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The best way to start a research project is by reading overviews of your topic. An overview is a text that summarizes the basic facts about your topic (Encyclopedias, textbooks, study guides).
An overview is just a starting point. Don't cite overviews. They don't provide any original information, only a condensed summary of what other people have said about the topic. Instead, read the overview and write down clues that you could search for on our website or the in library databases, to find sources that you can cite. You might find important names of people, places, and things, as well as other keywords or sources to search for.
This page has great examples of reference books for the following:
Literary Periods and Movements ♦ General English ♦ Literature by Region and Nationality ♦ Literary Subjects and Genres
Literary Terms, Themes, Allusions, and Symbols ♦ English Language and Grammar ♦ Poetry ♦ Writers
Can't find what you're looking for? Check out these guides or ask your librarian for more help!
Is it okay to use Wikipedia for a college research project?
Yes, but only as a starting point.
Wikipedia is an excellent starting point. You should use Wikipedia! Read Wikipedia articles, and write down clues that you find. Follow the citations at the bottom of Wikipedia articles. Use these clues to find sources you can cite.
Don't cite Wikipedia.
Don't assume that everything you read in Wikipedia is true. Treat Wikipedia as a collection of valuable rumors. Follow up on each rumor, using trustworthy sources, to see whether the rumor is true.
Encyclopedia of Literary Modernism
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Modernism is still widely acknowledged as perhaps the most important and influential artistic and cultural phenomenon of the 20th century. Written by expert scholars from around the world and covering hundreds of different topics in a clear, incisive, and critical manner, this reference maps the complex field of modernism in a fresh and original way. The principal focus of the book is on English-language literary modernism and the period 1890-1939, yet many entries extend beyond those parameters to include important precursors and successors of the movement. The book also covers the crucial European and interdisciplinary dimensions of modernism and provides complementary comparative perspectives from countries and regions not usually included in traditional accounts of the subject. Entries cite works for further reading, and the volume closes with a selected, general bibliography.
Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature
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Medieval literature encompasses a broad sweep of people, cultures, and styles. ""Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature"" offers a comprehensive account of the literary works, writers, and concepts of the Middle Ages; from 500 to 1500 CE. Covering not only European literature but also that of India, the Far East, and the Muslim world, this invaluable A-to-Z guide is one of the most inclusive single-volume references of its kind. Approximately 700 entries cover works, authors, and terms from the following cultures and languages: English: Old English and Middle English, ncluding Beowulf, Chaucer, morality play, Sir Thomas Malory, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Robin Hood, and Troilus and Criseyde; French: Joan of Arc, Marie de France, Parzival, The Song of Roland, and Francois Villon; Provencal: troubadours and Peire Vidal; Celtic: Cuchulain, The Mabinogion, and Ulster cycle; German: The Nibelungenlied, Tristan, Ulrich von Lichtenstein, and Gottfried von Strassburg; Old Norse: Egil's Saga, skaldic poetry, and Snorri Sturluson; Latin: Peter Abelard, Bede, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historia Regum Britanniae, Psychomachia, and St. Augustine of Hippo; Japanese: Muromachi Period, The Pillow Book, and The Tale of Genji; Chinese: The Story of Ying-ying and Li Po; Islamic: Omar Khayyam, the Koran, and The Thousand and One Nights; Indian: Govindadasa and Mahadeviyakka; Spanish; Hebrew; and more.
Encyclopedia of the Harlem Literary Renaissance
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A broad artistic movement of the 1920s and early '30s, the Harlem Renaissance was one of the most productive eras in American literary history. Concentrating on the literary side of the movement - the writers, works, periodicals, editors, publishers, critics, and related topics - Encyclopedia of the Harlem Literary Renaissance provides authoritative coverage and unique insight into the literature of the Harlem Renaissance. More than 1,000 concise, A-to-Z entries detail the historical relevance of the subject and explain how the writer, work, or idea helped fundamentally reshape American literature. The author draws on historical studies, biographies, literary criticism, and primary materials, including letters and diaries of such Harlem Renaissance figures as Langston Hughes, Jean Toomer, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Zora Neale Hurston. The book also includes a list of works by Harlem Renaissance writers and a list of archives with holdings related to the Harlem Renaissance.
Encyclopedia of Transcendentalism
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Encyclopedia of Transcendentalism provides a comprehensive A-to-Z guide to the Transcendentalists, the legendary group of New England authors that included Ralph Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Transcendentalism promoted intuitive knowledge and the idea that the individual, rather than the Christian God, was the spiritual and moral center of the universe; it was often called the most influential American literary and intellectual movement of the 19th century. Entries cover writers, literary works, and more, ranging from the movement's origins in the first decades of the 19th century to the activities of a second generation of thinkers and activists after the Civil War. This volume is unique in bringing together all of the major, as well as some lesser-known but significant, writings of a wider circle of writers and thinkers associated with the Transcendentalists and engaging their philosophical themes. Coverage includes: The central writers and thinkers of the movement, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Amos Bronson Alcott, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott, and many more Great writers who influenced or were influenced by the movement, including Immanuel Kant and Henry James Major transcendentalist essays and lectures, including Emerson's "Self-Reliance" and Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" Major poems, including Emerson's "Concord Hymn" and Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" Major books, including Thoreau's Walden and Fuller's Woman in the Nineteenth Century Major works of short fiction, including Hawthorne's "Rappaccini's Daughter" and Louisa May Alcott's "Transcendental Wild Oats" Places, including Walden Pond and Concord Concepts, including Unitarianism and abolitionism Periodicals, including the Dial and the Atlantic Monthly and much more.
