Comparative Literature - A Critical Introduction

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana

A Critical Introduction by Susan Bassnett examines comparative literature as an interdisciplinary field that studies texts across cultures, addressing patterns of connection in both time and space. The work frames the central question—what comparative literature is—through the common pathways by which readers and scholars arrive at comparison, including travel beyond single disciplines and attention to cross-cultural similarities. It situates these ideas within historical debates and offers a conceptual foundation for subsequent chapters on identities, politics, and translation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages97

Reading Time2 h 29 min

AccessFree to download

Acknowledgements

Introduction: What is Comparative Literature Today?

How Comparative Literature Came into Being

Beyond the Frontiers of Europe: Alternative Concepts of Comparative Literature

Comparing the Literatures of the British Isles

Comparative Identities in the Post-Colonial World

Constructing Cultures: the Politics of Travellers' Tales

Gender and Thematics: the Case of Guinevere

From Comparative Literature to Translation Studies

Notes

Select Bibliography

Index

SUSAN BASSNETT ComparativeLiterature A Critical Introduction To Clive,who forced me to stop talking lonenough to sit down and write. ComparativeLiterature A Critical Introduction DEDALUS-Acervo-FFLCH-LE Comparative literature 801 B322c 21300084022 Susan Bassnett TOMBO.:70340 SBD-FFLCH-USP Copyright ◎ Susan Bassnett 1993 The right of Susan Bassnett to be identified as author of this work has beenasserted in accordance with the Copyright,Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published 1993 801 Blackwell Publishers B3220 108 Cowley Road Oxford OX41JF UK 238 Main Street Cambridge,Massachuserts 02142USA All rights reserved.Except for the quotation of short passages for the purposesof criticism and review,no part of this publication may be reproduced,storedin a retrieval system,or transmitted,in any form or by any means,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording or otherwise,without the prior permissionof the publisher. Except in the United States of America,this book is sold subject to the condi-tion that it shall not,by way of trade or otherwise,be lent,resold,hired out,orotherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form ofbinding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similarcondition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bassnett,Susan. Comparative literature:a critical introduction/Susan Bassnett. p.cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-631-16704-8.-ISBN0-631-16705-6(pbk.) 1.Literature,Comparative-History and criticism.2.Literature, Modern-20th century-History and criticism.3.Criticism. L.Title. PN865B371993 92-45856 809.04048-dc20 CIP Typeset in 11 on 12¹/₂pt Sabonby Best-set Typesetters Printed in Great Britain by TJ Press Ltd,Padstow CornwallThis book is printed on acid-free paper s:8072567 Contents AcknowledgementsviiIntroduction:What is Comparative Literature Today?11 How Comparative Literature Came into Being122 Beyond the Frontiers of Europe: Alternative Concepts of Comparative Literature313 Comparing the Literatures of the British Isles484 Comparative Identities in the Post-Colonial World705 Constructing Cultures:the Politics of Travellers'Tales926 Gender and Thematics:the Case of Guinevere1157 From Comparative Literature to Translation Studies138Notes162Select Bibliography176Index182 Acknowledgements Agreat many people have helped with the creation of this book.Iamgrateful to my students over the past sixteen years at the Universityof Warwick,who have taught me so much about comparingculturesand have made me constantly aware of the gaps in my own knowl-edge.To some of those students especially,my debt is particularlygreat:Karin Littau,Hasnah Ibrahim,John Dixon,Gisela Funkdeserve special mention.Else Veira,who introduced me to thework of Brazilian translation theorists,has been invaluable.Mycolleagues,Piotr Kuhiwczak and Sabina Sharkey have offeredhelp and advice whenever needed,and ideas that have gone intothe writing of this book have been discussed with Tony Phelan,John Stokes,John Rignall and Keith Hoskin,special friends andcolleagues all.The manuscript was splendidly typed as ever by IreneRenshaw,assisted in the final stages by Chris Richley and ValMelling.Particular thanks to Stephan Chambers at Blackwell,whohas been patient and supportive throughout. This book,like my previous ones,has been made possible by a lotof help from other women:the staff of the University of Warwickcreche,the helpers at Wolvey village playgroup,Marlene Lawler,my mother,Eileen Bassnett,my daughters Lucy,Vanessa andRosanna.My son Luke has been no help at all,but his presencein my life is a continual joy.Finally,my thanks to Clive Bpresencwhom this book is dedicated. # Intr

FAQs

What does comparative literature study, according to Bassnett?

Comparative literature involves studying texts across cultures, focusing on interdisciplinary connections in literatures across both time and space.

How do most people end up doing comparative literature?

They often arrive through a journey from different starting points—sometimes by wanting to move beyond a single subject boundary, other times by following perceived similarities among texts or authors.

What guiding idea does Matthew Arnold’s quote express in the introduction?

It emphasizes that connection is everywhere and that no single event or single literature can be fully understood without relation to other events and other literatures.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana