GE 111 D: Writing and Interpretation of Literature
A Guide to Library Resources
Spring 2008
Reference Collection | Catalog
Indexes and Databases | Interlibrary Loan | Resources on the Internet | Citation Guides
REFERENCE COLLECTION
Encyclopedias and other reference works provide background reading on your topic and related issues, bibliographies, names of authorities and important works in the field, and occasionally related websites. Remember that books on the shelves are grouped together by subject, so take time to browse the shelves!
PLEASE NOTE : This list of resources is far from exhaustive. If your topic is not addressed in this list, please talk with one of us at the reference desk so we can help you get started on your research. |
Gale Series in Literary Criticism:
Use Contemporary Authors Cumulative Index [RR PN451 .C632 2004] as a shortcut to identify all relevant titles within the series. You may access this index also on-line at Literary Index.
Short Story Criticism (SSC) [RR PN3373 .S386; v.1- 1988-] Annual publication on short story criticism.
Dictionary of Literary Biography (DLB) [RR PN431 -] Biographical essays and critical commentary. Each volume bears an individual title in the catalog.
Also available on-line at Dictionary of Literary Biography
Contemporary Literary Criticism (CLC) [RR PN771 .C59; v. 1- 1973-] Critical evaluations of modern literature up to the most current commentaries. Includes bibliographies and, in many cases, interviews with authors.
Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism (TCLC) [RR PN771 .G3; v.1- 1978-] Excerpts from criticism on the 20th cent. literature, arranged chronologically. Includes annotated bibliography at the end of each author section.
Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism (NCLC) [RR PN 761 .N5 -] "Criticism of the works of novelists, philosophers, and other creative writers who died between 1800 and 1899, from the first published critical appraisals to current evaluations."
Poetry Criticism (PC) [RR PN1010 .P62; 1991-] Poetry: history and criticism. Use author or title index to locate a specific author or title. Chronological arrangement of listed criticism provides a perspective on changes in critical approaches over time. Includes bibliography.
Drama Criticism (DC) [RR PN1601. D59; 1991-] History and criticism of drama, theater reviews, biographies of dramatists. Use author or title index.
Contemporaty Authors [RR PN451 .C-] Biographical sketches and essays.
Additional reference sources:
Critical Survey of Short Fiction 7v. [PN3321 .C7 2001] Biographical sketches, critical analysis, and bibliographies.
Masterplots II. Short Story Series 6v. [RR PN3326 .M27 1986] Examines the theme, characters, plot, style and technique of 19th and 20th century works by prominent authors from around the world.
Reference Guide to Short Fiction [RR PN 3372 .R36 1994] "Entries on the most significant writers of short fiction from the 19th and 20th centuries."
St. James Guide to Horror, Ghost & Gothic Writers [RR PN3435 .S7154 1998] Think outside the "short story" box. Consider the genre of your particular story. See also Guide to the Gothic III: An Annotated Bibliography of Criticism, 1994-2003 2v. [RR N3435.G66 F74 2005]
Short Story Writers 3v. [RR PN3373 .S398 1997]
The Facts on File Companion to the American Short Story [RR PS374 .S5 F33 2000] Short entries, but thorough bibliographies.
The Columbia Companion to the Twentieth-Century American Short Story [RR PS374 .S5 C57] See, especially, Selected Bibliography => Critical Studies at the end of each entry to find secondary sources.
American Women Writers 5v. [RR PS147 .A4] See also Feminism in Literature: A Gale Critical Companion 6v. [RR PN471 .F43 2005], The Oxford Companion to Women's Writing in the United States [RR PS147 .O94 1995], and Modern American Women Writers [RR PS151 .M54 1991]
Encyclopedia of Catholic Literature 2v. [RR PN485 .E53 2004]
The Companion to Southern Literature: Themes, Genres, Places, People, Movements, and Motifs [RR PS261 .C55 2002]
A Companion to the Literature and Culture of the American South [RR PS261 .C555 2004]
CATALOG
Bridge catalogs resources available at St. Olaf and Carleton libraries. Use Bridge to search for books and periodicals, but not chapters within books or articles within periodicals.
You may search Bridge by Title, Author, Keyword or Subject. Try combining relevant terms or concepts in Keyword search to focus your search (e.g. "hawthorne" and "ethic*"). Use asterisk (*) to truncate words (e.g. "ethic*" will retrieve "ethics," "ethical," etc.)
"Criticism and interpretation" are useful terms to remember while searching for critical evaluations in Bridge.
You may request materials housed at Carleton directly from Bridge by clicking on the red "Request" button.
INDEXES AND DATABASES
Unlike our on-line catalog, which searches for journal titles and book titles, indexes and databases allow you to search for articles within journals, essays within books, or conference papers within proceedings. Some indexes and databases are interdisciplinary, i.e. they include sources from many different disciplines or fields, some are disciplinary, i.e. specialized in a particular discipline. Information on all of the indexes is available from the Libraries' Home Page, under " Electronic Research Tools: Articles, Indexes, Encyclopedias & More... "
Interdisciplinary:
Academic Search Premier -- This database provides access to over 8040 multi-disciplinary publications, both scholarly and popular, many in full-text. Covers 1975 to present.
