What is Comparative Literature?
Comparative Literature is more than just reading texts from different languages; it is a way of thinking about literature through a transnational and cross-cultural lens. It is a way of reading that emphasises literature as a product of interactions between different languages, cultures, and historical moments. This means that even if you're reading a text in English, you can apply a Comparative Literature approach to analyse how it engages with global literary traditions.
What sets Comparative Literature apart is its openness. The discipline encourages us explore literature in conversation with visual arts, history, philosophy, politics, sociology, anthropology, and even moving image. It is an interdisciplinary field that constantly questions not only what we read but also how and why we read it.
Who is a good fit for Comparative Literature?
If you have a wide range of interests and feel that a single discipline can’t quite capture your academic curiosity, Comparative Literature is the ideal subject. Students in this field are intellectually adventurous, eager to explore connections between different literatures, cultures, and disciplines.
Whether you're interested in English and French literature, Arabic and German, or a combination of literature and visual arts, this degree provides the flexibility to explore these passions simultaneously.
What will you study in Comparative Literature?
At King’s, the Comparative Literature programme is structured to offer increasing flexibility as you progress. One of the required first-year modules, The Writer in the Text, introduces you to iconic authors across different cultures, such as Sappho, James Joyce, and the Ottoman traveller Evliya Çelebi. The module challenges students to think about how authorship is defined across various historical and cultural contexts.
Another key aspect of Comparative Literature is its engagement with interdisciplinary approaches. Many students at King’s combine their studies with film or a foreign language, making the course dynamic and multifaceted.
Comparative Literature at King’s specialises in a wide range of literary traditions, covering over a dozen languages and five continents, ensuring that students have access to diverse perspectives.
What is the difference between a Comparative Literature and an English degree?
While both Comparative Literature and English degrees involve the study of literary texts, the two areas of study do differ. English primarily focuses on literature written in the English language, while Comparative Literature examines literary works across different languages, cultures and historical periods, emphasising comparative analysis and interdisciplinary approaches.
What skills will you develop?
A degree in Comparative Literature does not just enhance your ability to read and analyse texts; it cultivates critical thinking, adaptability, and the ability to synthesise complex ideas. These skills are highly transferable and valuable across various industries, including publishing, journalism, cultural institutions, academia, business and law.
Comparative Literature fosters a mindset of multiplicity – the ability to draw meaningful connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. This depth of thinking makes graduates well-equipped to navigate a rapidly globalising world where cross-cultural communication and interdisciplinary understanding are essential.
Final thoughts
Comparative Literature is not just about reading more books—it’s about reading differently. It’s a discipline that challenges students to think globally, to question literary and cultural boundaries, and to develop skills that are relevant in countless professional fields. If you have a passion for literature but don’t want to be confined to a single tradition, King’s College London offers the perfect environment to explore, grow, and thrive in this intellectually stimulating subject.