| Literary criticism deals with the description, analysis,
comparison and evaluation of works of literature.
SEARCHING FOR BOOKS (IN THE
ONLINE CATALOG)
Useful subject headings for books dealing with literary
criticism include headings with the words “History & criticism,” such
as:
- American fiction - History and criticism
- Fiction - History and criticism
- Literature, Modern - 20th century - History and criticism
or headings beginning with
- Literature - History and criticism
For literary criticism about a particular author, include
the phrase “Criticism and interpretation”, after the author’s last name.
For example, Faulkner, William --- Criticism and interpretation”, leads
you to critical works about William Faulkner.
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REFERENCE WORKS
The following resources are all located in the Reference Room:
 GALE
LITERARY CRITICISM SERIES
The Gale Research Company publishes separate series
of literary criticism covering authors from antiquity through the present.
In each series a short biography of the author is followed by actual
excerpts of criticism taken from periodicals or books. The citation
to the reprinted excerpt is given at its conclusion. Most volumes include
cumulative indexes to authors and titles of individual works.
LITERATURE
CRITICISM FROM 1400 TO 1800 Ref. 809. 02 L77
Excerpts from criticism of the works of fifteenth,
sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth-century novelists, poets, playwrights,
philosophers and other creative writers.
NINETEENTH-CENTURY
LITERATURE CRITICISM Ref. 809.3 N71
A compilation of critical excerpts from the works of
novelists, poets, playwritings, short story writers and other creative
writers who lived between 1800 and 1900.
CONTEMPORARY
LITERARY CRITICISM Ref. 809.04 C76
An ongoing series of selected excerpts from critical
writings on contemporary authors. Covers authors living or deceased
since 1960.
TWENTIETH-CENTURY
LITERARY CRITICISM Ref. 809. 04 T97
Excerpts of criticism from the works of novelists,
poets, playwrights, short story writers and other creative writers who
died between 1900 and 1960.
SHORT
STORY CRITICISM Ref. 809.31 S55
Excerpts of criticism of short story writers, as well as biographical
and bibliographic information.
POETRY
CRITICISM Ref. 809.1 P74
Critical excerpts and biographical information on poets
from various nationalities, eras and movements.
SHAKESPEAREAN
CRITICISM Ref. 822.33 D
Presents significant passages from published criticism
on the works of Shakespeare.
DRAMA
CRITICISM Ref. 809.2 D76
Designed to introduce the reader to the most frequently
studied playwrights of all time periods and nationalities.
CRITICAL
SURVEY OF LITERATURE SERIES
This series is arranged by the author’s last name.
Each entry lists major collections, achievements, biography, analysis
of works and bibliography. Essays are also included on broad topics.
CRITICAL
SURVEY OF DRAMA Ref. 2003 C93
Critical essays with brief bibliographies on dramatists
of all periods writing in English.
CRITICAL
SURVEY OF POETRY Ref. 809.1003 C93
Arranged by poet or title, offers critical essays with
brief bibliographies of poets and poetry in English.
CRITICAL
SURVEY OF LONG FICTION Ref. 809.3003 C93
In-depth overviews of the major authors writing in
any of the major literary genres of long fiction.
CRITICAL
SURVEY OF SHORT FICTION Ref. 809.3103 C93
Essays for over 500 world authors writing in the genre
of short fiction.
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DATABASES
The following online databases provide articles related
to literary criticism. (please link to the database)
Academic
Search Premier 
- Articles from scholarly and general-interest publications in the social
sciences, humanities and non-technical general sciences. Includes the
full-text for some of the articles.
Discovering
Collection - a comprehensive reference database for the study of literature,
history, science, biography and social sciences.
Literature
Resource Center
-provides access to biographies, bibliographies and critical analysis
of authors from every age and literary discipline. All full-text articles.
MLA
International Bibliography
- contains bibliographic records pertaining to literature, languages,
linguistics and folklore. Covers journals, monographs, proceedings, bibliographies
and other formats. Contains citations only.
Omni Full-Text
- Articles from scholarly and general-interest publications in the humanites,
social sciences and general sciences. Includes the fulltext for some of
the articles.
ProQuest
Research Library - Articles from popular and scholarly publications.
Includes the full text for some of the articles.
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