The Name and Nature of ComparativThe Name and Nature of Comparative Literaturee Literature（（ Part IPart I ））

Rene WellekRene Wellek

The term "comparative literature" has The term "comparative literature" has given rise to so much discussion, has bgiven rise to so much discussion, has been interpreted so differently and misieen interpreted so differently and misinterpreted so frequently, that it might nterpreted so frequently, that it might be useful to examine its history and to be useful to examine its history and to attempt to distinguish its meanings in tattempt to distinguish its meanings in the main languages.he main languages.

Only then can we hope to Only then can we hope to define its exact scope and define its exact scope and

content. Lexicography, content. Lexicography, "historical semantics," will be "historical semantics," will be our starting point. Beyond it, a our starting point. Beyond it, a

brief history of comparative brief history of comparative studies should lead to studies should lead to

conclusions of contemporary conclusions of contemporary relevance." relevance."

““Comparative literature" is still a controverComparative literature" is still a controversial discipline and idea. There seem no particsial discipline and idea. There seem no particular problems raised by our two words indiviular problems raised by our two words individually. "Comparative" occurs in Middle Englidually. "Comparative" occurs in Middle English, obviously derived from Latin comparativsh, obviously derived from Latin comparativus. It is used by Shakespeare, as when Falstafus. It is used by Shakespeare, as when Falstaff denounces Prince Hal as "the most comparf denounces Prince Hal as "the most comparative, rascalliest, sweet young prince,”Francative, rascalliest, sweet young prince,”Francis Meres, as early as 1598, uses the term in this Meres, as early as 1598, uses the term in the caption of "A Comparative Discourse of Our e caption of "A Comparative Discourse of Our English Poets with the Greek, Latin and ItaliaEnglish Poets with the Greek, Latin and Italian Poets. n Poets.

“ “ The adjective occurs m the titles of sThe adjective occurs m the titles of seventeenth-and eighteenth-century boeventeenth-and eighteenth-century books. In 1602 William Fulbecke publisheoks. In 1602 William Fulbecke published A Comparative Discourse of the Laws. d A Comparative Discourse of the Laws. I also find A Comparative Anatomy of BI also find A Comparative Anatomy of Brute Animals in 1765. Its author, John Grute Animals in 1765. Its author, John Gregory, published A Comparative View regory, published A Comparative View of the State and Faculties of Man with of the State and Faculties of Man with hose of the Animal World in the very nehose of the Animal World in the very next year. xt year.

Bishop Robert Lowth in his Latin LecturBishop Robert Lowth in his Latin Lectures on the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews es on the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews (1753), formulated the ideal of compar(1753), formulated the ideal of comparative study well enough: "We must see ative study well enough: "We must see all things with their eyes [i.e. the ancieall things with their eyes [i.e. the ancient Hebrews]: estimate all things by theint Hebrews]: estimate all things by their opinions; we must endeavour as mucr opinions; we must endeavour as much as possible to read Hebrew as the Heh as possible to read Hebrew as the Hebrews would have read it. brews would have read it.

In 1800 Charles Dibdin published, in five voluIn 1800 Charles Dibdin published, in five volumes, A Complete History of the English Stage,mes, A Complete History of the English Stage, Introduced by a Comparative and Comprehe Introduced by a Comparative and Comprehensive Review of the Asiatic, the Grecian, the Rnsive Review of the Asiatic, the Grecian, the Roman,he Spanish, the Italian, the Portuguese,oman,he Spanish, the Italian, the Portuguese, the German, the French and Other Theatres. the German, the French and Other Theatres. Here the main idea is fully formulated, but thHere the main idea is fully formulated, but the combination "comparative literature" itself e combination "comparative literature" itself seems to occur for the first time only in a lettseems to occur for the first time only in a letter by Matthew Arnold in 1848, where he says: er by Matthew Arnold in 1848, where he says: "How plain it is now, though an attention to t"How plain it is now, though an attention to the comparative literatures for the last fifty yehe comparative literatures for the last fifty years might have instructed any one of it, that ars might have instructed any one of it, that England is in a certain sense far behind the CEngland is in a certain sense far behind the Continent.” ontinent.”

But this was a private letter not publishBut this was a private letter not published till 1895, and "comparative" means ed till 1895, and "comparative" means here hardly more than "comparable." Ihere hardly more than "comparable." In English the decisive use was that of n English the decisive use was that of Hutcheson Macaulay Posnett, an Irish Hutcheson Macaulay Posnett, an Irish barrister who later became Professor obarrister who later became Professor of Classics and English Literature at Univf Classics and English Literature at University College, Auckland, New Zealand, ersity College, Auckland, New Zealand, who put the term on the title of his boowho put the term on the title of his book in 1886. k in 1886.

