The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English. Ed. by Ian Ousby, forward by Doris Lessing. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
    (REF PR85 C29 1993)
This contains entries on both British and American authors, as well as authors in other countries who write primarily in English. Genres, works, and literary schools are also covered.

Oxford Companion to English Literature (6th ed). By Margaret Drabble. New York: Oxford, 1995.
    (REF PR19 D73 2000)
Useful for identification of proper names, titles, allusions, and terms.

Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia (4th ed.). By Bruce Murphy. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996.
    (REF PN41 .B4 1996)
A handy one-volume reference to identification of writers, summaries of specific works, and definitions of literary terms. Covers all periods of world literature. Useful for tracking down literary allusions.

Encyclopedia of the Essay. Ed. by Tracy Chevalier. London ; Chicago : Fitzroy Dearborn, 1997.
    (REF PN6141 .E53 1997)
This large volume contains essays on authors who are generally known for their work as essayists. Entries include writers who are also known for other genres, but focus on the description and criticism of their shorter works. Valuable references are provided for extended criticism on works and authors.

SPECIALIZED DICTIONARIES:
The Fiction Dictionary. Ed. by Laurie Henry. Cincinnati, OH: Story Press, 1995.
    (REF PN3355 H46 1995)
Here find terms related to both short and long works of fiction such as "second person point of view", "diegesis", "le mot juste", "moral fiction", etc.

Oxford English Dictionary (OED).
    (REF PE1625 .O87 1989)
This 23 volume dictionary is useful for tracing word history and historical usage at different periods. Quotations illustrate usage.

Dictionary of Foreign Terms (2^nd ed.). Rev. and Updated by Charles Berlitz. New York: Crowell, 1975.
    (REF PE1670 .M3)
Useful for translating foreign quotations that appear in literature.

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Biographical Information

Dictionary of Literary Biography. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1978-
    (REF PS 129 D5)
This multi-volume work provides biographies and bibliographies. Check the last volume for an index to the whole set, or use the Gale Literary Index online <http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#Gale Literary Index>. Volumes of particular interest are:
         v. 74: American short-story writers before 1800.
         v. 78: American short-story writers, 1880-1910.
         v. 86, 102: American short-story writers, 1910-1945. (first, second series)
         v. 130, 218: American short-story writers since World War II (first, second series)
         v. 139: British short-fiction writers, 1945-1980.

Short Story Writers. Ed. by Frank N. Magill ; cons. ed., Charles E. May. Pasadena, Calif. : Salem Press, c1997.
    (REF PN3373 .S398 1997)
102 short story authors are covered in this three volume set. Each entry includes an illustration of the author, a list of principle short fiction, achievements, biography, analysis, and bibliography.

Contemporary Authors (Three series: First, Revised, and Second Revised). Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1981-
    (REF PN771 .C6x...))
To search Contemporary Authors online, use the database: Biography Resource Center.
It contains full text entries from the series.
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#Biography Resource)
This tool gives biographical information about contemporary authors and lists their works. Look for the separate paperback index to the print set or use the Gale Literary Index online. For an online guide to the Web resource, see Database Searching Guides at http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbguides.htm

Ely Library Catalog. Use to locate books, audio-visual materials, etc. in the Ely Library
     (Internet Site: http://catalog.lib.wsc.ma.edu)
Books about an individual short fiction author can be found by doing a subject search using the author's name as a subject heading. For example, type Twain, Mark and find several books about Mark Twain.

Biography and Genealogy Master Index.
    (REF CT214 .B57)
An excellent place to begin a search for biographical information. This indexes over 500 biographical dictionaries.

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Criticism

Contemporary Literary Criticism (CLC)
Twentieth Century Literary Criticism (TCLC)
Nineteenth Century Literature Criticism (NCLC).Detroit: Gale, 1973-
    (Reference Tables)
These series contain excerpts from criticism of the works of novelists, poets, playwrights, and other creative writers from respective time periods. Use the cumulative index in the back of the last volume to locate appropriate entries. For an electronic index to these sources see the Gale Literary Index.

Contemporary Literary Criticism Select      Limited to WSC community
(Internet site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#Contemporary Literary)
This electronic version of selected parts of the Contemporary Literary Criticism (see above) provides full-text access to critical articles and excerpts of criticism on approximately 100 authors represented in the print volumes.   Use the Guide to Citing Library Database Articles in MLA Style (http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/citemla.htm) when using the electronic version for references in a paper.  For an online guide, see Database Searching Guides at http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbguides.htm

Short Story Criticism: Excerpts from criticism of the works of short fiction writers. Detroit: Gale Research, 1991.
    (REF PN3373 .S386)

Critical Survey of Short Fiction. Ed. by Frank N. Magill. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Salem Press, c1981.
    (REF PN3321 .C7)
There are three major subdivisions in this seven volume set: Essays; Authors; and Current Authors. The first includes material on geographic regions, ethnic groups, historical roots of the genre, etc. The Author section contains summaries of criticism alphabetically arranged by author, and the Current Author subdivision includes articles written almost entirely by the authors themselves. Articles include bibliographies and index.

