In this library instruction session you will learn:
Each student will find at least one print source and at least two database sources focused on:
What is Literary Criticism?
Literary criticism is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as
"the formal study and discussion of works of literature, for example by judging and explaining their importance and meaning."
Use the "Search for Books" box below to find physical books on the author you have been assigned.
Once you search for an author, you will see a results list of titles. Click on the title of a book to retrieve the full Library of Congress call number, which you will see under Locations. In the example below, you will see that the book is in the Reference section. Then you need to find the entire letter/number combination that follows Reference. This is the book's call number and leads to its location on the bookshelf.
Databases contain electronic versions of print reference sources, including literary criticism and biographical information, as well as journal articles on literature. When using databases sources, look carefully for the name of the original publication, date, and other relevant citation information. Most databases include a citation tool, but these are computer generated and often prone to small errors in capitalization, italicization, and other issues of formatting. Review MLA formatting rules before using a computer-generated citation.
Today, we focused on three databases, but there are many more literature databases to explore. The ones below focus on authors and literature. Additionally, JSTOR contains some literary criticism.
All guides are available under the CC-BY-NC-SA license.
