Comparative Literature

Year 1

Currently, students study the following core modules. If there are options available the current choices are also shown. King's reviews its optional modules on a regular basis, in order to continue to offer innovative and exciting programmes and this list is therefore subject to change. Please check here for updates, or contact the Department for further advice.

Students on this course are required to take:

• • What is Comparative Literature? Conceptions & Methods (15 credits)
  • The Writer in the Text (15 credits)
  • Comparative Literature: Theoretical Foundations (15 credits)
  • Genres of World Literature (15 credits)

You are also required to take modules totalling at least 15 credits that require the use of another language, including language study at the Modern Language Centre (MLC) or an approved modern languages module. A list of approved modules is updated by the department each year.

Comparative Literature:

You will also study Comparative Literature modules totalling 30 credits from a selection that may typically include:

• Forms of Shorter Narrative (15 credits)
• The Novel in 18th Century Europe (15 credits)
• Reading Modern Poetry Comparatively (15 credits)

Additionally, you must select a further 30 credits modules from Comparative Literature or optional modules from within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities.

Year 2

In Year 2 you will take the following core modules and a choice of options.

• Literature of Empire (15 credits)

• Ideas of Nation (15 credits)

• The Book in the Modern World (15 credits) OR The Canon (15 credits)

You are also required to take modules totalling at least 15 credits that require the use of another language, including language study at the Modern Language Centre (MLC) or an approved modern languages module

Example of options available:

Comparative Literature:

You will study three further 15-credit Comparative Literature modules from a selection that may typically include:

• Romantic Britain & Italy (15 credits)
• The Book in the Modern World (15 credits)
• The Canon (15 credits)
• Writing Africa (15 credits)
• Caribbean Drama (15 credits)
• Palestinian & Israeli Literature (15 credits)
• Forms of Discovery: Hardy, Cavafy, and the modern short poem (15 credits)
• The Faust Tradition: Dramatic Transformations (15 credits)

Additionally, you must select a further 30-credit module from Comparative Literature or optional modules within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities.

Year 3

In Year 3 you will take the Dissertation core module and a choice of options.

All Final year students are required to take:

• Dissertation (30 credits)

You are required to take modules totalling at least 15 credits that require the use of another language, including language study at the Modern Language Centre (MLC) or an approved modern languages module.

You will study a further three 15-credit Comparative Literature modules from a selection that may typically include:

• Surrealism (15 credits)
• Imaginary Geographies (15 credits)
• The French Revolution Effect (15 credits)
• Listening across the Channel (15 credits)
• Testimony: The Holocaust & Rwanda (15 credits)
• Modern Arabic Literature (15 credits)

You will also select further credits from Comparative Literature topics or from optional modules within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities (approved by the Comparative Literature Teaching Committee) to bring your total for the year to 120 credits.

You will have the opportunity to study abroad in the first semester of the third year. Partner universities currently include:

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Hong Kong University
• University of Bologna (Italian language required)
• University of Sydney
• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (German language required - this is a German department exchange which Comp Lit students can access where space is available)
• Université Paris-Sorbonne French language required - this is a French department exchange which Comp Lit students can access where space is available)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis in order to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. The optional modules offered may therefore change. We suggest that you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.