Comparative Literature

Exploring the nature of myth, this course asks where we see myths being created and retold in the modern era and why a form that is often considered to be ancient still has such prominence today. Students read a range of modern mythic narratives, from the Caribbean to Japan, from the United States to the UK, considering how and why myth takes shape in 20th- and 21st-century literature. Examining the modern reception of ancient myths from Greek and Yoruba culture and delving into the creation of new mythic tales in graphic novels and performance poetry, students ask questions about what makes a text mythic and explore the ways in which myth continues to be used to address and think through very contemporary concerns.

Students study one of the most exciting periods of British literary and social history, when tumultuous political and social changes such as revolution and industrialization produced a range of remarkable and enduring literary responses. The course examines British Romantic literature through the close study of a broad range of prose, poetry, and non-fiction. The course is structured around examination of the work of the "Big Six" high Romantic writers, whose work is read alongside that of noncanonical Romantic writers. It examines a wide range of literary genres from the period, including various forms of poetry, the novel, and non-fictional prose writing, and offers the opportunity to study both canonical and lesser-known authors. 

In this age of globalization and the Korean wave, as elements of Korean culture such as K-pop, television dramas, and film spread throughout the world, Korean literature is also gaining in popularity abroad. Thus it is important to examine how Korean literature has been expressed, interpreted, and understood outside Korea. In this context, this class examines works of Korean literature translated into English and how they are understood and interpreted in English-speaking countries, covering everything from classic to contemporary literature. In this way, students gain a deeper understanding of Korean literature from a new perspective and thus be better equipped to contribute to the globalization of Korean literature in the future.

This class studies how Korean literature is expressed, interpreted, and understood outside Korea, primarily through English-language translations of Korean literature. The survey spans from classical to contemporary literature, including both prose and poetry; naturally, it is not be exhaustive, but provides a representative sampling of popular works. Students gain a better understanding of Korean literature in a global context and be better equipped to contribute to its continuing globalization. The class is conducted in English, but students with at least a basic knowledge of Korean and ability to read Korean texts benefit most from the class.

The course provides a survey of Swedish literary tradition, from the Middle Ages until today. It is centred on canonised and internationally well-known authors such as Carl Michael Bellman, Carl von Linné, Selma Lagerlöf, August Strindberg, and Gunnar Ekelöf. Additionally, more popular fiction, for example Astrid Lindgren’s children’s books and Henning Mankell’s crime novels, will be examined. The course also addresses the unique Swedish tradition of proletarian literature, and special attention will be devoted to women’s literature and literary tradition. All texts will be read in English translation. The main focus will be on literary history as well as on analysis and interpretation of literary texts, but also fundamental concepts of literary theory will be presented.