Twentieth Century Literary Movements Dictionary
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African Literature and Its Times
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World Literature and Its Times helps students and researchers make connections between political/social climate during which books were written and the works themselves. Each volume focuses on major fiction, poetry and nonfiction from a particular country and region, representing approximately 50 works. The detailed essays are approximately 10 pages in length and offer the following features: Introductory profile -- an overview that discuss genre, time, place and other important elements with a synopsis and introduction that places the work in the context of the authors life Events in history -- a report on the social, political and cultural climate relevant to the work, including primary source documents, charts, timelines and other illustrative materials Literary work in focus -- three sections that place the work in context with an in-depth summary, related history and historical sources Sources for more information -- full citations offering additional sources of information Additional features include illustrations; maps; author and title tables of contents; sidebars; timelines; advisor information; and an alphabetical index of authors, titles, events and personalities. The series contains eight volumes covering the following literatures: Latin American literature African literature British & Irish literature (2 volumes - The Victorian Era to the
Encyclopedia of African Literature
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The most comprehensive reference work on African literature to date, this book covers all the key historical and cultural issues in the field. The Encyclopedia contains over 600 entries covering criticism and theory, African literature's development as a field of scholarship, and studies of established and lesser-known writers and their texts. While the greatest proportion of literary work in Africa has been a product of the twentieth century, the Encyclopedia also covers the literature back to the earliest eras of story-telling and oral transmission, making this a unique and valuable resource for those studying social sciences as well as humanities. This work includes cross-references, suggestions for further reading, and a comprehensive index.
South Asian Literature in English
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The first reference of its kind, this encyclopedia covers topics related to literature written in English by authors who were either born in South Asia or who identify themselves with that region. The volume focuses on writers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Included are several hundred alphabetically arranged entries on novelists, novels, and cinematic adaptations, as well as poets, dramatists, autobiographers, short story writers, theoreticians, critical terms, themes, genres, literary movements, and key historical events. Entries are written by expert contributors and suggest works for further reading. South Asian writing in English has recently received unprecedented critical and popular attention. The publication of Salman Rushdie's seminal novel Midnight's Children (1981) and the popularity of his later works, Michael Ondaatje's Booker Prize for The English Patient in 1992, and V. S. Naipaul's Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003 are just a few of the highlights that mark the significance of South Asian writing in English. The first reference of its kind, this encyclopedia covers topics related to literature written in English by authors who were either born in South Asia or who identify themselves with that region. The volume focuses on writers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Included are several hundred alphabetically arranged entries on novelists, novels, and cinematic adaptations, as well as poets, dramatists, autobiographers, short story writers, theoreticians, critical terms, themes, genres, literary movements, and key historical events. Entries are written by expert contributors and suggest works for further reading. The encyclopedia includes a chronology and closes with a selected, general bibliography of anthologies and critical studies. Given the enormous popularity of South Asian literature in English, this reference is essential for all libraries.
Middle Eastern Literature and Its Times
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"World Literature and Its Times helps students and researchers make connections between the political/social climate during which books were written and the works themselves. Each volume focuses on major fiction, poetry and nonfiction from a particular country or region, presenting approximately 50 works in detailed essays running approximately 10 pages. Future volumes will cover Italian, Russian, Jewish, Asian, French, Indian and German literatures.
Encyclopedia of Caribbean Literature
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The Caribbean is a part of the world with diverse cultures and a long and fascinating literary tradition. The people of this region have endured through civil strife, poverty, natural disasters, and military conflicts; and their literature reflects their despair and dreams. Accessible to students and general readers, this encyclopedia overviews the lives and works of Caribbean authors. Because Caribbean literature is so much a reflection of regional concerns, the encyclopedia gives special attention to the political, cultural, and historical contexts in which Caribbean authors have lived and worked. To help with this massive endeavor, scholar and librarian Danilo H. Figueredo has assembled an impressive team of advisors and authors. Included in the encyclopedia are more than 700 alphabetically arranged entries written by more than 20 expert contributors. These entries cover authors, works, genres, historical and cultural figures, themes, and various special topics. Spanish courses often look at literature from the Caribbean, and many American students trace their roots to that region. An essential reference for high school libraries, this resource will help students and teachers learn more about the literature of the Caribbean and its relation to the political, economic, historical, and social conditions of that area. Public libraries also need this encyclopedia, since many general readers are interested in Caribbean literature and culture. Presents more than 700 alphabetically arranged entries Accumulates the expertise of a distinguished advisory board and more than 20 expert contributors Provides biographical entries on numerous authors and historical figures Cites print and electronic resources Fully cross-references entries Provides an extensive index Includes a generous selection of illustrations Closes with an extensive bibliography
