polysystems
Polysystems refers to a theoretical framework in comparative literature and translation studies that views literature as a dynamic and interconnected system. Developed by Israeli scholar Itamar Even-Zohar, the polysystem theory posits that a literary system, such as the literature of a nation or a language, does not exist in isolation but rather functions within a larger complex of systems, hence "polysystem." This larger system includes other literatures, cultural traditions, and even non-literary phenomena.
The theory emphasizes that literature is not a monolithic entity but a hierarchical structure composed of
Polysystem theory also highlights the role of translation in shaping literary systems. Translations are not seen