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Literary Analysis/Research

What is Literary Research and How can the Library Help?

             Your Professor has given you an assignment to write a research paper about a novel, short story, play or poem.  The assignment requires you to find literary criticism or secondary sources on your topic.   Keep reading below to find out more information on what this means and how the library can help.

 

What is Literary Criticism?

Literary Criticism is simply the assessment and interpretation of literary works. In other words, it is a in-depth analysis of a poem, short story, play or novel.  The articles are usually published in scholarly journals as opposed to popular magazines or newspapers.  

 

Why is Literary Criticism Important?

Reading and Evaluating other peoples interpretations of literary works, can help you develop and define your own views.

  • You might find  aspects or information about the literary work you have not noticed before.
  • You might find historical background that will help you define the work even more
  • You might not agree with the author and be able to develop your own view better.
  • Literary Criticism can help you understand the story more and discover the main parts of the work.

Sources of Literary Criticism

Critical Essays
  • Written by literary scholars
  • Evaluates and critiques an aspect of a literary work
  • Another purpose is to offer an opinion on some aspect of the literary work or author
  • Refers to a small number of secondary sources
Articles from scholarly journals
  • Written by literary scholars to highlight their current thoughts and research on an author, author's work, or authors body of work
  • May also evaluate and/or critique an aspect of a literary work
  • Another purpose is to offer an opinion on some aspect of the literary work or author
  • Refers to a larg(er) amount of secondary sources, in comparison to a critical essay
In general, you should NOT USE:
  • book reviews (purpose is to review quality of the book, not to critique or analyze an author's work
  • magazine articles (purpose is to provide non-scholarly, non-academic information related or only somewhat related to the book)

 

How can the Library help me with my research?                                    

In Literature,  the story or poem you are reading is considered the primary source.  Articles, books, websites,and essays about the story are considered secondary sources.  For example, if you are researching the play "Othello" by William Shakespeare, the book "Othello" by William Shakespeare is the primary source.   The book," Race in Willliam Shakespeare's Othello"  is considered a secondary source because this is not the play itself, rather it is scholarly analysis or studies of the play. 

 

The Library has an extensive collection of resources both in the library and online that will help you in your research.  Although, the web might seem easy, the library is the best place for in depth analysis and interpretation of literary works.  This guide will help you find critical essays and books on your topic, whether it is a poem, short story, novel or play.   Lets get started!!!!