Encyclopedia of Latin American Literature
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A comprehensive, encyclopedic guide to the authors, works, and topics crucial to the literature of Central and South America and the Caribbean, the Encyclopedia of Latin American Literature includes over 400 entries written by experts in the field of Latin American studies. Most entries are of 1500 words but the encyclopedia also includes survey articles of up to 10,000 words on the literature of individual countries, of the colonial period, and of ethnic minorities, including the Hispanic communities in the United States. Besides presenting and illuminating the traditional canon, the encyclopedia also stresses the contribution made by women authors and by contemporary writers. Outstanding Reference Source Outstanding Reference Book
Literary Cultures of Latin America
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In three volumes of expert, innovative scholarship, Literary Cultures of Latin America offers a multidisciplinary reference on one of the most distinctive literary cultures in the world. In topically arranged articles written by a team of international scholars, Literary Cultures of LatinAmerica explores the shifting problems that have arisen across national borders, geographic regions, time periods, linguistic systems, and cultural traditions in literary history.Bucking the tradition of focusing almost exclusively on the great canons of literature, this unique reference work casts its net wider, exploring pop culture, sermons, scientific essays, and more. While collaborators are careful to note that these volumes offer only a snapshot of the diverse bodyof Latin American literature, Literary Cultures of Latin America highlights unique cultural perspectives that have never before received academic attention. Comprised of signed articles each with complete bibliographies, this unique reference also takes into account relevant political,anthropological, economic, geographic, historical, demographic, and sociological research in order to understand the full context of each community's literature.The largest comparative history project in the world with unprecedented, original scholarship, Literary Cultures of Latin America creates a new chapter in cultural history that sets the standard for years to come.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature
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From folk ballads to film scripts, this new five-volume encyclopedia covers the entire history of British literature from the seventh century to the present, focusing on the writers and the major texts of what are now the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. In five hundred substantialessays written by major scholars, the Encyclopedia of British Literature includes biographies of nearly four hundred individual authors and a hundred topical essays with detailed analyses of particular themes, movements, genres, and institutions whose impact upon the writing or the reading ofliterature was significant.An ideal companion to The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature, this set will prove invaluable for students, scholars, and general readers.For more information, including a complete table of contents and list of contributors, please visit www.oup.com/us/ebl
The Oxford Companion to Irish Literature
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The literature of Ireland displays an exceptional richness and diversity - whether in Irish or English, by native Irish and Anglo-Irish writers or by outsiders like Edmund Spenser whose works were deeply imbued with the country in which he lived and wrote. In over 2,000 entries, the Companionto Irish Literature surveys the Irish literary landscape across some sixteen centuries, describing its features and landmarks.Entries range from ogam writing, developed in the 4th century, to the fiction, poetry, and drama of the l990s; and from Cu Chulainn to James Joyce. There are accounts of authors as early as Adomnan, 7th century Abbot of Iona, up to contemporary writers such as Roddy Doyle, Brian Friel, SeamusHeaney, and Edna O'Brien. Individual entries are provided for all major works, from Tain Bo Cuailnge - the Ulster saga reflecting the Celtic Iron Age - to Swift's Gulliver's Travels, Edgeworth's Castle Rackrent, O Cadhain's Cre na Cille, and Banville's The Book of Evidence.The Companion also illuminates the historical contexts of these writers, and the events which sometimes directly inspired them - the Famine of 1845-8, which provided a theme for novelists, poets, and memoirists from William Carleton to Patrick Kavanagh and Peadar O Laoghaire; the founding of theAbbey Theatre and its impact on playwrights such as J. M. Synge and Padraic Colum; the Easter Rising that stirred Yeats to the `terrible beauty' of `Easter 1916'. It offers a wealth of information on general topics, ranging from the stage Irishman to Catholicism, Protestantism, the Irish language,and university education in Ireland; and on genres such as annals, bardic poetry, and folksong. The majority of entries include a succinct bibliography, and the volume also provides a chronology and maps.
Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English
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Post-Colonial Literatures in English, together with English Literature and American Literature, form one of the three major groupings of literature in English, and, as such, are widely studied around the world. Their significance derives from the richness and variety of experience which they reflect. In three volumes, this Encyclopedia documents the history and development of this body of work and includes original research relating to the literatures of some 50 countries and territories. In more than 1,600 entries written by more than 600 internationally recognized scholars, it explores the effect of the colonial and post-colonial experience on literatures in English worldwide.
Magill's Survey of American Literature
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This revised edition of ""Magill's Survey of American Literature"", originally published in 1991, with a 1994 supplement updates essays and adds many newones, covering 340 writers at the heart of literary studies. ""Magill's Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition"" offers profiles of major U.S. and Canadian writers accompanied by analyses of their significant works in fiction, drama, poetry, and nonfiction.
