Literary Criticism

Search the Library Catalog in the library or on the Web.

• Use Keywords Anywhere search or select Subject Keyword search from menu.
• Enter author's name ( last name, first name) and the word "criticism." Example: Bronte Charlotte criticism
• Or, for MAJOR novels or plays only, enter title, with or without the word "criticism."
  Example: Jane Eyre
  
• If few results, enter author's name without "criticism."
• With book in hand, check table of contents and index for topics pertinent to your research.

To use databases from off-campus, you must log in with the bar code on the back of your Lone Star College System photo ID.

Essay & General Literature Index

JStor - a full-text database with access to 13 literary journals.

Project MUSE - a full-text database.

Literature Resource Center - a full-text database.

MLA International Bibliography - the standard research tool for locating literary criticism. Contains some full-text articles, but mainly citations.

The last two databases are separate, but linked. To search the two simultaneously, follow these instructions:

• On the database page, select Literature Resource Center.
• Select advanced search.
• Enter author's name (e.g. Hawthorne Nathaniel). Use search box label "Name contains."
• In second box, enter title of work (e.g.Scarlet Letter). Change label to "Title all words." For short stories, if few results, change title label to "keyword."
• Perform search. Check results from Literary Criticism and Articlessub-tabs.
• To move to MLA results, click on MLA tab on far right. MLA divides results into Full text and All citations.
• To check library availability of articles which are not full text:
  
  • For book article listings, search library catalog for book titles.
  • For journal article listings, check Periodicals Holdings List or search library catalog for journal titles.

These two multi-subject databases contain some articles and citations from literary journals. If you are not sure how to recognize a literary journal, ask your professor or a librarian.

Literary Index Volumes are located on the 3rd floor index tables, near the reference collection.

• Look for indexes covering: nationality (e.g., U.S. authors), time period (e.g., 20th century), or genre (e.g., poetry).
• Look up author's last name alphabetically.
• Locate title of work under author's name.
• Search for book titles in library catalog.
• Search for journal titles & issue dates in the Periodicals Holdings List or in the library catalog.

Locate writing help on the Web at the following sites:

Composite Model Essays - Critical Analysis (examples of literary criticism papers from the NHC English Department

Bartleby.com Reference (includes dictionary, encyclopedia, thesauri, quotation collections, word usage, etc.)

Elements of Style (classic composition guide)

Information Please (includes almanac, dictionary, & encyclopedia)

Writer's Handbook - from the The University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center (includes grammar & style information)

If you need additional help, please feel free to contact a librarian during open hours.

Or call us at: 281-618-5707. Our email is nhc.libweb@LoneStar.edu