Vara Neverow
CHAIRPERSON, English Department
Deane Hetric
CHAIRPERSON, Foreign Language Department

The Departments of English and Foreign Languages jointly offer specializations in comparative literature and world literature for liberal arts students.

Because this specialization calls for knowledge in depth of two languages (one of which may be English) it encompasses both the major and minor areas in its requirements (48 credits). It allows students to develop a program of study — worked out with an adviser — in the literature of two languages read in the original. It provides a broad outline of national literatures and leads to more intensive study of a period, a genre, or a literary movement in the literature of the two countries. The program aims to acquaint students with the culture and literature of other countries and to prepare them for graduate work in literature.

— In addition to the University Requirements of the Liberal Arts program, students must complete a 300-level course in at least one foreign language studied in the original before proceeding to the selection of courses from those listed below.
— Five courses (15 credits) in the literature of one foreign language in the original.
— Five courses (15 credits) in the literature of a second language (English or foreign) in the original.
— Three courses (9 credits) in comparative literature in which several literatures are studied together — chosen from the following:

Comparative Literature Courses

LIT 310 — Mythology: Greek and Roman
LIT 311 — Norse and Celtic Mythology
LIT 318 — Utopias
LIT 328 — Literature of Medieval Europe
LIT 350 — European Novel and Short Story 1850-1900
LIT 352 — European Novel and Short Story 1900-1945
LIT 354 — European Novel & Short Story 1945 to Present
LIT 406 — Classical Drama: Greek and Roman
LIT 430 — Modern Drama: Ibsen to O’Neill
LIT 431 — Contemporary Drama: Brecht to the Present
LIT 487 — History of Literary Criticism

In addition, students choose, with advisement, three courses (9 credits) in literature (in the original language or in translation) and/or courses (such as art, history, philosophy) related to the area of specialization.

The specialization in world literature provides students with some knowledge of the broad outlines of national literatures and allows them to specialize in a period, a genre, or a literary movement (30 credits). The aim of the program is to give students an appreciation of selected literatures of the world and/or to prepare them for advanced work in literature.
Besides meeting the University Requirements for the Liberal arts program, students elect courses as follows:
— Five courses (15 credits) in literature in the original, English or foreign.
— Five courses (15 credits) in literature of another language, English or foreign, read in English (American, British, World Literature, or pertinent interdisciplinary courses) or in a foreign language. Two of these courses must be in Comparative Literature, in which several literatures are studied together.

World Literature Courses

LIT 300 — Literature of the Old Testament
LIT 302 — Literature of the New Testament
LIT 303 — Literature of the Sea
LIT 326 — Dante and His Times
LIT 330 — Renaissance in Europe 1350-1650
LIT 335 — The Portrayal of Childhood
LIT 338 — Russian Novel of the 19th Century
LIT 342 — Dostoyevsky
LIT 346 — Russian Short Story
LIT 366 — West African Culture Through Literature
LIT 370 — Contemporary French Novel
LIT 374 — Modern German Literature
LIT 488 — Seminar in World Literature

It is recommended that students choose as electives some courses in disciplines (such as art, history, theater) relevant to the area of concentration.