Research Guides: Literature: Home

Approaches for Researching Works of Literature

Look for criticism and interpretation of

Features of the work itself
How the work fits within the author’s body of work
How elements of the work conform (or not) to expectations of a genre or a form
Themes contained in the work
The cultural context in which the work was written/published
How readers respond to the work

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Background Information

Use online encyclopedias and other reference books to get an overview of your topic and start your research.

Contemporary Authors This link opens in a new window
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A full-text reference database for information on writers active in the last century.
Twayne's Author Series This link opens in a new window
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Find in-depth critical introductions to the lives and works of major writers. Includes influences of literary movements.
Scribner Writer Series This link opens in a new window
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Browse original scholarly essays on authors from around the world. Places authors and their works in personal and historical context.
Oxford English Dictionary (OED) This link opens in a new window
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This full-text resource contains the entire text of the 22-volume Oxford English Dictionary, second edition. It provides definitions, pronunciations and the history of each word with examples from literary sources.
Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
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Credo Reference provides full-text access to 116 major reference books in all subject areas. Entries, though not full books, may be downloaded.
Oxford Reference Online - Premium Edition This link opens in a new window
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Full text access to more than 140 specialized dictionaries and reference works published by Oxford University Press. Each book in the Oxford Reference collection has a separate policy for downloading, printing, and copyright restrictions.