Twentieth Century Short Story Explication : New Series. Warren S. Walker. Hamden, Conn. : Shoe String Press, 1993-.
    (REF PN3373 W35 1993)
Includes bibliographical references (v. 1, p. 325-358) and index. This volume is organized by author and then by individual works published between 1989 and 1990. Under the name of a short story find citations to periodical articles and book chapters. Refer to the front of the book for a list of abbreviations.

Twentieth-Century Short Story Explication : Interpretations, 1900-1975, of short fiction since 1800 (3^rd ed.). Compiled by Warren S. Walker. Hamden, Conn. : Shoe String Press, 1977.
    (REF PN3373 .W33x 1977)
This volume is organized by author and then by individual work. Under the name of a short story find citations to periodical articles and book chapters. Refer to the front of the book for a list of abbreviations.

Studies in Short Fiction. South Carolina: Newberry College, v. 4 1966-
    (Periodicals)
This journal has a bibliography of short story criticism in the summer issue each year. Updates Twentieth Century Short Story Explication.

World Literature Criticism, 1500 to the Present : A selection of major authors from Gale's literary criticism series. (six volumes) Ed. by James P. Draper. Detroit : Gale Research, 1992.
    (REF PN523 W67 1992)

Ely Library Catalog. Use to locate books, audio-visual materials, etc. in the Ely Library
     (Internet Site: http://catalog.lib.wsc.ma.edu)
See entries below under Finding Tools: Indexes to Periodical Articles and Books for examples of subject headings that may be useful for finding books on literary criticism.

Articles on Twentieth Century Literature: An Annotated Bibliography 1954-1970. Ed. by David E. Pownall. New York: Kraus-Thomson, 1978.
    (Stack PN771 P66)
Cites journal articles written between 1954 and 1970 critiquing poems, short stories, novels, and plays.
 

Databases: Indexes to Periodical Articles and Books  Use to locate books, journal articles, and unpublished research.

Ely Library Catalog. Use to locate books, audio-visual materials, etc. in the Ely Library
     (Internet Site: http://catalog.lib.wsc.ma.edu)
The following is an example of subject headings relevant to Literary Criticism for use in the online catalog.  Do not limit yourself to this list!  Use the Library of Congress Subject Headings (Big Red Books) located by the card catalog for more possibilities – or browse the online catalog for ideas.  For an online guide to the Ely Library Catalog see Database Searching Guides at http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbguides.htm
 

MLA International Bibliography     (Modern Language Association) (1963- Updated Quarterly)
            Limited to WSC community
    (Internet site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#MLA International)
This database provides indexing to journals, books, book chapters, and dissertations relating to language, literature, and folklore. Materials indexed may be in any written language. For an online guide that includes Limit Commands, see Database Searching Guides at http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbguides.htm

Essay and General Literature Index. 1900-
    (Periodical Shelves)
A valuable source for locating literary criticism in collections of essays. Look under the author's name as a subject heading. This is also a good place to locate an essay in a published collection or periodical. A list of books indexed can be found at the end of each volume.

See Also:
Expanded Academic ASAP.        Limited to WSC community
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#Expanded Academic)
Academic Search Premier         Limited to WSC community
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#Academic Search)
Both of these databases contain general subject coverage including information on contemporary authors. Use for current magazine and journal references as well as full-text articles. For online guides, see Database Searching Guides at http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbguides.htm

ERIC (SilverPlatter Version) (1966-)      Limited to WSC community
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#ERIC)
ERIC Search Wizard (1969-)
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#ERIC)
Subject Specific to all areas of Education and Instruction including the use of literature in the classroom. Abstracts journal articles and other documents. For an online guide, see Database Searching Guides at http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbguides.htm
 

Finding Tools: Indexes to Short Stories & Essays

Essay Finder
    (Internet Site:  http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#Essay Finder)
Here find full-text essays and discursive writing.  The essays (both fiction and non-fiction) focus on the humanities and social sciences, and include biographies and literary criticism.   For an online guide, see Database Searching Guides.

Short Story Index. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1950-
    (REF PN3373 .Cx)
Indexes anthologies and collections of short stories.

Index to Best American Short Stories and O. Henry Prize Stories. Ray Lewis White. Boston, Mass. : G.K. Hall, c1988.
    (STACK PS645 .B4)
This index covers short stories from 1915 to 1986.  Indexes by Author and Title.

Essay and General Literature Index. 1900-
    (Periodical Shelves)
See notes above under Finding Tools: Indexes to Periodical Articles and Books.
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MLA Citation Style Sources

MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1998.
    (REF PN147 G444 1998)
This is the official manual explaining the MLA style of formatting research papers. It includes electronic sources.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1995.
    (REF LB 2369 G53 1995)

MLA Style - How to Document Information
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/mlastyle.htm)
For examples of MLA citation style used for works cited and as citations in text, try this site.

MLA - Citing Library Database Articles in MLA Style
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/citemla.htm)
Here find examples of how to cite full-text sources from SIRS, Expanded Academic ASAP, Academic Search Full-Text Elite, etc., using the APA citation style.

MLA - Citing Web Pages in MLA Style
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/webmla.htm)
This page will give you the basics of how to cite home pages, business web sites, etc. using MLA format.

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Web Sites

WWW Resources by Subject - English & Literature  (Ely Library at Westfield State College)
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/eng&lit.htm)
This page includes links to Writing Resources, Authors, and to Technical Writing Resources.

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