English Literature Research

Welcome to the English Literature Research Guide!  Try these research steps:
1.  Primo search: Journal Articles, Books, Chapters, Videos, Biographies, Letters, & Reference Entries (definitions).
2. MLA database and other literature databases to find journal articles, books, and book chapters (literary criticism).

3. Google Scholar to find articles & book titles. Link it to Regent (menu; Settings; Library Links; search for Regent; Save).
4. Oxford English Dictionary, an in-depth historical dictionary that is preferred for defining words used in literature. 

5. LibKey Nomad browser tool to get instant links to library articles & e-books from Wikipedia & the web.
6. Google to find websites like Victorian Web & Shakespeare Online, as well as free classics online (search w/ CTRL + F).

7. Get research help! Ask a Librarian through questions, email, chat, or appointments for help with researching your topic. 

Ideas for how to write a literature paper:

1. Thematic analysis: how the same idea or message recurs throughout a piece of literature & is emphasized by the author

2. Literary device analysis: how a certain element, such as metaphor or symbolism, is used to get across a theme

3. Historical context analysis: how history can shed light on the piece of literature

4. Biographical analysis: how an author's life may have influenced and sheds light on his/her literature

5. Influence analysis: how other authors have influenced the piece

6. Theory: using a theory such as ecocriticism or Freud's "uncanny" to analyze a piece, while still staying focused on the text

7. Answering a difficult question of interpretation: making an argument about something that is ambiguous or hard to understand

8. Social themes analysis: how the author critiqued society's strictures, wrong ideas, or unfairness towards a certain group
9. Innovation and quality: showing how a certain piece was innovative compared to what came before, or skillfully & meaningfully crafted