A GUIDE TO LITERARY CRITICISM
Criticism of any type is about an author, book or a story, or even a painting or a movie. In looking for critical information in the library, the author, book, or movie becomes the SUBJECT of your search. An evaluation of a particular work or selection of works is the primary form of criticism. However, it is possible to find critical information about authors--generally their entire careers are reviewed and major works are described within the context of their careers. Elizabeth Public Library has books on individual authors and major literary works as well as Reference Books and indexed which serves as guides to additional sources.
Search Elizacat using the author's name as subject.
*Select Online Databases in the Library HomePage; at the next screen, select Elizacat.
*Enter as an guest; enter the author's name (for example Hemingway, Ernest), then click Subject button.
*The search returns all of the subject headings and subdivisions for Ernest Hemingway.
* For works written By an author, enter the author's name and then click Author button.
Journal Article Database--
*Select Online Databases in the Library HomePage; at the next screen, select Ebsocohost.
*Select MaterFile Premier and click Enter button
*Type in the title of the work or the author's name you are working on.
Internet Source--
Glossary of Literature and Handbook of Rhetorical Devices
Introduction to Literature Criticism
Literary Theory and Criticism: A Bibliography
The five titles listed below are an interrelated set that provides excerpts of literary criticism. Each title covers a specific time period based upon the author's date of death. For example, Nathaniel Hawthorne died in 1864 so he is listed in Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism, Henrik Ibssen died in 1906 so he is listed in Twentieth-Century Literature Criticism, Toni Barbara is still alive so she is listed in Contemporary Literary Criticism.
Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism (NCLC)( R809 N622)--Authors who died between 1800 and 1899 are in this set.
Twentieth Century Literary Criticism (TCLC)(R809 T918)--Authors who died between 1900 and 1960
Contemporary Literary Criticism (CLC)(R809 C767)
Black Literature Criticism (R928 B5611) ( Ask Reference librarian for this book)
Twentieth-Century British Literature (R820.9 T9181)--It contains criticism of modern authors from the United Kingdom and its former colonies.
Critical Survey of Short Fiction ( R808.3)--Includes essays on specific aspects of the genre as well as critical essays on an author's work. Bibliographic information for further research is includes. Author/Title index in volume 7.
Short Story Criticism (R809.31)--Excerpts of criticism on authors or title of a short stories. In addition the index contains references to Contemporary Literary Criticism and Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism.
Twentieth-Century Short Story Explications (R016.808)--A checklist of criticism published 1900-1975. Covers major American and British authors, with limited coverage of non-English speaking countries. Full citations of the books used are listed in back of book under the critic's name. Contains an index to authors.
American Writers (R810.9 AME)--Lengthy essays on authors. The last volume is a cumulative index.
American Writers before 1800 ( R928.073 Am 361)
A Biographical and Critical Dictionary
British Writers (R820.9 B777)--Essays on authors born in Great Britain. The last volume is a cumulative index.
Black Women in America: an historical encyclopedia (R920.72 BLA)--Biographical rather than critical information on black women. Many writers are included here who are not in other sources.
Black women in America (R920.72 BLA)
Contemporary Authors and Contemporary Authors New Revision Series(R928.073)--Emphasis is on biographical information about authors in many fields although some critical interpretation is included.
Critical Survey of Drama (R822.009)--Long biographical and analytical entries on authors and their works with brief bibliographies. Author/Title index in volume 6. Also contains analytical synopses of plays.
Critical Survey of Poetry (R821.009 C869)--Biographical information and analysis of major poems. Arranged alphabetically by poet. Volume 8 has index to poets and poem titles.
Guide to American Poetry Explication (R016.811 G941)
Poetry Criticism (R809.1 POE)--Excerpts from criticism of the works of the most significant and widely studied poets of world literature. Brief biographical information included.
The Short Story Index (R016.808 SHO)-- A finding guide to short stories which have been published in periodicals and collections. If you need to locate a particular story this is the place to look.
Humanities Index (3rd floor Ref Department)--Indexes 300+ English language periodicals. Author and subjects entries are in one alphabet. Criticism is listed under the author's name with the subheading about, e.g.
Essay and General Literature Index (040 Es)--Analyzes over 400 works annually for essays providing access to essays in collected works in the humanities and social sciences with come emphasis on library criticism. Author and Subject index.
Book Review Digest
Book Review Index
Index to Book Reviews in the Humanities