims to create a model of interdisciplinary work in comparative literature, combining different fields for a more comprehensive understanding.

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Reaction against French School

The American School emerged as a direct response to the restrictive nature of the French School, which limited comparative study to texts from different countries and languages.

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Existentialism's Impact

The philosophy of existentialism, focusing on individual freedom and choice, influenced writers in both Europe and the Arab world, resulting in similar themes of personal responsibility and societal constraints in their works.

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American School's View

The American perspective on comparative literature emphasizes interdisciplinarity, recognizing the links between various disciplines like art, history, and literature. It also focuses on universal themes found across cultures.

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Humanistic Approach (Early Comparative Literature)

Early scholars saw comparative literature as a humanistic subject, focusing on humanity's shared achievements and experiences through time and place instead of just focusing on nationalistic differences.

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Study Notes

The American School of Comparative Literature

  • Founded in the second half of the 20th century, its founding father, Henry Remak, argued comparative literature is not a separate discipline but a connecting link between multiple subjects (e.g., literature, music, and philosophy).
  • Remak emphasized "depoliticization," suggesting the American perspective avoids the focus on nationalism often found in other approaches.
  • This perspective is distinct from the French approach by focusing on interdisciplinary study rather than strict literature-to-literature comparisons.
  • Some critics view it as a modern offshoot of modernist literary criticism, whereas others posit it as a development of earlier comparative concepts (e.g., those of Matthew Arnold, H. Macaulay Posnett and Arthur Marsh).
  • American scholars prioritize literature studies through a model of interdisciplinary work, aiming to de-emphasize nationalistic boundaries.
  • These scholars seek links between diverse perspectives like linguistic, cultural, psychological, sociological, and anthropological factors in literature

Key Features of the American Approach

  • Emphasizes interdisciplinary work, combining literature with other fields like psychology, anthropology, linguistics, and social science.
  • Aims to avoid chauvinistic nationalism by considering literature through a broader cultural lens.
  • Studies cross-cultural connections and influences, considering that commonalities exist in literature beyond national boundaries.
  • Introduces concepts like parallelism and intertextuality in comparative literature studies.
  • Early American scholars saw comparative literature through a humanist lens, linking it to social evolution, individual growth, and environmental influences.

Historical Context

  • Early American scholars viewed comparative literature as a study of human influence, with elements of sociology, psychology, and the environment incorporated.
  • The American approach focused on interdisciplinarity rather than solely comparing one literature to another, representing a break from the emphasis of the French School.
  • American scholars highlighted the universality of themes and ideas in literature across cultures, emphasizing interdisciplinary links rather than solely examining literary influence between specific countries.
  • American scholars sought to break links imposed by national borders in studying comparative literature.

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Related Documents

American School of Comparative Literature PDF
Parallelism Theory: American School of Comparative Literature PDF

Description

Explore the evolution of comparative literature in the American context, from its founding by Henry Remak to its interdisciplinary focus. This quiz delves into the contrasts between American and French approaches, highlighting the importance of depoliticization and the influence of modernist literary criticism. Test your knowledge of key figures and concepts in this unique field.

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