MasterFILE Premier -- A general multidisciplinary database to mostly popular publications. Includes biographies, reference books, primary source documents, maps and photos. Covers 1975 to present.
JSTOR -- An index to and full text of select, academic journals.
Project Muse -- An index to and full text of journals published by Johns Hopkins University Press and other scholarly publishers. Disciplines include humanities, arts, and social sciences.
Literature:
MLA International Bibliography -- The major index to literature journals. Also covers dissertations, proceedings, and articles in books. Subjects include literature, folklore, languages, and linguistics. Covers 1963-present.
History:
America: History and Life -- Scholarly index to articles on all aspects of U.S. and Canadian history, including recent events .
INTERLIBRARY LOAN
Any item not owned by St. Olaf may be ordered through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) provided you allow enough time.
RESOURCES ON THE INTERNET
Remember to evaluate each site critically for authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage.
|
Ask: |
Look for: |
| Authorship |
Who wrote the page? Does the author have appropriate education, training, or experience to write with authority (credibility) on this topic? |
Linked biographical statements, resumes, or other background about the site author.
If no individual author is named, consider the reputation of the organization associated with the site. |
| Coverage |
Is the topic explored in depth? Is there considerable content on the page? Are entire articles or items provided or just excerpts from larger works? Does the site point you to other sites? |
Sources documented with footnotes or links.
Balance of text and images. |
| Objectivity |
Is the presentation biased (one-sided) or balanced (both pro and con viewpoints provided)? Are claims and arguments supported (with documentation) or unsubstantiated? |
References to alternative points of view.
Factual documentation od arguments. |
| Currency |
When was the page written or last updated? Is the site well maintained (eg.are links functional or broken)?
|
Page creation or revision dates.
"What's New" page that describes when content was updated.
Press releases or other dated materials. |
| Recognition |
Do others recognize the value of this site, either in reviews or by linking to it? |
Other sites that link to a site you are evaluating.
Reviews of the site. |
Based on "Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask." UC Berkeley - Teaching Library Internet Workshops. 7Jan. 2005. 14 Feb. 2005. <http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html>, and "Evaluating Web Sites." The Ohio State Univeristy Libraries. 14 Feb. 2005. <http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor/>.
A few good review sites that evaluate web contents:
Librarians' Index to the Internet --"A searchable, annotated subject directory of more than 14,000 Internet resources selected and evaluated by librarians for their usefulness to users."
Infomine: Scholarly Internet Resource Collections -- "A virtual library of Internet resources relevant to faculty, students, and research staff."
The Scout Report Archives -- "A searchable and browseable database containing critical annotations of carefully selected Internet sites and mailing lists."
A few good sites to try:
The Library of Congress: American Memory -- "American Memory provides free and open access through the Internet to written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience. The collections chronicle historical events, people, places, and ideas. Searchable and browsable by topic (including African American history, architecture, culture, environment, government, literature, music, sports, and war). From the Library of Congress."
Literary Resources on the Net -- "A searchable 'collection of [annotated] links to sites on the Internet dealing especially with English and American literature, excluding most single electronic texts.' See the General Sources section for links to syllabi and resources for writers and writing instructors. Other National Literatures features links to literature sites covering countries where English is not the primary language."
The Willa Cather Electronic Archive -- "This excellent site provides "broad access to a variety of material documenting and contextualizing the work of one of America's most acclaimed writers. In the archive you will find definitive texts of Cather's writings, articles by Cather scholars, historical photographs, and information about upcoming Cather-related activities."
The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore -- "Topics range from standard bibliographical references and biography to Poe 's family tree, appearance, religion, finances, and death. The selection of Poe 's work includes at least one version of every surviving poem and tale; essays, lectures, and literary criticism; and all known letters, including fakes. Poe 's life in Baltimore is chronicled with links to many historic sites and images. Links to other Poe -related organizations and Web sites complete this impressive source. "
CITATION GUIDES
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers Sixth Edition [RR LB2369 .G53 2003] Multiple copies in Rolvaag Reference.
For simple on-line guides, see:
Citation Guide from Purdue University by Jennifer Liethen Kunka and Joe Barbato. Provides examples and explanations of in-text citations and works cited in MLA format.
See Assembling a List of Works Cited in Your Paper , a simple online guide to cite your sources in all major styles, from Duke University.
| Contact Information: |
Page Information: |
Kasia Gonnerman
Rolvaag Library 301
507-646-3501
gonnermk@stolaf.edu |
Created by: Kasia Gonnerman | 11/21/05
Created for: Richard Buckstead
Updated by: Kasia Gonnerman | 07/03/08
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