Native American Literatures : An Encyclopedia of Works, Characters, Authors, and Themes
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The earliest Native American writers wrote tribal histories or autobiographical accounts. Today, Native American writing is steeped in the oral traditions of many peoples and reflects a facility with language that is equally at home in prose or poetry. Native American Literatures is a sourcebook that can enhance any reader's appreciation of both the writers and their works. Cross referencing allows readers to move easily among the listings, guiding them to other examples of an author's works and from character to character within a given novel. Cross referencing allows readers to move easily among the listings, guiding them to other examples of an author's work and from character to character within a given novel
The Greenwood Encyclopedia of African American Literature
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With more than 1,000 entries by more than 200 expert contributors, this encyclopedia is the most comprehensive reference available on African American literature. While most of the entries are on individual authors, the encyclopedia gives special attention to the historical, cultural, and political contexts that have shaped African American writing. Included are entries on critical movements and terms, critics and scholars, historical and social issues, cultural and historical figures, literary forms and genres, literary schools and organizations, and many other topics. The entries cite numerous print and electronic resources, and the encyclopedia concludes with a selected, general bibliography. Designed to meet the needs of high school students, undergraduates, and general readers, this encyclopedia is the most comprehensive reference available on African American literature from its origins to the present. Other works include many brief entries, or offer extended biographical sketches of a limited selection of writers. This encyclopedia surpasses existing references by offering full and current coverage of a vast range of authors and topics. While most of the entries are on individual authors, the encyclopedia gathers together information about the genres and geographical and cultural environments in which these writers have worked, and the social, political, and aesthetic movements in which they have participated. Thus the encyclopedia gives special attention to the historical and cultural forces that have shaped African American writing. In addition to drawing upon the learning of Hans Ostrom, J. David Macey, Jr., and more than 200 expert contributors, the encyclopedia benefits from an editorial board of such distinguished scholars as: Houston A. Baker, Jr., Emily Bernard, Michele Elam, Dolan Hubbard, and Sheila Smith McKoy. Because of its broad scope, substantial entries, current coverage, and extensive attention to historical, political, and social contexts, this encyclopedia will be the major resource for high school students and teachers interested in the full range of the African American experience. Academic and public libraries will also treasure this work as an incomparable guide to our nation's African American heritage. Covers African American literature from its origins to the present day. Includes more than 1,000 entries by more than 200 scholars. Provides extensive biographical and critical profiles of established and neglected writers. Gives special attention to the contributions of women writers. Provides full coverage of literary forms and genres, critical movements and terms, critics and scholars, literary schools and organizations, and other topics central to African American literature. Stresses the social and historical contexts of African American literature through entries on cultural and historical figures, social issues, political and legal concerns, and significant events. Entries cite numerous print and electronic resources for student research. Includes a selected, general bibliography of the most important broad works on African American literature. Includes an alphabetical list of entries. Lists entries in topical categories. Entries are fully cross-referenced. Provides a detailed chronology. Closes with an extensive index. Offers valuable coverage of contemporary African American literature and popular culture. Presents a generous selection of illustrations.
Writing African American Women
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Women have had a complex experience in African American culture. The first work of its kind, this encyclopedia approaches African American literature from a Women's Studies perspective. While Yolanda Williams Page's Encyclopedia of African American Women Writers provides biographical entries on more than 150 literary figures, this book is much broader in scope. Included are several hundred alphabetically arranged entries on African American women writers, as well as on male writers who have treated women in their works. Entries on genres, periods, themes, characters, historical events, texts, places, and other topics are included as well. Each entry is written by an expert contributor and relates its subject to the overall experience of women in African American literature. Entries cite works for further reading, and the encyclopedia closes with a selected, general bibliography. African American culture is enormously diverse, and the experience of women in African American society is especially complex. Women were among the first African American writers, and works by black women writers are popular among students and general readers alike. At the same time, African American women have been oppressed, and texts by black male authors represent women in a variety of ways. The first of its kind, this encyclopedia approaches African American literature from a Women's Studies perspective, and thus significantly illuminates the African American cultural experience through literary works. Included are several hundred alphabetically arranged entries, written by numerous expert contributors. In addition to covering male and female African American authors, the encyclopedia also discusses themes, major works and characters, genres, periods, historical events, places, and other topics. Included are entries on such authors as: ; Maya Angelou ; James Baldwin ; Frederick Douglass ; Nikki Giovanni ; June Jordan ; Claude McKay ; Ishmael Reed ; Sojourner Truth ; Phillis Wheatley ; And many others. In addition, the many works discussed include: ; Beloved ; Blanche on the Lam ; Iknow Why the Caged Bird Sings ; The Men of Brewster Place ; Quicksand ; The Street ; Waiting to Exhale ; And many more. The many topical entries cover: ; Black Feminism ; Black Nationalism ; Conjuring ; Children's and Young Adult Literature ; Detective Fiction ; Epistolary Novel ; Motherhood ; Sexuality ; Spirituality ; Stereotypes ; And many others. Entries relate their topics to the experience of African American women and cite works for further reading. Features and Benefits: ; Includes hundreds of alphabetically arranged entries. ; Draws on the work of numerous expert contributors. ; Includes a selected, general bibliography. ; Offers a range of finding aids, such as a list of entries, a guide to related topics, and an extensive index. ; Supports the literature curriculum by helping students analyze major writers and works. ; Supports the social studies curriculum by helping students use literature to understand the experience of African American women. ; Covers the full chronological range of African American literature. ; Fosters a respect for cultural diversity. ; Develops research skills by directing students to additional sources of information. ; Builds bridges between African American history, literature, and Women's Studies.
Hispanic Literature of the United States
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Providing a detailed historical overview of Hispanic literature in the United States from the Spanish colonial period to the present, this extensive chronology provides the context within which such writers as Sandra Cisneros, Rodolfo Anaya, and Oscar Hijuelos have worked. Hispanic literature in the United States is covered from the Spanish colonial period to the present. A detailed historical overview and a separate survey of Hispanic drama provide researchers and general readers with indispensable information and insight into Hispanic literature. An extensive chronology traces the development of Hispanic literature and culture in the United States from 1492 to 2002, providing the context within which such Hispanic writers such as Sandra Cisneros, Rodolfo Anaya, and Oscar Hijuelos have worked. Topics include an overview and chronology of Hispanic literature in the United States, a who's who of Hispanic authors, significant trends, movements, and themes, publishing trends, an overview of Hispanic drama, adn the 100 essential Hispanic literary works. Biographical entries describe the careers, importance, and major works of notable Hispanic novelists, poets, and playwrights writing in English or Spanish. A comprehensive, up-to-date bibliography lists primary sources. Essays detail the most important past and current trends in Hispanic literature, including bilingualism, Chicano literature, children's literature, exile literature, folklore, immigrant literature, Nuyorican literature, poetry, and women and feminism in Hispanic literature. More than 100 exceptional illustrations of writers, plays in performance, and first editions of important works are included.
