Redefining the Role of Comparative Literaturein Contemporary World Literature

The role of comparative literature is changing in contemporary literature and facing new approaches topromote identity and culture. It is a wrong belief to suppose that comparative literature studies and publishing theirresearch achievements in English is of little value, and since they are not in Persian, others must first learn Persianand be able to get acquainted with Iranian literature and culture themselves, or train translators professionally;additionally, professionalism and increasing their number to literary translators for the magnificent classical andcontemporary literary works of Iran into different languages to be underestimated. These cases do not weaken thevalue of Iranian culture and literature, but by strengthening researchers and translators in these fields can dedicatelove, beauty, and pleasure to the world with Persian literature and will revive Iranian culture and literature. Then,other countries cannot take the advance to register Iranian literati in the name of their own country and as non-Iranians, such as Nezami and Rumi. Studies and scientific articles in the field of comparative literature in English inprestigious scientific journals like other sciences by Iranian researchers despite the valuable researches in Persianand at the same time the lack of comparative studies in other literatures of the world is significant. This articleexplores the role of comparative literature in preserving and developing identities, languages, cultures, andliteratures in contemporary literary studies. The results show the global promotion and expansion of comparativeliterature might help to preserve the national language, literature, and culture and provides a way out of internalisolation and cross-border development for critical studies by Iranian and no-Iranian researchers.

Keywords:

Comparative Literature , Contemporary World Literature , Identity , Culture , Literary Translation