Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the study of literature and cultural expression across linguistic, national, and disciplinary boundaries. Comparative literature "performs a role similar to that of the study of international relations, but works with languages and artistic traditions, so as to understand cultures from the inside". While most frequently practiced with works of different languages, comparative literature may also be performed on works of the same language if the works originate from different nations or cultures among which that language is spoken. A concentration in Comparative Literature is an excellent foundation for further work at the graduate level. It also prepares students to work in any field where critical thinking, strong writing skills and foreign language competence and a sophisticated understanding of cultural difference and diversity are called for. The literature and culture of the English speaking world continue to exert an incalculable influence in the present moment. English Literature, will allow you to explore in depth some of the most important texts in a body of cultural practices whose roots go back to the early modern period. It offers an opportunity to engage with the extraordinary variety of writing in English, which ranges from canonical landmark texts to the most recent and emergent of literary forms. This book focuses on the study of literature from different cultures, nations, and genres, and explores relationships between literature and other forms of cultural expression. Comparative Literature poses such questions as, What is the place of literature in society.