Researching Literary Topics
Find Books and Audio-Visual
Materials
Use the Library
catalog, to retrieve sources BY an author, enter as an Author Search [Twain, Mark].
For sources ABOUT an author or his or her works, enter as a Subject Search
[Twain, Mark].
To identify materials
about a particular type of literature, consider the following subject
headings:
Novelists, American |
American Fiction |
| Poets, American |
American Poetry |
Dramatists, American |
American Drama |
Authors, American |
American Essays |
American Literature-History and Criticism |
Short Stories, American |
Find Reviews, Articles, and
Essays
Use appropriate print
and electronic indexes. The print indexes are located on the Index Shelves;
the online indexes can be accessed from the Library's website.
Find Special Reference Sources
The following list
is just a selection of the many specialized reference sources available.
Dictionaries/Handbooks/Encyclopedias:
- A Dictionary of
Literary Terms and Literary Theory Ref PN 41 .C83 1998
- Encyclopedia of
Contemporary Literary Theory Ref PN 81 .E43 1993
- A Glossary of Contemporary
Literary Theory Ref PN 44.5 .H37
- The Harper Handbook
to Literature Ref PN 41 .F75
- John Hopkins Guide
to Literary Theory & Criticism Ref PN 81 .J554
- A Literary Atlas & Gazeteer of the British Isles Ref PR 109 .H25
- The Oxford Companion
to American Literature Ref PS 21 .H3
- The Oxford Companion
to English Literature Ref PR 19 .D73
Plot Summaries/Explication:
- Masterplots Ref
PN 44 .M43
- Magill's Literary
Annual Ref PN 44 .M35
- Masterplots II:
African-American Literature Series Ref PS 153 .N5 M2645
- Masterplots II:
American Fiction Series Ref PS 373 .M3
- Masterplots II:
British and Commonwealth Fiction Series Ref PR 881 .M39
- Masterplots II:
Drama Series Ref PN 6112.5 .M37
- Masterplots II:
Non-Fiction Series Ref PN 44 .M345
- Masterplots II:
Poetry Series Ref PN 1110.5 .M37
- Masterplots II:
Short Story Series Ref PN 3326 .M27
- Masterplots II:
World Fiction Series Ref PN 3326 .M28
Biographical/Critical Comment
on Individual Authors:
- American: American
Women Writers Ref PS 147 .A4
- American Writers
Ref PS 129 .A55
- Magill's Survey
of American Literature Ref PS 121 .M34
- Oxford Companion
to African American Literature Ref PS 153 .N5 O96
- Reference Guide
to American Literature Ref PS 129 .R44
British:
- British Women Writers
Ref PR 111 .B75
- British Writers
Ref PR 85 .B888
- Guide to British
Prose Explication Ref PR 861 .B38
- Reference Guide
to English Literature Ref PR 106 .R4
Multinational, including American
and British:
- Contemporary Authors Ref PN 451 .E8 C59
- Contemporary World
Writers Ref PN 51 .C6235
- Dictionary of Literary
Biography Ref PN 451 .D5
- European Writers Ref PN 501 .E9
- Reader's Guide
to Literature in English Ref PR 85 .R33
- Hispanic writers : a selection of sketches from Contemporary authors
Ref PQ7081.3 .H58 1999
Critical Theory:
- Critical Survey
of Literary Theory Ref PN 45 .C74
- Contemporary Literary
Critics Ref PS 78 .B56
Criticism Excerpts:
- Classical and Medieval
Literature Criticism Ref PN 681.5 .C57
- Literature Criticism
from 1400 to 1800 Ref PN 86 .L56
- Shakespearean Criticism
Ref PR 2965 .S44
- Nineteenth Century
Literature Criticism (NLC) Ref PN 761 .N5
- Twentieth Century
Literary Criticism (TLC) Ref PN 94 .T9
- Contemporary Literary
Criticism (CLC) Ref PN 771 .C59
- Black Literature
Criticism Ref PN 490 .B5
Genre-Related Sources:
Drama:
- Drama for Students Ref
PN 1601 .D595
- Critical Survey
of Drama: English Language Series Ref PR 623 .C75
- Critical Survey
of Drama: Foreign Language Series Ref PN 1625 .C74
- Drama Criticism
[criticism excerpts] Ref PN 1601 .D59
- Dramatic Criticism
Index Ref PN 1707 .B74
- Oxford Companion
to American Theatre Ref PN 2220 .B6
- Oxford Companion
to the Theatre Ref PN 2035 .O9
Long Fiction:
- Novels for Students Ref
PN 3385 .N68
- Critical Survey
of Long Fiction Ref PR 821 .C7
- English Novel Explication
Ref PR 821 .E6
Short Fiction:
- Short Stories for Students Ref
PN 3373 .S3844
- Critical Survey
of Short Fiction Ref PN 3321 .C7
- Reference Guide
to Short Fiction Ref PN 3373 .R36
- Short Story Criticism
(SSC) [criticism excerpts] Ref PN 3373 .S386
- Twentieth Century
Short Story Explication Ref PN 3373 .W3
Poetry:
- Poetry for Students Ref
PN1101 .P756
- Critical Survey
of Poetry Ref PR 502 .C85
- Guide to American
Poetry Explication Ref PS 201 .G85
- Guide to British
Poetry Explication Ref PR 311 .M3
- New Princeton Encyclopedia
of Poetry and Poetics Ref PN 1021 .N39
- Poetry Dictionary
Ref PN 1021 .D78
- Poetry Explication
[criticism excerpts]Ref PR 502 .K8
Other Genres:
- Critical Survey
of Mystery and Detective Fiction Ref PN 3448 .D4 C75
- Encyclopedia of
Fantasy Ref PN 3435 .E53
- Encyclopedia of
Frontier & Western Fiction Ref PS 374 .W4 E53
- Feminist Writers
Ref PN 451 .F46
- Fifty Western Writers
Ref PS 271 .F5
- Gay & Lesbian
Literature Ref PN 56 .H57 G36
- Horror Literature
Ref PR 830 .T3 H67
- Magill's Guide
to Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Ref PN 3433 .8 .M3
- Survey of Modern
Fantasy Literature Ref PN 56 .F34 S97
- Twentieth Century
Crime & Mystery Writers Ref PR 888 .D4 T8
- Twentieth Century
Romance and Gothic Writers Ref PR 888 .L69 T86
- Twentieth Century
Science Fiction Writers Ref PS 374 .S35 T89
Updated September 14, 2006
Christine Kickels, Associate Professor and Librarian
(630) 942-2313
kickels@cod.edu
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