Research by Subject: American Literature: Reference Sources

American Literature Reference Sources

Here you will find biographical information, literary criticism, and other background information.

Literature Resource Center This link opens in a new window
Literature reference database rich with biographical, bibliographical, and critical content about authors from all time periods and genres.

Annotated Bibliography of English Studies
Contains fully annotated bibliographic citations to books, essays, and journal articles, including topics such as: literary studies, language and linguistics, women's studies, film and media studies, art history, cultural studies, philosophy, and major historical works.
Oxford English Dictionary
Provides etymological histories and historical context/significance of words.
Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism
The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism is an indispensable resource for scholars and students of literary theory and discourse. Revised extensively in 2004 to reflect a decade of rapidly changing scholarship, the Guide currently features 52 new entries and subentries.

Literature Criticism Online This link opens in a new window
Literature Criticism Online brings together 10 of the most acclaimed literary series representing a range of modern and historical views on authors and their works across regions, eras and genres. Plus, it matches the familiar look and feel of the print originals. Databases included: Contemporary Literary Criticism, Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism, Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism, Shakespearean Criticism Literature Criticism from 1400-1800, Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism, Poetry Criticism, Short Story Criticism, Drama Criticism, Children's Literature Review
Oxford English Dictionary This link opens in a new window
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words— past and present—from across the English-speaking world.