The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Multiethnic American Literature
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While other works cover individual ethnic literary traditions, this encyclopedia is the first to offer a comprehensive introduction to the spectacularly diverse range of ethnic American writing. Included are more than 1100 alphabetically arranged entries by more than 300 scholars. While most of the entries are biographical, others cover genres, ethnic stereotypes, seminal works, significant places, major historical events, key pieces of legislation, and various other topics that are part of the context of multiethnic America literature. While some of the writers profiled have international reputations, others are emerging artists. The encyclopedia is accessible to students and general readers, and numerous illustrations enhance its appeal to a broad audience. The collaborative effort of more than 300 specialists working under the direction of distinguished scholar and editor Emmanuel S. Nelson, the encyclopedia also benefits from the guidance of an exceptional advisory board, including: ; Kenneth J. Cerniglia ; Roberta Fernandez ; Thomas S. Gladsky ; Guiyou Huang ; Arnold Krupat ; Paul Lauter ; Ann R. Shapiro ; And Loretta G. Woodard. Because American society is increasingly diverse, students need to understand and value the perspectives and experiences of different ethnic groups. Literature presents social history in capsule form, and this encyclopedia will be a crucial reference for high school students and teachers interested in understanding contemporary American society. Public libraries, especially those serving ethnic communities, will also welcome this valuable resource, as will colleges and universities. Begins with a lucid introductory essay by Paul Lauter, editor of the groundbreaking and controversial Heath Anthology of American Literature and a pioneer in multicultural studies. Includes more than 1100 alphabetically arranged entries. Utilizes the knowledge and expertise of more than 300 scholars. Covers the entire range of ethnic American literature, from the colonial era to the present. Includes entries on major canonical writers taught at all levels. Gives special attention to contemporary writers and emerging authors. Acknowledges the contributions of women writers from diverse ethnic groups. Provides survey entries on significant ethnic American literatures. Includes entries on the most important and widely studied works. Presents entries on literary genres and topics. Entries on stereotypes, legislation, historical events, and social issues relate ethnic American literature to its various contexts. Provides an alphabetical list of entries. Lists entries grouped in topical categories. Entries cite numerous works for student research. Provides a selected, general bibliography of the most important broad works on ethnic American literature. Includes a detailed index and full cross-references. A generous selection of illustrations showcases the life and works of ethnic American writers.
The Companion to Southern Literature
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Selected as an Outstanding Academic Title by Choice Selected as an Outstanding Reference Source by the Reference and User Services Association of the American Library Association There are many anthologies of southern literature, but this is the ?rst companion. Neither a survey of masterpieces nor a biographical sourcebook, The Companion to Southern Literature treats every conceivable topic found in southern writing from the pre-Columbian era to the present, referencing speci?c works of all periods and genres. Top scholars in their ?elds offer original de?nitions and examples of the concepts they know best, identifying the themes, burning issues, historical personalities, beloved icons, and common or uncommon stereotypes that have shaped the most signi?cant regional literature in memory. Read the copious offerings straight through in alphabetical order (Ancestor Worship, Blue-Collar Literature, Caves) or skip randomly at whim (Guilt, The Grotesque, William Jefferson Clinton). Whatever approach you take, The Companion?s authority, scope, and variety in tone and interpretation will prove a boon and a delight. Explored here are literary embodiments of the Old South, New South, Solid South, Savage South, Lazy South, and ?Sahara of the Bozart.? As up-to-date as grit lit, K Mart ?ction, and postmodernism, and as old-fashioned as Puritanism, mules, and the tall tale, these ?ve hundred entries span a reach from Lady to Lesbian Literature. The volume includes an overview of every southern state?s belletristic heritage while making it clear that the southern mind extends beyond geographical boundaries to form an essential component of the American psyche. The South?s lavishly rich literature provides the best means of understanding the region?s deepest nature, and The Companion to Southern Literature will be an invaluable tool for those who take on that exciting challenge. Description of Contents 500 lively, succinct articles on topics ranging from Abolition to Yoknapatawpha 250 contributors, including scholars, writers, and poets 2 tables of contents ? alphabetical and subject ? and a complete index A separate bibliography for most entries
Literature and Its Times
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Literature and Its Times provides the historical background of 300 of the most-studied novels, plays, poems, speeches and short stories. This 5-vol. set is arranged chronologically from ancient times to the present, with the entries in each volume arranged alphabetically by title. Each entry examines both the historical setting of the literary work and the historical events taking place at the time the work was written.
Encyclopedia of World Literature in the 20th Century
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Covering aspects of literature of the 20th century, this reference title includes more than 2000 entries on authors, 50 national surveys that review the literature of countries around the world and 50 additional entries that discuss topics, such as genres, movements and trends.
Cyclopedia of Literary Characters
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Cyclopedia of Literary Characters provides critical descriptions of more than 20,000 characters that appear in 3,311 works of world literature, offering readers the opportunity to become familiar with both famous and less well-known personalities from the classics, popular fiction and plays.
Encyclopedia of Gothic Literature
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From the origins of the movement in the 18th century to contemporary writers such as Stephen King, this A-to-Z guide to Gothic literature covers a vast array of works and writers from Britain and America, as well as a variety of genres - novels, short stories, poetry, plays, and even a few influential films and works of art. The extensive Encyclopedia of Gothic Literature thoroughly examines this increasingly popular topic.
