in comparison to literature in the nineteenth century, the subject of scope and literature of the twentieth century can be characterized as more

Refute it, showing why it is mistaken—an apparent but not real problem; acknowledge its validity or plausibility, but suggest why on balance it's relatively less important or less likely than what you propose, and thus doesn't overturn it; concede its force and complicate your idea accordingly—restate your thesis in a more exact, qualified, or nuanced way that takes account of the objection, or start a new section in which you consider your topic in light of it. this will work if the counterargument concerns only an aspect of your argument; if it undermines your whole case, you need a new thesis.