University of Washington. Dept. of Comparative Literature.

Comparative literature explores the relationships among various literary traditions as well as the relationship of literature to the arts and to fields of knowledge such as philosophy, religion, and political thought. Typical areas of inquiry include literary traditions and periods, genres, and motifs; patterns of influence and reception of literary works among various national cultures; and the general principles of literary theory and criticism. Ernst Behler was chair of the University of Washington's comparative literature department from 1977 to ca. 1998.

The discipline of comparative literature transcends the confines of a national literature and explores the relationships among various literary traditions. In addition, the discipline is concerned with the relationship of literature to the arts and to fields of knowledge such as philosophy, religion, and political thought. Typical areas of inquiry include literary traditions and periods, genres, and motifs; patterns of influence and reception of literary works among various national cultures; and the general principles of literary theory and criticism.

Ernst Behler was chair of the University of Washington's comparative literature department from 1977 to ca.1998.