Melusine, I can assure you that, on the whole, Comparative Literature programs do not receive so many applications. I see that you're applying to Princeton, so let's take it as an example. The Graduate School publishes its admissions statistics here:
http://gradschool.princeton.edu/facts/humanities/
I hope this information serves to correct the inaccurate figures you have cited (so that others are not misinformed) and perhaps also to allay your own fears.