Ryan Library: Subject Guide: Literature

AMERICAN PERIODICALS

1740 -1940, includes journals covering Arts topics during historically-significant periodicals.

GALE CONTEMPORARY AUTHORS

Informative database of biographical and analyses of major contemporary literary figures. Covers 120,000 modern authors. Easy to search by last name, works, titles and even award winners or genres.

GALE DICTIONARY OF LITERARY BIOGRAPHY

The Dictionary provides reliable information on authors and their works in an easy to understand, engaging format, while placing writers in the larger perspective of literary history.

GALE IN CONTEXT: BIOGRAPHY 

Authoritative source of biographical information of important and influential people. Provides excellent resources for writing a critical analysis of famous historical figures across a wide variety of subjects and disciplines.

GALE IN CONTEXT: LITERATURE

Gale In Context: Literature provides context for literary classics and diverse new texts by using a robust multimedia collection of videos, images, infographics, eBooks, and more. It help students contextualize the literature they’re reading and connect it to relevant literary themes, devices, and supporting material. 

GALE LITERATURE

Cross search all of Gale's extensive literary database collection all at once.

GALE LITERATURE CRITICISM

Easy search interface makes finding literary analysis of works representing all genres, subjects and time periods. Has facsimiles of the original content and includes both popular and scholarly commentaries.

OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY

This dictionary is arguably the most respected authority on the English language and it has more than just definitions. There are timelines, categories, interactive graphics, pronunciation guides, video tutorials and information on the authors who are quoted throughout the dictionary. Continually updated with new words. Also updated with expanding knowledge of words that have changed meaning over time.

VOCABULARY.COM

Students report that this is the most fun they've ever had learning new words. Set up like a flashcard or quiz interface that promotes you as you learn so like a game, you will be competing to reach ever higher levels. Classes can have fun with competitions. There are fantastic pre-populated word lists for literary works as well as standardized tests such as the SAT.