Matija Murko in ameriška komparativistika

slovenian

2025

volume 48, issue 2

American literary scholarship   comparative literature   literary influences   oral theory   Slovenian literary historians

Slovensko društvo za primerjalno književnost
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

The article discusses the reception of Matija Murko’s scholarship in American comparative literature. In this regard, I argue that the canonized narratives about the history of comparative literature do not provide an adequate frame-work for such research. Outlining some of the most well-known histories of comparative literature, I demonstrate how a study of Matija Murko’s reception and influence on the development of American comparative studies—both after and especially before the Second World War—reveals that established histories of the discipline simply overlook certain historical periods. In doing so, I focus specifically on Murko’s influence on the development of oral theory and on the work of Albert Bates Lord (1912–1991); and I discuss the recep-tion of his works in early American comparative literature, particularly in relation to Charles Mills Gayley (1858–1932) and the “Harvard folklorists.” In conclusion, I suggest that studying the dissemination of a non-canonical scholar, such as Matija Murko, can open the door to unknown or overlooked histories of comparative studies.

02.12.2025