Encyclopedia of the Novel
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First Published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Feminist Writings from Ancient Times to the Modern World
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Collecting more than 200 sources in the global history of feminism, this anthology supplies an insightful record of the resistance to patriarchy throughout human history and around the world. From writings by Enheduana in ancient Mesopotamia (2350 BCE) to the present-day manifesto of the Association of Women for Action and Research in Singapore, Feminist Writings from Ancient Times to the Modern World: A Global Sourcebook and History excerpts more than 200 feminist primary source documents from Africa to the Americas to Australia. Serving to depict "feminism" as much broader--and older--than simply the modern struggle for political rights and equality, this two-volume work provides a more comprehensive and varied record of women's resistance cross-culturally and throughout history. The author's goal is to showcase a wide range of writers, thinkers, and organizations in order to document how resistance to patriarchy has been at the center of social, political, and intellectual history since the infancy of human civilization. This work addresses feminist ideas expressed privately through poetry, letters, and autobiographies, as well as the public and political aspects of women's rights movements. More than 200 chronologically arranged entries on feminist writers, thinkers, and organizations across 4,000 years of human history Contributions from more than 100 international scholars, including historians, sociologists, literary, cultural theorists, religious scholars, writers, and activists Brief bibliographies of further readings, websites, and other relevant resources with each entry Lists of entries arranged by region as well as by broad topic, in addition to a comprehensive index
Icons of Horror and the Supernatural
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Horror and the supernatural have fascinated people for centuries, and many of the most central figures appear over and over again. These figures have gained iconic status and continue to hold sway over popular culture and the modern imagination. This book offers extended entries on 24 of the most enduring and significant figures of horror and the supernatural, including The Sea Creature, The Witch, The Alien, The Vampire, The Werewolf, The Sorcerer, The Ghost, The Siren, The Mummy, The Devil, and The Zombie. Each entry is written by a leading authority on the subject and discusses the topic's essential features and lasting influence, from the classical epics of Homer to the novels of Stephen King. Entries cite sources for further reading, and the Encyclopedia closes with a selected, general bibliography. Entries include illustrations, sidebars of interesting information, and excerpts from key texts. Horror and the supernatural have fascinated people for centuries, with many of the most central figures appearing over and over again across time and cultures. These figures have starred in the world's most widely read literary works, most popular films, and most captivating television series. Because of their popularity and influence, they have attained iconic status and a special place in the popular imagination. This book overviews 24 of the most significant icons of horror and the supernatural. Overviews a wide range of supernatural lore Entries include sidebars and cite works for further reading Includes a bibliography of important works on horror and the supernatural Illustrations help students visualize the topics of the entries
Reference Guide to Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
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This revision of Burgess's critically acclaimed guide to reference works in the fascinating genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror thoroughly maps the territory of reference works, covering all major (and some minor) information sources published in the field starting in the 1950s and well into 2001. Annotations are lengthy, detailed, and evaluative, often comparing works to other similar titles. Approximately 160 of the 700 annotations are new to this edition; 50-100 others have been extensively revised. Fan publications, serials, periodicals with reference value and nongenre materials of interest to science fiction researchers are reviewed in addition to such standard tools as bibliographies, encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, and indexes. Major online resources and printed guides to the Internet have been added on a selective basis. The book also features core collection lists for academic, public, and personal research libraries. Aimed at librarians in academic and large public libraries.
The World Encyclopedia of Comics
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-- Covers artists' lives and careers, their contributions and style, and their influence on other artists -- Comics entries include information on artists who worked on them, description of plot, theme and character, and their place in the history of comics -- Extensive glossary illuminates the lingo of the industry -- Bibliography, listings of comic book publishers and syndicates, and a 10,000-entry index
Allusions -- Cultural, Literary, Biblical and Historical
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Also available as an ebook
A Dictionary of Literary Symbols
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This is an expansion of the first dictionary of symbols to be based on literature, rather than on 'universal' psychological archetypes or myths. It explains and illustrates the literary symbols that we frequently encounter (such as swan, rose, moon, gold) and gives thousands of cross-references and quotations. The dictionary concentrates on English literature, but its entries range widely from the Bible and classical authors to the twentieth century, taking in American and European literatures. For this third edition, Michael Ferber has included some twenty completely new entries (such as birch, childbirth, grove, mill and railroad) and has added to many of the existing entries. Its rich references make this book an essential tool not only for literary and classical scholars but also for all students of literature.
A Handbook to Literature
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The definitive reference on literature in English, this handbook provides an alphabetical listing of more than 2,000 important terms and facts in literature, linguistics, rhetoric, criticism, printing, bookselling,and information technology. The website ( www.prenhall.com/harmon ) offers a handy glossary of key terms, a pronunciation key for select terms, pre- and post-tests on the terms, flash cards for key terms, a literary timeline, and links for all winners of the Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize.Covers a wide range of terms, centered in literature but extending into other areas, such as film, radio, TV, printing, linguistics, literary theory, music, graphic arts, classical studies, and information science. For anyone interested in literature and literary criticism.
Longman Dictionary of Literary Terms
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A resource every writer should have.
