comparative literature

American  

noun

1. the study of the literatures of two or more groups differing in cultural background and, usually, in language, concentrating on their relationships to and influences upon each other.

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Example Sentences

When I graduated from UC–Berkeley with my “useless” comparative literature degree, into one of the bleakest job markets in recent American memory, I thought to myself, There must be a loophole somewhere.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

In the humanities division, the cutbacks mean the school is pausing Ph.D. admissions for a year in disciplines like comparative literature, Germanic studies and art history.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

The author, a comparative literature PhD student at USC, lives in Studio City.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 9, 2024

In the 1970s, he taught English and comparative literature at his alma mater, Columbia University.

From New York Times • May 10, 2024

Series: Columbia University studies in English and comparative literature.

From Early Theories of Translation by Amos, Flora Ross