LibGuides: FYSEM 110ML: U.S. Multiethnic Literatures: Background Info


Library Research Guides

Why background information?

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference resources help you to discover basic information—names, dates, definitions, summaries, etc. These are good places to start when beginning research on an unfamiliar subject, and when choosing or narrowing a paper topic.

Context and concepts

Reading a literary work set in an unfamiliar time period or location? Seeing terms or concepts that are new to you? Reference works can help provide a brief introduction to countries and their histories as well as get you quickly up to speed on the meaning of new terms and concepts. Knowing this information can bring an added layer of meaning to a literary work.

Britannica Academic Online - Encyclopedia Britannica This link opens in a new window
A general knowledge encyclopedia on all topics. Among many other things, contains entries for countries that include sections on their history. Use the table of contents for long articles to help you navigate them more quickly.
Oxford Reference Online This link opens in a new window
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A database of dictionaries, language reference, and subject encyclopedias published by Oxford University Press. Search tips: This is a good source if you're not sure which reference work an author or concept might show up in. Results are entries from multiple sources and tell you the title and word length for each - a good way of scanning for a definition that's from a specific field and of substantial enough detail for your purpses. MHC users only have access to the results/reference works that show a green open lock icon.

Background information on authors, their lives and works

Biography in Context (aka Biography Resource Center) This link opens in a new window
Biography in Context delivers outstanding research support with 600,000+ biographical entries — on more than 528,000 individuals — spanning history and geography.
Dictionary of Literary Biography Complete This link opens in a new window
Biographical dictionary with essays on the lives, works, and careers of literary figures from all eras and genres.
Oxford Reference Online This link opens in a new window
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A database of dictionaries, language reference, and subject encyclopedias published by Oxford University Press. Includes a number of encyclopedias about literature. Search tips: This is a good source if you're not sure which reference work an author or concept might show up in. Results are entries from multiple sources and tell you the title and word length for each - a good way of scanning for a definition that's from a specific field and of substantial enough detail for your purpses. MHC users only have access to the results/reference works that show a green open lock icon.

Literary terms and concepts

Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms
Provides clear and concise definitions of literary terms. Search tip: This reference work is a part of the Oxford Reference database. When you click into this title, scroll down the page that appears and use the "Search within work" search box on the left side of the page to search for a term or use the alphabetical list of entries to browse the work.

Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism This link opens in a new window
An indispensable resource for scholars and students of literary theory and discourse. Compiled by 275 specialists from around the world, the Guide presents a comprehensive historical survey of the field's most important figures, schools, and movements and is updated annually.