Courses - Faculty of Arts
Comparative Literature
Stage II
World Literatures I: Life, Death, War, Peace, Love
Myths, epics, bawdy tales, satires, songs, and plays make up traditions of ancient, medieval, early modern cultures. Compares cultural stories worldwide, from early writing to French Revolution. Includes Gilgamesh, Aztec myths, Roland, Tale of Genji, Scandinavian tales, Shakespeare's Tempest, Blake's poetry. Introduces skills for reading narratives by genre, theme, poetics. Texts are in English, with attention to texts' original languages.
Prerequisite: 60 points passed
Interpreting Folktales
An introduction to the study and interpretation of folktales. Tales from many cultures will be examined. Contrasting theories on the origins and meaning of folktales will be explored.
Prerequisite: 60 points passed
Restriction: COMPLIT 303
When East Meets West
Western readers have encountered the literatures of East and South Asia, and Asian readers have encountered Western literature, in a variety of political and cultural contexts, including: colonial expansion, spiritual inquiry, modernisation, warfare, migration, and globalisation. A selection of works from East and West, which have played a key role in these encounters, especially in the modern period, will be studied.
Prerequisite: 60 points passed
Restriction: COMPLIT 302
Directed Study in Comparative Literature
A directed reading and individual study course in a selected topic or topics, approved by the Academic Head or nominee.
Prerequisite: 60 points, and approval of Programme Coordinator
World Literatures 2: Machines and Modernities
Examines changing cultures and powerful ideas reflected in new literatures from the Industrial Revolution to the contemporary global era. Analyses and compares texts by genre, theme, and poetics. Includes poetry, narratives of European-Indigenous contacts, new culture movements in China and Japan, world drama, migrant writing, travel narratives. Texts are in English, with attention to texts' original languages.
Prerequisite: 60 points passed
Stage III
When East Meets West
Western readers have encountered the literatures of East and South Asia, and Asian readers have encountered Western literature, in a variety of political and cultural contexts, including: colonial expansion, spiritual inquiry, modernisation, warfare, migration, and globalisation. A selection of works from East and West, which have played a key role in these encounters, especially in the modern period, will be studied.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II
Restriction: COMPLIT 206
Interpreting Folktales
An introduction to the study of folktales, including collection and classification, oral and literary tales, structure, interpretative frameworks, revisions and film versions. Tales from many cultures will be examined. Contrasting theories on the origins and meanings of folktales will be explored.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II
Restriction: COMPLIT 202
Postgraduate 700 Level Courses
Reading Across Cultures
An advanced level review of approaches to the study of literature across cultures. Tests the potential and limits of theories of literature in the study of literary texts from many cultures and periods. Includes cross-cultural perspectives on authorship, intertextuality, reader-centred theories, literary translation, post-colonial literature, gender and sexuality, as well as reading across disciplines.
Restriction: COMPLIT 700, 709
Reading Across Cultures
An advanced level review of approaches to the study of literature across cultures. Tests the potential and limits of theories of literature in the study of literary texts from many cultures and periods. Includes cross-cultural perspectives on authorship, intertextuality, reader-centred theories, literary translation, post-colonial literature, gender and sexuality, as well as reading across disciplines.
Restriction: COMPLIT 705
Rethinking Literary Translation
Literary translation has come to be theorised as a dynamic and problematic process, central to comparative literature and shedding light on cross-cultural encounter, colonisation and the post-colonial. Alongside such theoretical considerations, students will undertake a practical translation project between languages in which they have expertise.
Directed Study
Supervised research essays on a topic or topics approved by the Programme Coordinator.
Directed Study
Supervised research essays on a topic or topics approved by the Programme Coordinator.
Study Abroad
Formal study in Comparative Literature in an approved overseas university. Enrolment requires the approval of the Programme Coordinator.
Prerequisite: Permission of Programme Coordinator
Study Abroad
Formal study in Comparative Literature in an approved overseas university. Enrolment requires the approval of the Programme Coordinator.
Prerequisite: Permission of Programme Coordinator
Research Project - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in COMPLIT 780 A and B, or COMPLIT 780
Dissertation - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in COMPLIT 790 A and B, or COMPLIT 790
Dissertation - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in COMPLIT 792 A and B, or COMPLIT 792
Thesis - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in COMPLIT 793 A and B