Posnett, in an article, “The Science of Posnett, in an article, “The Science of Comparative Literature," claimed "to hComparative Literature," claimed "to have first stated and illustrated the metave first stated and illustrated the method and principles of the new science, hod and principles of the new science, and to have been the first to do so not and to have been the first to do so not only in the British Empire but in the woonly in the British Empire but in the world.''Obviously this is preposterous, everld.''Obviously this is preposterous, even if we limit "comparative literature" to n if we limit "comparative literature" to the specific meaning Posnett gave to it. the specific meaning Posnett gave to it. The English term cannot be discussed iThe English term cannot be discussed in isolation from analogous terms in Fran isolation from analogous terms in France and Germany. nce and Germany.

The lateness of the English term can bThe lateness of the English term can be explained if we realize that the come explained if we realize that the combination "comparative literature" was bination "comparative literature" was resisted in English, because the term resisted in English, because the term "literature" had lost its earlier meani "literature" had lost its earlier meaning of "knowledge or study of literaturng of "knowledge or study of literature" and had come to mean "literary pre" and had come to mean "literary production in general" or "the body of woduction in general" or "the body of writings in a period, country, or region." ritings in a period, country, or region."

That this long process is complete todThat this long process is complete today is obvious from such a fact that, e.g., ay is obvious from such a fact that, e.g., Professor Lane Cooper of Cornell UniveProfessor Lane Cooper of Cornell University refused to call the department he rsity refused to call the department he headed in the twenties "Comparative Lheaded in the twenties "Comparative Literature" and insisted on "The Compaiterature" and insisted on "The Comparative Study of Literature." He considerrative Study of Literature." He considered it a "bogus term" that "makes neithed it a "bogus term" that "makes neither sense nor syntax." "You might as weler sense nor syntax." "You might as well permit yourself to say 'comparative pl permit yourself to say 'comparative potatoes' or 'comparative husks.'” But otatoes' or 'comparative husks.'” But in earlier English usage "literature" mein earlier English usage "literature" means "learning" and "literary culture,"paans "learning" and "literary culture,"particularly a knowledge of Latin. rticularly a knowledge of Latin.

Incomplete or even slightly incorrect in Incomplete or even slightly incorrect in its detail, this history of the terms in the its detail, this history of the terms in the main languages could become more memain languages could become more meaningful if treated in the context of comaningful if treated in the context of competition with rival terms. "Comparative petition with rival terms. "Comparative literature" occurs in what semanticists literature" occurs in what semanticists have called "a field of meaning." We havhave called "a field of meaning." We have alluded to "learning," "letters," and "be alluded to "learning," "letters," and "belles lettres" as rival terms for "literaturelles lettres" as rival terms for "literature." e."

"Universal literature," "international li"Universal literature," "international literature," "general literature," and "woterature," "general literature," and "world literature" are the competitors of "crld literature" are the competitors of "comparative literature. Universal literatomparative literature. Universal literature'' occurs in the eighteenth century aure'' occurs in the eighteenth century and is used rather widely in German .whnd is used rather widely in German .where "general literature" means what we ere "general literature" means what we would call"theory of literature" or "priwould call"theory of literature" or "principles of criticism." nciples of criticism."

The term "world literature," Weltliteratur, wThe term "world literature," Weltliteratur, was used by Goethe in 1827 in commenting on as used by Goethe in 1827 in commenting on a translation of his drama Tasso into French, a translation of his drama Tasso into French, and then several times, sometimes in slightly and then several times, sometimes in slightly different senses: he was thinking of a single udifferent senses: he was thinking of a single unified world literature in which differences bnified world literature in which differences between the indi viduaI literatures would disaetween the indi viduaI literatures would disappear, though he knew that this would be quppear, though he knew that this would be quite remote. In a draft Goethe equates "Europite remote. In a draft Goethe equates "European" with "world literature," surely provisionean" with "world literature," surely provisionally. ally.

