Theoretical problems of literature and comparative literary studies have been studied at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv since the beginning of its functioning as a classical European university of the XIX-XX centuries. The roots of this Department go back to 1909 when the Department of Comparative Literary Studies was founded at Lviv National University. The first Head of the Department was Jan Kasprowicz.
A new stage in the study of literary theory and comparative studies is associated with the period of independence of Ukraine when in 2001 the Department of Literary Theory and Comparative Literary Studies was established at the university. The main task of the Department was to give a new impetus to the theoretical and comparative work of literary scholars of the university and of the whole Ukraine. During the period of 2001-2018 the Department was headed by Correspondent Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and Professor Mykola Ilnytskyi, since 2018 – by Professor Mykhailo Hnatiuk. Since its inception, a team of scholars has been formed (3 Doctors of Philology and 6 Candidates of Philological Sciences) who make a significant contribution to the development of Philology.
Since 2010, the Department has been preparing graduates in the educational program ‘Literary Art’ of the second (Master’s) educational and scientific degree of higher education for students majoring in 035 Philology, and since 2019 – the first (Bachelor’s) educational and scientific degree of higher education for students majoring in 035 Philology.
The Department of Literary Theory and Comparative Literary Studies is focused on maintaining its high status as one of the leading scholarly and educational centers in the field of literary studies, developing intellectual milieu and popularizing humanities among the younger generation, establishing Lviv comparative school. Ukrainian renowned scholars, who are also famous in international scholarly circles, work at the Department, in particular M. Ilnytskyi, M. Hnatiuk, O. Haleta, V. Budnyi, M. Zubrytska, T. Luchuk, M.Hirniak, M. Cheletska, U. Fedoriv, Yu. Tepla. These are the authors of influential monographs, well-known literary theorists, comparatists, translators of fiction, popularizers of Ukrainian literature, who participate in international scientific forums and research projects. The Department has become a prestigious place for philologically gifted young people to gain specialist expertise, a center of cultural progress and international cooperation.