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ENGL102: Literature and Literary Criticism: Getting Started

What You Need To Do First

Read Your Work of Literature

Your best understanding of your work comes from your own reading and thinking
Critical sources are intended to assist your own analysis.
You will also be able to use critical sources much more effectively after you have acquired personal knowledge of the work.

Identify Your Search Terms

Usually when doing Literature Research the best (but not the only) search terms to use are:

Title of the Work
Author’s Name
Other works by the author

Literary movements and theories may also yield good search results depending on your topic and assignment.

Bess & Frank Gladhill Learning Commons Hours and Location

Gladhill Learning Commons
2nd Floor, Linganore Hall
301-846-2444 Hours and Special Closings

Find Background and Overviews of Your Work

Find biographical and critical information on most authors, subjects, and works of literature in these databases.

Gale Virtual Reference Library: Literature Search
Search Gale's literature encyclopedias and series. Includes plot synopses, literary criticism, author biographies, and more. Make sure to use the search box titled "Search within Literature."

Gale Literature Resource Center
Biographies and critical analyses of authors. Includes information from Contemporary Authors, Contemporary Literary Criticism, and Dictionary of Literary Biography.
MagillOnLiterature (EBSCO)
Contains critical analyses and brief plot summaries of those works of literature which are studied "the most."
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Search all of the encyclopedias available, not just those specific to Literature.

How to do Research in College

How to do Research Guide
Includes tips on searching databases, finding scholarly sources, evaluating resources, and citing sources.
Virtual Library Orientation
Get an overview of the Library Resources and an interactive introduction to conducting research.

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