Comparative Literature

The Department of Comparative Literature examines some of the major themes of fiction and poetry and track their cultural, social, and historical development in historical and modern eras.

3 semester credits. Bibliotherapy is a systematic method that utilizes literature and other narrative forms to transform traditional reading into a strategy to cope with a variety of psychological conditions. The activity of reading as a healing practice comes from a longstanding tradition: bibliotherapy dates back to ancient Greece, when libraries were seen as sacred places with healing powers. Particular attention will be given to the history of using literature for healing purposes, starting from the first historical references to the present day. This course will focus on developing a deep understanding of the therapeutic functions of books for psychological issues such as depression, eating disorders, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and emotional and social development in adolescence. Coursework will examine the spectrum of bibliotherapeutic techniques and will enable students to experience bibliotherapy in action.

3 semester credits. Bibliotherapy is a systematic method that utilizes literature and other narrative forms to transform traditional reading into a strategy to cope with a variety of psychological conditions. The activity of reading as a healing practice comes from a longstanding tradition: bibliotherapy dates back to ancient Greece, when libraries were seen as sacred places with healing powers. Particular attention will be given to the history of using literature for healing purposes, starting from the first historical references to the present day. This course will focus on developing a deep understanding of the therapeutic functions of books for psychological issues such as depression, eating disorders, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and emotional and social development in adolescence. Coursework will examine the spectrum of bibliotherapeutic techniques and will enable students to experience bibliotherapy in action. This course includes experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. In addition to regular lecture hours, students will be involved in learning by doing through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life. The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem-solving, leadership, and management.

3 semester credits. Since antiquity, travel has been one of the most fascinating experiences in the lives of individuals or groups of people, and Italy has emerged as one of the most desired destinations amongst international travelers. The term "Grand Tour" was used for the first time in 1670 by the British priest Richard Lassels and it specifically refers to the traveling experiences of European nobility and upperclass individuals in Italy and France during the 17th and 18th centuries. Especially in the second part of the eighteenth century, the Grand Tour became an essential ingredient in a young gentleman's life and general education. "A man who has not been in Italy is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is expected a man should see," said the critic Samuel Johnson, expressing a view widely shared by his contemporaries. This course will analyze the literature generated by the Grand Tour experience in Italy and its continuation and development in the 20th century. The main focus of the course will be the textual analysis of the essays, letters, and diaries written by some of the most famous authors who resided and traveled in Italy. The selection will include writings by Byron, Shelley, Goethe, Stendhal, Dickens, Mark Twain, Mary McCarthy, Kate Simon, and Christopher Woodward.

3 semester credits. Literature can be framed as the mirror and critique of social life. The course delves into the diverse nuances of Italian life through the captivating stories of renowned contemporary authors, who offer different glimpses into the unique landscapes, traditions, and socio-political realities of Italian regions. Through the analysis of plot structures, vocabulary, characters’ development, and themes, the course explores diverse societal narratives dealing with identity, oppression, and desire. These include the North/South divide, migration, integration, political struggle, gender norms, mental health, symbolic values, and religious customs. Students will read and discuss a variety of contemporary novels and screen adaptations in order to gain insights into Italian culture while also developing critical thinking and analytical skills.

3 semester credits. This course explores the theme of migration in contemporary postcolonial literature. The focus will be on both fictional and non-fictional modes of transcribing the experience of dislocation. A special emphasis will be placed on the role played by literary tradition in the writer's shaping of personal identity; the first lessons will provide students with the basic theoretical tools to help them discuss a literary text (especially autobiographical writings). Experimentation of form as well as significant innovations in content will be covered with in detail. Students will also be introduced to the basic historical events and changes of such countries as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Algeria in order to better understand past and contemporary interactions between the ex-colonies of ex-colonial powers such as Britain and France. Readings will include works by J.M. Coetzee, Michael Ondaatje, Hanif Kureishi, Jhumpa Lahiri, Azouz Begag, Salman Rushdie, and Edward W. Said.