Comparative Literature in the History of Literature: Ibrahim Ahmed Shwan’s Old Kurdish Literature as An Example

Abstract

Abstract

This is a study on the comparative literature in the history of Kurdish literature with example of the book “Kurdish old history” by Ibrahim Ahmed Shwan. It is an attempt to demonstrate the literary comparison as a basis of histography and its reflection in the book. The aim of study is to demonstrate to what extent the basis of the literary comparison are shown in this historical book, and to what extent was the writer successful in the portrayal of literature and how he played the role in consolidating the histography and giving it a scientific and objective dimension. In this study, a descriptive, analytical- criticism method is used. The study is divided into two parts:  the first part talks about the history and comparative literature and their relationship is demonstrated. In the second part, a literary comparison as a basis of histography is demonstrated and the extent of its success in portraying in the book are analyzed and assessed. Finally, it is demonstrated that the author of this book has resorted to literary comparison and got benefits from it. However, the principles of literary comparison were not followed properly in his histography, thus it is regarded as a flaw of his work.