Methods, Approaches and Aims of CL

 The basic method of CL is comparison.

 A comparatst also employs other methods like
descripton, characterizaton, interpretaton,
narraton, and evaluaton.
 He applies various approaches in his investgaton.
 Some give stress on diferences and disparites.
 Some give stress on identtes and similarites.
 The aim is to fnd out the implicatons and the
underlying identtes of both similarites and
diferences.
 Comparative Literature
involves the study of texts
across cultures.
It is interdisciplinary.
It is concerned with patterns
of connection in literatures
across both time and space.
Comparative Literature
involves the study of texts
across diverse cultures.
It is interdisciplinary.
It is concerned with patterns
of connection in literatures
across both time and space.
Comparative Literature is the study of
literature beyond the confines of one
particular country, and the study of
the relationships between literature on
the one hand and other areas of
knowledge and the belief, such as the
arts (e.g., painting, sculpture,
architecture, music) philosophy ,
history, the social sciences (e.g., politics
economics, sociology) the sciences,
religion, etc. on the other.
 Purpose of CL

The purpose of comparative

study is to discover the
COMMON AREAS among
the various literatures.
 Comparatst
The comparatist, with his critical approach
and investigations, will find out the
similarities and dissimilarities among various
works.
His approach must be unbiased and
unprejudiced to reach the ultimate truth. He
should be objective and neutral in his
approach.
It is only his earnest and sincere approach
which will bring forth the naked truth or
natural results which is the purpose of
comparative study.
 Comparatist

• A comparatist is a person
who carries out comparative
study, especially of language
and literature.
 Oral Literature
OL refers to any form of verbal art
which is transmitted orally or
delivered by word of mouth.
 Oral Literature

OL refers to any form of

verbal art which is
transmitted orally or
delivered by word of
mouth.
It may include ritual texts,
curative chants, epic poems,
musical genres, folk tales,
creation tales, songs, myths,
spells, legends, proverbs, riddles,
tongue-twisters, word games,
recitations, life histories or
historical narratives.
The purpose of oral traditions is
to educate the listener,
to communicate aspects of culture
and
 to socialize people into a cultural
tradition.
Literate societies may continue an
oral tradition within the family
( e.g. , bedtime stories).
• Oral traditions have provided
cultural continuity in many
communities.
• Our literatures have a common
Sanskritic heritage and have
been affected to a great extent by
Arabian and Persian influences.
 Types of Oral Literature

MYTHS: Stories that explain objects or events

in the natural world as resulting from some
supernatural force, most often a god.
Legends: Stories coming down from the past,
often based on real events.
Folk Tales: Brief stories passed by word of
mouth from generation to generation.
Fairy Tales: Stories that deal with mischievous
spirits and other supernatural occurrences.
 PURPOSE OF ORAL TRADITION
The purpose of oral traditions is
to educate the listener,
to communicate aspects of culture and
 to socialize people into a cultural
tradition.
Literate societies may continue an oral
tradition within the family ( e.g. ,
bedtime stories).
Parables: Stories told to teach a moral
lesson.
Fables: Stories with an animal character.
Spirituals: Religious songs from African-
American traditions.
Proverb: Traditional saying.
Epic: A long story often told in verse
involving heroes and gods. It is grand in
length and scope.
 Troubadours, Bards, and Griots
 A Troubadour was a composer and performer of
Old Occitan (French) Lyric Poetry during the
High Middle Ages (1100-1350) .
 A Bard is a person who composed and recited
epic or heroic poems , often while playing the
harp.
 A Griot can be a historian, a storyteller, praise
singer, poet, and or musician. He is a repository
(person full of information) of oral tradition. He
is a social leader due to his position as an advisor
to royal people.
 Epic of Sundiata

The “Epic of Sundiata” is an epic poem of

the Malinke people. It tells the story of
the hero Sundiata Keita (died 1255), the
founder of the Mali Empire. The epic is an
instance of oral traditon. It goes back to
the 14th Century. It is narrated by
generaton of griot poets. It talks about
Good and Evil. Materials pertaining
(related to) to the epic frst began to be
collected during the early 20th C. in French
Sudan.
 Sundiata in Brief
• P1. A hunter comes to the king and
prophesizes that Sundiata will be born from an
ugly woman, Sogolon.
• P2. Sundiata is said to become the great leader.
• The ugly woman marries the king and has a
son Sundiata.
• The king’s first wife Sassouma Berete becomes
angry that her son will not be king.
• Sundiata walks and in early ages seems he
would be a great man.
• Sundiata and his family are exiled
for 7 years.
• Sassouma’s son rules Mali badly.
• Sundiata goes back to Mali to rule.
• Sundiata rules justly and wisely for
many years.
• His rule is said to be the Golden
Age of Mali empire.