African-American Writers
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The Scribner Writers Series has set the standard for literary reference for more than 25 years. In addition to addressing the lives and careers of important writers, the articles discuss the themes and styles of major works and place them in pertinent historical, social and political contexts for today's readers. Novelists, playwrights, essayists, poets, short story writers, and more recently, genre writers in science fiction and mystery, are all expertly discussed in the more than 16 sets comprising this series. Thirty-four articles from the acclaimed set have been updated, and 20 new writers who came to prominence since the mid-1980s have been added, expanding this original single-volume publication into two comprehensive volumes. Designed expressly with high school students in mind, the A-to-Z articles are clearly written and accompanied by photos of the authors.
African Writers
The Scribner Writers Series has set the standard for literary reference for more than 25 years. In addition to addressing the lives and careers of important writers, the articles discuss the themes and styles of major works and place them in pertinent historical, social and political contexts for today's readers. Novelists, playwrights, essayists, poets, short story writers, and more recently, genre writers in science fiction and mystery, are all expertly discussed in the more than 16 sets comprising this series. Two volumes of original essays present 65 African writers from 17 countries writing in English, French, Portuguese, Arabic and indigenous languages. Subjects span the late 19th century to the present. Included are Najib Mahfuz, Andre Brink, Wole Soyinka, Nadine Gordimer, Alan Paton and many more.
American Ethnic Writers
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This title explores the rich tradition of American ethnic writers and the ways in which they have expressed their sense of identity through literature, both fiction and non-fiction.
American Women Writers
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Including up-to-date coverage of 1300 writers and spanning from colonial days to the present, this reference offers biography, criticism, bibliography and much more.
Dictionary of Literary Influences
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Treating the cultural giants of the 20th century, this volume traces their reading habits and intellectual development, as well as their contributions to Western culture. Suggesting the literary influences on these figures, the book includes 355 entries on people from a broad range of fields, including scientists, politicians, business figures, writers, religious leaders, and figures from the performing arts and popular culture. The volume is a handy companion to Powell's earlier volume, Biographical Dictionary of Literary Influences: The Nineteenth Century, 1800-1914. Reflecting non-Western influences on Western culture, the volume includes such Asian and African figures as Mohandas Gandhi and Wole Soyinka, while also covering the significant Western figures. As the volume recognizes, forms of cultural influence evolved in the 20th century to include more aural and visual influences. Yet the volume still reveals fascinating literary influences throughout the century.
Gothic Writers
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With its roots in Romanticism, antiquarianism, and the primacy of the imagination, the Gothic genre originated in the 18th century, flourished in the 19th, and continues to thrive today. This reference is designed to accommodate the critical and bibliographical needs of a broad spectrum of users, from scholars seeking critical assistance to general readers wanting an introduction to the Gothic, its abundant criticism, and the present state of Gothic Studies. The volume includes alphabetically arranged entries on more than 50 Gothic writers from Horace Walpole to Stephen King. Entries for Russian, Japanese, French, and German writers give an international scope to the book, while the focus on English and American literature shows the dynamic nature of Gothicism today. Each of the entries is devoted to a particular author or group of authors whose works exhibit Gothic elements, beginning with a primary bibliography of works by the writer, including modern editions. This section is followed by a critical essay, which examines the author's use of Gothic themes, the author's place in the Gothic tradition, and the critical reception of the author's works. The entries close with selected, annotated bibliographies of scholarly studies. The volume concludes with a timeline and a bibliography of the most important broad scholarly works on the Gothic.
Jewish Writers of the Twentieth Century
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Now available in paperback for the first time, Jewish Writers of the Twentieth Century is both a comprehensive reference resource and a springboard for further study. This volume: examines canonical Jewish writers, less well-known authors of Yiddish and Hebrew, and emerging Israeli writers includes entries on figures as diverse as Marcel Proust, Franz Kafka, Tristan Tzara, Eugene Ionesco, Harold Pinter, Tom Stoppard, Arthur Miller, Saul Bellow, Nadine Gordimer, and Woody Allen contains introductory essays on Jewish-American writing, Holocaust literature and memoirs, Yiddish writing, and Anglo-Jewish literature provides a chronology of twentieth-century Jewish writers. Compiled by expert contributors, this book contains over 330 entries on individual authors, each consisting of a biography, a list of selected publications, a scholarly essay on their work and suggestions for further reading.
Modern Black Writers
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This edition covers 170 of the most important black novelists, poets and dramatists of the 20th century, from the United States, Africa and the Caribbean. You'll find updated critical analyses of all the authors, including 20 new to this edition.
Multicultural Writers from Antiquity to 1945: a Bio-Bibliographical Sourcebook
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The final decades of the 20th century have seen an explosion of interest in multiculturalism. But multiculturalism is more than an awareness of the different cultures comprising contemporary societies. For centuries, people from around the world have come in contact with cultures other than their own, and their exposure to multiple cultures has fostered their creativity and ability to make lasting contributions to civilization. The effects of multiculturalism are especially apparent in literature, since writers tend to be particularly aware of their environments and record their experiences. This reference includes alphabetically arranged entries for more than 100 world writers from antiquity to 1945, who were significantly influenced by cultures other than their own. Included are entries for major canonical Ancient and Modern writers of the Western and Eastern worlds. Each entry is written by an expert contributor and includes a brief biography, a discussion of multicultural themes and contexts, a summary of the writer's critical reception, and primary and secondary bibliographies.; By illuminating the shaping influence of multiculturalism on these writers, the volume points to the lasting value of multiculturalism in the contemporary world.
