Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A Thesis
Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the
Louisiana State University
and Agricultural and Mechanical College
in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts
in
The Interdepartmental Program
in Comparative Literature
by
Alexandru Boldor
B.A., Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj
May 2003
Table of Contents
Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Argument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Preliminary Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Subject Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Historical Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Vita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
ii
Abstract
iii
and publications contributing to the development of the
comparative field.
iv
Argument
1
Steven Tötösy de Zepetnek, in the Introduction to “Comparative
1999.
1
Oscar James Campbell, was among the firsts to establish a
truly was plenteous, but the laborers were yet few.2” Like
2
Hutchenson Macaulay Posnett, in Comparative Literature, New
2
articles trying to offer possible solutions to the problem.
“comparative literature.”
etc.
3
mainstream of a national literature and/or a traditional
4
implement some of the “lacking methodology3” specific to our
name.
3
Prerequisites for an acceptable “study” mentioned by Rene Wellek
p. 11.
5
publications and texts grouped under the generic
objective description.
6
Objectives
topic.
7
of the matter (comparatist theories, literary studies) the
8
Preliminary Concepts
9
some sort of definition. Yet how exactly does a definition
Historical Prerequisites
arts and sociology (and the list could go on), the history
10
in contemporary studies. On the “administrative” side, the
5
Peter Brooks, “Must We Apologize?” in Comparative Literature in
Press, 1995.
11
academic branch was eventually challenged in the second
12
to solve these questions itself, our study will try to find
13
Definitions
14
sociales, esthétiques ou morales qui dérivent du
15
theme in literary history […] in practice, the term
human expression.
17
of marginality, a genre, various text types, etc. […]
and pluralistic.
18
A brief summary of the above definitions would have to
19
“other spheres of human expression.” Finally, Tötösy
et les goûter.
20
Chronological Overview: The Evolution of the Concept
6
René Wellek, Austin Warren: Theory of Literature, New York:
21
phenomenon is easily justified: the essential constitutive
method.
7
Robert J. Clements, in Comparative Literature as an Academic
22
annotated, or interpreted, and the new writings allowed
23
national consciences9 were to bring forth as well the
to these consciences.
9
The essential traits of the Renaissance, according to Michelet
and Burckhardt
24
followers. Lessing’s literary and social perspectives
the Greeks and Romans, 1798), Über die Sprache und Weisheit
25
scholarly standards, the comparative studies of Indo-
and finds out that the climate, the region, the nationality
10
Described as such or acknowledged as very influential by
26
éclairait de toute la puissance de la philosophie, les
prejudices.
11
Joseph Texte, in Études de Littérature européenne Paris: Armand
27
impact of the unprecedented technical development, Western
28
author disregarded German literature, mostly because he was
29
“scientificism” of the period. Ampère was perhaps the first
12
Jean-Jacques Ampère, in his inaugural discourse at the
30
The effects of Ampère’s works found an echo in the
13
The first in the edition of February 15, 1840, followed by
ancienne et moderne, Études sur les hommes et les mœurs au XIXe siècle,
31
All these works were founded on Chasle’s belief that
etc. He was also one of the firsts to show interest for the then
32
denomination for Comparative Literature) is to be found15.
“stoffgeschichte.”
15
Cf. Baldensperger, cited by René Wellek and Austin Warren, in
33
comparée” into English, according to his belief that “the
history.”
17
Matthew Arnold, in "The Function of Criticism at the Present
34
Francesco de Sanctis also presented a course in comparative
35
book named “Comparative Literature18” by Hutchenson Macaulay
18
“Comparative Literature” by Hutcheson Macaulay Posnett (author
36
The subject matter is defined in the manner of a scientific
37
realm. The ancient scholars have studied the influence of
38
literature19” in his articles and particularly in the
19
Paul Van Tieghem, in La Littérature Comparée, Paris: Armand
39
various instances of literary influence between French,
others).
40
following argument describes the motivation leading to the
20
Joseph Texte, in Études de Littérature Européenne, Paris:
41
writer has a history reaching beyond the borders of its
42
organize and document materials contributing to its growth,
researcher21.
21
Louis-Paul Betz, La Littérature Comparée. Essai
43
book is really an impressive academic effort within the
The motivation for this work (and also the ideology behind
literature.
22
M. Gréard, in the preface to “A Short History of Comparative
44
literature (Baldensperger was to continue the Betz’s
45
pleading in the favor of the comparative approach with an
issue.
46
at the chair of Comparative Literature in Lyon left vacant
23
Paul Van Tieghem, op. cit., p. 49.
47
twentieth century extended their work and influence until
24
Oscar James Campbell, “What is Comparative Literature?” In
48
premises launched by Posnett and Texte. It was also
49
Significant Institutions and Publications
50
unstable) framework of definitions, methods and categories,
cause. However, the major changes the Second World War was
25
Claude Pichois, op. cit., p. 25.
51
as early as the first decades of the century. While the
geographical area.
52
for the study of literature from a global perspective,
53
were: “… a new internationalism … broader perspectives on
principles was “the urgent need […] before our subject goes
26
The “Report on Standards to the American Comparative Literature
above.
54
sizeable and precise erudition … encountered only in great
28
René Wellek and Austin Warren: Theory of Literature, New York:
55
be unveiled, it remained its most important unanswered
56
levels. By the mid-sixties, their numbers were already
example.
57
of its redactional committee (Levin, Greene, Bernheimer)
30
The “Report on Standards to the American Comparative Literature
58
breaking contribution was the particular attention accorded
59
identifying “comparatism” with “cosmopolitanism,” an
Marx.
60
this very controversial field, and no publication did so
up-to-date.
61
Present Status and Possible Perspectives
Euro-American centre.
62
similar to the one experienced during the nineteenth
63
theory, it will have to prove its vitality with a yet
64
Bibliography
University in Cluj-Napoca.
same department.
67