Finding Literary Criticism


*A guide to sources of literary criticism available at ACC libraries.*

WHY USE LITERARY CRITICISM?

Reading how other people have evaluated a book, short story, play, or poem can help you define your own views.

Maybe they see aspects of the work that you didn’t notice.
Maybe they give historical background that explains why the work was written the way it was.
Maybe you will disagree with them and it will help you focus your opinion.

Criticism doesn’t substitute for reading the original work because it won’t give a detailed plot summary. But it can help you understand the point of a story and identify the significant parts.

Many critical sources discuss an author’s overall writing and may not even mention the specific work you have read. This is especially true for poems and short stories. This sort of criticism can still be very useful if you apply the overall interpretation of an author to your particular work.

BEFORE YOU START SEARCHING

Research will be easier if you know as much of the following as possible:

Correct title of the work

Author’s complete name

Original publication date (collections of literary works usually say when something was originally published, although it can be difficult to find this)

Other potentially useful information includes when and where the author lived. This can help with sources that focus on a time period or geographical area.

The librarians can help you find this information.

COLLECTIONS OF LITERARY CRITICISM

The following reference books and electronic databases don't focus on individual authors. They cover many authors.

Contemporary Literary Criticism
Literature Resource Center
Magill on Literature
Twayne's Author Series

These are online databases at: http://library.austincc.edu/eresources/AtoZ.htm. If you are on an ACC campus, you will be allowed directly into these databases, but if you want to use them from off campus, you can use your last name and ACC I.D. number to access.

Short Story Criticism REF PN 3321 .S5

Print source, multiple volumes. A large collection of criticism that was originally published elsewhere. For most stories you can get several different critics' views all in this one source. The last volume includes both a title and author index to the entire set. (Some campuses do not have the complete set.)

Short Stories for Students REF PN3373 .S3485 (at all campuses)

Print source. Over 20 volumes of criticism that was published elsewhere and is reprinted here. Usually you can get several sources of criticism for a story gathered together. Start with the index in the last volume.

Critical Survey of Long Fiction REF PN 3451 .C75
Critical Survey of Short Fiction REF PN 3321 .C7
Critical Survey of Poetry REF PN 1111 .C7
Critical Survey of Drama REF PR 625 .C74

Print sources (but these are also included in the online database Magill on Literature, mentioned above). Each title has several volumes. Short, critical examinations of an author's works, usually 3-5 pages each. Individual works aren't explored in depth. Good starting point because it gives an overview of a writer's works. Also has short biographical information. (Not all campuses have all these titles. Check the library catalog or use the Magill on Literature database.

There are many other reference sources that are useful, including sources that define literary terms and discuss types of criticism. Ask the librarian or browse in the Reference section in the call number areas beginning with PN - PS.

BOOKS ON A SPECIFIC AUTHOR

For notable authors, the library will have entire books of literary criticism. There may also be entire books of criticism on individual titles. These books usually have more depth, and you can check the books out, so you don't have to stay in the library.

Go to the library catalog, then select the "General Subjects" method of searching. Type in the author's name (last name first). If there are books about the author listed, check to make sure which campus they are at and if they are available. The books of criticism will be shelved alongside the author's own books.

Many of these books of criticism will actually be collections of pieces written by several different critics, so you can get several viewpoints from one source. Look in the index at the end of the book to find the pages on the specific title you are researching.

OTHER SOURCES

This is only a sample of resources the library has. If the above suggestions don't satisfy you, contact a librarian for help. Articles in journals, sources on the World Wide Web, and other libraries in town can all be useful.

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Page author: Red Wassenich
Last updated 4/10/07 rw