English 301: Critical Methods in the Study of Literature

Professor: Dr. Jane Donawerth

Research resources compiled, and web page created by Patricia Herron, McKeldin Library

This guide will assist you in locating resources for English 301. E-mail Patricia Herron, the subject area specialist, or call 301-405-9280 for more information.

Contents

Locating Poems

Biographical Information

Historical Context and Literary Criticism

Interlibrary Loan

Preparing Your Bibliography

Questions?

Catalog
Material held in the College Park and University System of Maryland libraries.

To locate collections of poems by a specific author use the Advanced Search option as shown in the example below.

Electronic Works

LION (Literature Online)
A full text collection of over 350,000 works of poetry, drama, and prose written in the English language from the 8th century to the present.

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Biographical Information

Literature Resource Center
Full-text database of author biographies, criticism and reviews of authors' works.

Biography and Genealogy Master Index
Index to thousands of biographical sketches in reference books readily available in McKeldin Library, such as Who's Who, American Women Writers,Contemporary Poets, etc.

Catalog
Find book-length biographies available in the UM libraries.
For biographies of authors use the subject word/s search option or the word/s anywhere search option and type name of author and "biography": EXAMPLE: adrienne rich biography.
For additional materials type ONLY the name of the author and browse results for interviews and other resources that may contain biographical information.

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Historical Context and Literary Criticism

Catalog
Resources available in the University System of Maryland Libraries

One way to locate books on historical context is to use the subject beginning with search option and type an appropriate subject heading.

The following are some useful subject headings for the poetry paper:




nineteen eighties nineteen seventies nineteen sixties african americans history 1964- african americans aocial conditions 1964-1975 african americans social conditions 1975- african americans social life and customs popular culture united states history 20th century women united states social conditions women united states social conditions 20th century

women united states history 20th century united states history 1945- united states history 1953-1961 united states history 1961-1969 united states history 1969- united states social conditions 1945- united states social conditions 1960-1980 united states social conditions 1980- united states social life and customs 1945-1970 united states social life and customs 1971-

The following are some useful subject headings for the Othello project:




shakespeare, william, 1554-1616 stage history To 1625 theater and society england history theater england london history theater audiences england blacks europe history europe ethinic relations history imperialism in literature colonies in literature race in literature english drama islamic influences islam and literature england history english drama turkic influences turks in literature

turkey in literature muslims in literature islam in literature england race relations history shakespeare, william 1564-1616 views on race shakespeare, william 1564-1616 views on imperialism military art and science europe history military weapons europe history euorpe history, military women history renaissance women history 17th century women social conditions 16th century women social conditions 17th century

WorldCat
Resources available in major libraries throughout the US and elsewhere

Catalog - Literary Criticism

Catalog
Resources available in the University System of Maryland Libraries

To locate books by and about an author use the word/s anywhere search option and type in the author's name. This type of search works for authors for which there is not much material available.

To locate books by an author use the author beginning with search option and type in the author's last name, first name: EX: plath, sylvia.

To locate books of criticism on an author use the subject word/s anywhere or the word/s anywhere search option and type in the author's and the word "criticism": EX: sylvia plath criticism.

For information about authors for which there is a large body of criticial work try the subject beginning with search option and type in the author's last name, first name: EX: frost, robert. Browse the list of subject headings and select relevant categories.

WorldCat
Resources available in major libraries throughout the US and elsewhere

Databases - Historical Context and Literary Criticism

Use the following databases to locate journal articles and other scholarly material. Be sure to follow the link. This will direct you to one of three sources: 1. the full text of the article, online, 2. the catalog entry for the print version of the journal, or 3. Interlibrary Loan where you can order the article if the online and print versions are not available from the UM Libraries.

If the database does not have the link you will need to check both the Catalog and Research Port to determine if the journal is available through the Libraries. Check the Journals subset of the Catalog and search under the title of the journal, to see if a paper or microform version of the journal is available. Check the Journals tab in Research Port to determine if an electronic version of the journal is available. If the UM Libraries do not own the journal you can request it through Interlibrary Loan

America: History and Life
Information on articles, books, book reviews, and dissertations on U.S. and Canadian history from prehistory to the present.

Historical Abstracts
Information on articles, books, and dissertations about world history (excluding U.S. and Canadian history) from 1450 to the present.

MLA International Bibliography
Information about articles, essays, and other materials published from the 1920's to the present.

Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature (ABELL Plus)
Information about articles, essays, books, dissertations, and book reviews on language and literature topics from 1920 to the present.

World Shakespeare Bibliography
Information about books, articles, book reviews, dissertations, theatrical productions, reviews of productions, audiovisual materials, electronic media, and other scholarly and popular materials related to Shakespeare.

John Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory
Includes essays on critics and theorists, critical schools and movements, and the critical and theoretical innovations of specific countries and historical periods.

Humanities International Complete
Information about articles in humanities journals.

Arts & Humanities Search
Information about articles in arts and humanities journals. Also useful for finding book, film, television, music and performance reviews.

Literature Resource Center
Full-text database of author biographies, criticism and reviews of authors' works.

Historical Newspapers and Popular Magazines

New York Times Historical (1851-2001)

Washington Post Historical (1877-1988)


Ladies Home Journal
McKeldin Periodical Stacks, AP2.L135, 1921-1933, 1935-1940,1942,1947-1972,1985-1986
Mckeldin Periodicals/Microform Room, AP2.L135, 1889-1991

Life
McKeldin Periodical Stacks, AP2.L547, 1936-1972
McKedlin Periodicals/Microform Room, AP2.L548, 1978-2000

Look
McKedlin Periodicals/Microform Room, AP2.L79, 1937-1971

Newsweek
McKeldin Periodical Stacks, AP2.N6772, 1934-1940,1943-1997
Mckeldin Periodicals/Microform Room, AP2.N6772, 1933 - present

Saturday Evening Post
McKeldin Periodical Stacks, AP2.S2, 1909 - present

Time
McKeldin Periodical Stacks, AP2 .T37, 1925-1998 (with some gaps)

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Interlibrary Loan

Material not held in our libraries can be requested through Interlibrary Loan.

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Preparing Your Bibliography

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Resources for students on academic integrity and plagiarism.

How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography


Citing Sources Using the MLA Handbook


Citation Styles Handbook: MLA

Using MLA Style to Cite and Document Sources


MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Location: McKeldin Quick Reference Shelf Call Number: PN147.G53 2003

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Questions?

If you have any questions about these or other library resources, contact Patricia Herron (301-405-9280) or Tim Hackman (301-314-8521) for more information.