al-Adab al-Muqaran - Jamiat al-Madina (Bakaloriyus)

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Jāmiʻat al-Madīnah al-ʻĀlamīyah

al-Adab al-Muqaran (Bachelor's stage; course code: LARB4143) is an undergraduate academic textbook prepared and published by جامعة المدينة العالمية (Al-Madinah International University) for its Arabic language and literature curriculum, focusing on the principles, history, schools, and applications of comparative literature .

Scope and Conception

The work defines comparative literature as a branch of knowledge devoted to examining two or more literatures belonging to different nations, nationalities, and usually languages . It explores areas of similarity and divergence between national literatures, assesses the historical and cultural factors behind them, investigates patterns of literary influence and reception, and analyzes the mutual images nations cultivate of one another across literary works . The textbook positions literary exchange as a vital process preventing creative stagnation in national literatures while preserving the distinct cultural identity and ethical foundations of Arabic literature .

Methodological Schools and Content

The curriculum outlines the major historical and critical approaches within the discipline:

  • The French School: Emphasizes verified historical contact and documented influence between literatures, noting that the term "comparative literature" emerged in France in 1827 .
  • The Slavic School: Explores structural and thematic parallels without making direct historical transmission a prerequisite, explaining similarities through shared socio-historical and material developments .
  • The American and Other Schools: Adopts broader comparative frameworks based on textual affinities, shared human concerns, and aesthetic parallels rather than strict historical contact .

The book surveys various fields of comparative research, including the cross-cultural migration of literary genres, stylistic imagery, recurring folklore motifs—such as the Ring of Solomon or the Cap of Invisibility—and literary movements . It highlights early comparative efforts in modern Arabic scholarship, citing figures such as رفاعة الطهطاوي, أحمد فارس الشدياق, روحي الخالدي, قسطاكي الحمصي, فخري أبو السعود, and إبراهيم سلامة . Furthermore, it addresses contemporary debates regarding globalization, intercultural dialogue, and theoretical questions raised by modern scholars such as Dr. Hussam al-Khatib and Dr. Muhammad Sa'id Jamal al-Din .

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