Comparative Literature (M.Phil./P.Grad.Dip.)

M.Phil. – This course is designed to provide an understanding of Comparative Literature as a subject of study and a critical practice. The core modules provide the theoretical and methodological basis for comparing texts of various genres and artefacts of different media at an advanced level. Optional modules enable the further development of these competencies and offer opportunities to develop and apply this knowledge and these skills to a range of primary texts from a wide range of languages, cultures, epochs and other contexts.

Applicants would normally be required to have a good honors degree (at least upper second class honors standard), or an equivalent qualification, in a cognate area. Applicants should normally have an advanced reading knowledge of at least one language other than English among those offered by the School of Languages, Literature and Cultural Studies at Trinity College Dublin.

The course consists of two core modules taken by all students (Theory and Methodology and Moving between Cultures), two options from the range offered in a given year, and a dissertation of 15,000-20,000 words whose theme and approach should be comparable.

In order to be awarded the degree of M.Phil. in Comparative Literature candidates must satisfy the Court of Examiners by obtaining an overall pass in both the following components:

the assessment work for core course 1, core course 2, options 1 and 2 (combined)
the dissertation

The two core modules each contribute 20% of the overall assessment, the options each contribute 10% and the dissertation 40%.

Diploma – Students on the Postgraduate Diploma
will enrol in two year-long core modules to be trained in the use of theory, criticism, and various possibilities of comparison ranging from the application of imagology to interdisciplinary approaches. These core modules are complemented by two term-long option modules with more specific literary and cultural content.

Students will be trained in the following areas:

• Comparative and interdisciplinary research skills
• An understanding of key terminology (intertextuality, influence, magical realism, etc.)
• Applying cultural and philosophical theories to literary texts
• An understanding of literary and cultural histories
• An understanding of debates surrounding comparative literature and world literature
• Reading literature in English translation but also in other languages. Ideally the knowledge of languages other than English is desired for this MPhil, although it is not a prerequisite.
• Some of the cultural theories we engage with include but are not limited to texts by Mikhail Bakhtin, Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, Giorgio Agamben, Gilles Deleuze/Felix Guattari, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, etc.

The content of this programme draws on expertise by staff from the departments of the School but also on people from outside of the School and Trinity.

Certificate – Students on the Postgraduate Certificate will enrol in one year- long core module to be trained in the use of theory, criticism, and various possibilities of comparison ranging from the application of imagology to interdisciplinary approaches. This core module is complemented by one term- long option module with more specific literary and cultural content.

Students will be trained in the following areas:

• Comparative and interdisciplinary research skills
• An understanding of key terminology (intertextuality, influence, magical realism, etc.)
• Applying cultural and philosophical theories to literary texts
• An understanding of literary and cultural histories
• An understanding of debates surrounding comparative literature and world literature
• Reading literature in English translation but also in other languages. Ideally the knowledge of languages other than English is desired for this MPhil, although it is not a prerequisite.
• Some of the cultural theories we engage with include but are not limited to texts by Mikhail Bakhtin, Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, Giorgio Agamben, Gilles Deleuze/Felix Guattari, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, etc.

The content of this programme draws on expertise by staff from the departments of the School but also on people from outside of the School and Trinity.