Content and Aims

After an introduction to the basic concepts and working methods of comparative literature, the programme enables you to examine the relationship between text (interpretation or reading) and theory. In addition, you will reflect on "world literatures" under the premise of literary diversity. Including the deepening of your foreign language knowledge, you will acquire the competence to combine linguistic, literary and cultural comparison. In addition, you will acquire the ability to reflect on historical and contemporary communication processes and intercultural articulations. With a focus on medial storage and mediation techniques, you will be sensitised to the relationships between medial and cultural contexts. 

Ten subjects/study areas of the Faculty of Humanities participate in the Master's programme of Comparative Literature: English Studies, Ancient Literatures, Chinese Studies, German Studies, Dutch Studies, Languages and Cultures of the Islamicate World, Romanic Studies, Scandinavian/Fennish Studies and Slavic Studies. To cover other literatures, teaching cooperations are offered and visiting professorships are recruited. An overview of current and selected past courses can be found here.