The essay concentrates on the problem of the self-critical discourse of the discipline. First
of all, the word crisis, introduced by R. Wellek in 1958 to describe the situation of
comparative literature in the USA, is redefined to explain the immediate success of this
term all over the world. Moreover, the research embraces other situations in which
comparative literature is defined through negative metaphors. Their presence is discussed
as a paradox of the succesful discipline which has reigned in humanistic research for more
than two centuries. As it results from the research, the purpose of negative figures in
self−critical discourse of comparative literature is chiefly rhetorical, but they express the
necessity of development and progress, accordingly to the antique concept of crisis
meaning capacity of judgement', criticism.
affiliation:
Wydział Polonistyki : Katedra Komparatystyki Literackiej
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