Comparative Literature
School of Languages, Linguistics and Film FAQs What is comparative literature at Queen Mary? It is about making comparisons – and connections – between challenging themes and motifs in different literatures and cultures. As well as having the opportunity to study a range of genres, time periods, and national literatures (all studied in translation), you can cross nationalities and even time periods. You could also examine links between literature and a whole range of other art forms: such as music; film; popular culture; visual arts – again, looking for links across cultures, geography and time. You could be exploring fairy tales in the modern world, the European novel and tragedy, Greek myths, Romantic Experience, Orientalism, American cinema, the short story, or children’s literature. Comparative Literature at Queen Mary is about choice and flexibility: you can select modules from a wide range, including some creative options such as script-writing. It is also about breadth of approach and keeping an open mind.
Why study comparative literature? What can I do afterwards? Comparative Literature at Queen Mary will develop an impressive list of the sort of transferable skills highly valued by today’s graduate employers. These will include:
Graduates in Comparative Literature are likely to be attracted to fields such as the media and PR, where their interest in broad culture will provide an invaluable background. Writing skills are useful in journalism, advertising, marketing and so on. You could also go into professions such as law (by taking the one-year conversion course) or teaching.
Why study comparative literature at Queen Mary? We have a vast amount of experience in the field, so you will always be taught by leading specialists of international standing whose cutting-edge research informs their high-quality teaching. Comparative Literature is taught in the thriving School of Languages, Linguistics and Film. In the Government’s most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), we were ranked highly for the quality of the research being carried out by staff. In particular, Linguistics was ranked 1st in the UK, and Russian and Iberian Languages were ranked in the top 10. This means that you will be taught by people who are breaking new ground in their fields, who will be able to pass on their passion and knowledge to you. We also did very well in the 2011 National Student Survey, with 91 per cent of students satisfied with the quality of the course overall; 95 per cent stating that the course is intellectually stimulating; and 97 per cent agreeing that staff are enthusiastic about what they are teaching.
• analytical ability: all that high-level sleuthing for links and differences will make you highly logical while also developing your intuitive skills. You will be able to digest a large amount of information quickly and effectively
Then there is the exciting range of option modules. Not only can you choose modules from all the language departments and Film Studies, but you can also venture into other humanities departments including History, English, Drama, Politics… the choice is yours. Students are assigned an Adviser, so you will be able to discuss your module choices with them.
• related to the above – highly sophisticated reading skills: this means that you will be able to read lengthy pieces without being sidetracked by ‘fluff’, and then summarise and précis with impeccable accuracy
Finally, while at many universities, comparative literature often sits within the English department, at Queen Mary it is an invigorating, growing and dynamic department in its own right – a reflection of our commitment to the subject.
• the ability to put things in context, and a welldeveloped awareness of the world around you • presentation skills: you will produce high-quality written work and give presentations, both essential in the world of work • team-working skills, from group projects. As for careers, remember that two thirds of graduate jobs are open to any graduate: the subject does not matter. It is your skills that will get you the great jobs.
www.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/complit 63