Just as the exact use of "world literature" is Just as the exact use of "world literature" is still debatable, the use of "comparative literastill debatable, the use of "comparative literature" has given rise to disputes as to its exact ture" has given rise to disputes as to its exact scope and methods, which are not yet resolvscope and methods, which are not yet resolved. It is useless to be dogmatic about such med. It is useless to be dogmatic about such matters, as words have the meaning authors aatters, as words have the meaning authors assign to them and neither a knowledge of hisssign to them and neither a knowledge of history nor common usage can prevent changes tory nor common usage can prevent changes or even complete distortions of the original or even complete distortions of the original meaning. Still, clarity on such matters avoids meaning. Still, clarity on such matters avoids mental confusion, while excessive ambiguity mental confusion, while excessive ambiguity or arbitrariness leads to intellectual dangers or arbitrariness leads to intellectual dangers which may not be as serious as calling hot, cwhich may not be as serious as calling hot, cold, or communism democracy, but which stiold, or communism democracy, but which still hamper agreement and communication. ll hamper agreement and communication.

One can distinguish, first, a strict, narroOne can distinguish, first, a strict, narrow definition; Van Tieghem, for examplw definition; Van Tieghem, for example, defines it thus: "The object of compae, defines it thus: "The object of comparative literature is essentially the study rative literature is essentially the study of diverse literatures in their relations of diverse literatures in their relations with one another.'' Guyard in his handwith one another.'' Guyard in his handbook, which follows Van Tieghem closebook, which follows Van Tieghem closely in doctrine and contents, calls comply in doctrine and contents, calls comparative literature succinctly "the historarative literature succinctly "the history of international literary relations,''any of international literary relations,''and J.-M.Carré in his Preface to Guyard, cd J.-M.Carré in his Preface to Guyard, calls it "a branch of literary history; it is talls it "a branch of literary history; it is the study of spiritual international relatihe study of spiritual international relations, ons,

of factual contacts which took placof factual contacts which took place between Byron and Pushkin, Goee between Byron and Pushkin, Goethe and Carlyle, Waiter Scott and Vithe and Carlyle, Waiter Scott and Vigny, between the works, the inspirgny, between the works, the inspirations and even the lives of writers ations and even the lives of writers belonging to several literatures.'belonging to several literatures.'

In a wider sense "comparative literatuIn a wider sense "comparative literature" includes what Van Tieghem calls "gre" includes what Van Tieghem calls "general literature." He confines "compaeneral literature." He confines "comparative literature" to "binary" relations, rative literature" to "binary" relations, between two elements, while "general between two elements, while "general literature" concerns research into "the literature" concerns research into "the facts common to several literatures.'' It facts common to several literatures.'' It can, however, be argued that it is impocan, however, be argued that it is impossible to draw a line between comparatssible to draw a line between comparative literature and general literature, ive literature and general literature,

Besides, the term "general literatuBesides, the term "general literature" lends itself to confusion: it has re" lends itself to confusion: it has been understood to mean literary tbeen understood to mean literary theory, poetics, the principles of litheory, poetics, the principles of literature. Comparative literature in terature. Comparative literature in the narrow sense of binary relationhe narrow sense of binary relations cannot make a meaningful discips cannot make a meaningful discipline, as it would have to deal only line, as it would have to deal only with the "foreign trade" between liwith the "foreign trade" between literatures and hence with fragmentteratures and hence with fragments of literary production. s of literary production.

It would not allow treating the indiIt would not allow treating the individual work of art. It would be (as avidual work of art. It would be (as apparently Carré is content to thinpparently Carré is content to think) a strictly auxiliary discipline of lik) a strictly auxiliary discipline of literary history with a fragmentary, sterary history with a fragmentary, scattered subject matter and with ncattered subject matter and with no peculiar method of its own. o peculiar method of its own.

The method of comparison is not The method of comparison is not peculiar to comparative literature; it is peculiar to comparative literature; it is ubiquitous in all literary study and in ubiquitous in all literary study and in all sciences, social and natural. Nor all sciences, social and natural. Nor does literary study, even in the does literary study, even in the practice of the most orthodox practice of the most orthodox comparative scholars, proceed by the comparative scholars, proceed by the method of comparison alone. Any method of comparison alone. Any literary scholar will not only compare literary scholar will not only compare but reproduce, analyze, interpret, but reproduce, analyze, interpret, evoke, evaluate, generalize, etc., all on evoke, evaluate, generalize, etc., all on one page. one page.

Questions Questions

1.Lexical meaning of the term "compara1.Lexical meaning of the term "comparative literature"tive literature" ？？

2.The historical semantics of "comparat2.The historical semantics of "comparative literature"ive literature" 。。

3.What’s the meaning of "world literat3.What’s the meaning of "world literature" and "general literature"ure" and "general literature" ？？ What is What is your understanding of Comparative literyour understanding of Comparative literature as a discipline?ature as a discipline?