Multicultural Writers since 1945
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The end of World War II led to increased interest in multicultural concerns and a flourishing of literary and artistic endeavors. It was also a time of decolonization and the emergence of new nations and cultures clamoring for recognition and respect. The political circumstances following World War II exposed many people to other cultures. This reference discusses the experiences of writers active since 1945 who were shaped by cultures other than their own. Included are alphabetically arranged entries for more than 100 writers, including Chinua Achebe, W.H. Auden, Mircea Eliade, Jamaica Kincaid, Salman Rushdie, and Elie Wiesel. The profiled authors either lived in another culture voluntarily or were wrenched from one culture into another. Each entry includes a brief biography, a discussion of multicultural themes in the writer's works, a review of criticism, and primary and secondary bibliographies. The volume closes with a selected, general bibliography. The reference demonstrates the value of multicultural experiences in the lives of writers around the world and fosters a greater appreciation of cultural diversity.
Notable Latino Writers
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Novelists, poets, playwrights and short-story writers The description ""Latino"" is often limited to those born in the United States of Spanish-speaking parents, or who have migrated to the United States from a Spanish-language country Salem uses the term ""Latino"" in its larger sense, to refer to authors living in the Americas who speak - or descend from those who spoke - any romance language, as well as those of Latin American descent living in the United States, who often may speak only English. The term is deliberately inclusive, allowing coverage here of many Latin American authors (such as the Brazilian Jorge Amado, the Colombian Gabriel Garcia Marquez, or the Peruvian/Chilean Isabel Allende) whose works have been routinely translated into English and studied as part of the Latino heritage. The term also, of course, includes U.S.-born writers of Latino descent - Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban and Cuban American, Dominican American, from Julia Alvarez to Richard Rodriguez to Gary Soto. CONTENTS Notable Latino Writers compiles 120 essays on great novelists, poets, playwrights and short-story writers of the Western Hemisphere who are considered ""Latino"" in the broad sense of the term. Literature covered includes works originally written in English and those Spanish and Portuguese works that have been translated into English. For each there is a comprehensive overview of the author's biography and literary career as well as ready-reference listings of their major works in all genres. FORMAT Each essay opens with a brief quotation from the author accompanied in most cases by a photograph or portrait; the author's nationality or ethnicity and major genre are identified. A full listing of birth and death dates and places follows, plus chronological listings of the author's works by genre: Foreign-language (original) title first if appropriate, then date of publication, then English title-in-publication and its date. The text of each essay introduces the author with a pronunciation for his or her name, a brief biographical sketch and a synopsis of the literary career. At the end of every essay is an up-to-date annotated bibliography, ""Learn More,"" which suggests secondary sources for further study.
St. James Guide to Horror, Ghost and Gothic Writers
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This guide to historic and contemporary horror, ghost and gothic writers features biographies, selected critical and biographical works and comments by the entrant when available. A critical essay also aims to help the reader to better understand the author and his or her works.
St. James Guide to Science-Fiction Writers
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St. James Guide to Science Fiction Writers presents entries on more than 600 of the most prominent authors in the genre, including H.G. Wells, Robert Heinlein, J.G. Ballard, Michael Moorcock, Ursula K. Le Guin and many others.
The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry in Anthologies
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For over a hundred years, The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry in Anthologies has been the preeminent index for answers to questions about the world of poetry, identifying the author of a poem or the anthologies in which it can be found when only a title, first line, or last line is known. This latest edition-a "must have" for libraries-brings its index up to date as of May 31, 2006. This latest version features 85,000 classic and contemporary poems by 12,000 poets. Also included are works in translation and for the first time poetry in Spanish, Vietnamese, and French. The subject organization of the poems is especially useful. Hundreds of new subjects have been added, indexing poems on highly relevant topics such as Osama bin Laden, the war in Iraq, Dick Cheney, the Internet, and Rosa Parks, as well as timeless subjects like the Bill of Rights, unspoken love, faith, and inspiration. Our impressive team of consultants includes J. D. McClatchy, Harvey Shapiro, and former poet laureate Mark Strand. From The Norton Anthology of Poetry (2005 edition) to Poetry after 9/11 and Garrison Keillor's Good Poems, this new edition puts readers in touch with the best of the latest anthologies and the lasting favorites.
The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics
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The most important poetry reference for more than four decades--now fully updated for the twenty-first century Through three editions over more than four decades, The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics has built an unrivaled reputation as the most comprehensive and authoritative reference for students, scholars, and poets on all aspects of its subject: history, movements, genres, prosody, rhetorical devices, critical terms, and more. Now this landmark work has been thoroughly revised and updated for the twenty-first century. Compiled by an entirely new team of editors, the fourth edition--the first new edition in almost twenty years--reflects recent changes in literary and cultural studies, providing up-to-date coverage and giving greater attention to the international aspects of poetry, all while preserving the best of the previous volumes. At well over a million words and more than 1,000 entries, the Encyclopedia has unparalleled breadth and depth. Entries range in length from brief paragraphs to major essays of 15,000 words, offering a more thorough treatment--including expert synthesis and indispensable bibliographies--than conventional handbooks or dictionaries. This is a book that no reader or writer of poetry will want to be without. Thoroughly revised and updated by a new editorial team for twenty-first-century students, scholars, and poets More than 250 new entries cover recent terms, movements, and related topics Broader international coverage includes articles on the poetries of more than 110 nations, regions, and languages Expanded coverage of poetries of the non-Western and developing worlds Updated bibliographies and cross-references New, easier-to-use page design Fully indexed for the first time