Research Guides: English and American Literature: Books & Dictionaries

Dictionaries and Companions

These all purpose books define literary terms, identify fictional characters and places, and give biographical information on authors. They are valuable as sources of quick information.

OED Online This link opens in a new window
The Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words, both present and past. It traces the usage of words through millions of quotations from a wide range of international English language sources, from classic literature and specialized periodicals, to film scripts and cook books. Hundreds of new entries are added annually.
Cambridge Companions Online This link opens in a new window
Contains substantial downloadable essays with chronologies and guides to further reading. Covers literature, poetry, theatre, philosophy, religion, historical and cultural topics, as well as scholarly writings covering major authors, artists, philosophers, topics, and time periods. Addresses subjects and figures as diverse as Gothic Fiction and Arabic Philosophy, Tom Stoppard and Martin Luther, Jane Austin and Stravinsky.

A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory by J. A. Cuddon (Editor)
Call Number: PN41 .C83 2013eb
ISBN: 9781118326015
A Handbook to Literature by William Harmon; Hugh Holman
Call Number: PN41 .H355 2009
ISBN: 0136014399
Publication Date: 2008
The Oxford Companion to English Literature by Margaret Drabble (Editor)
Call Number: PR19 .O94 2000
ISBN: 0198662440
Publication Date: 2000
The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism by Michael Groden (Editor); Martin Kreiswirth (Editor); Imre Szeman
Call Number: PN81 .J554 2005
ISBN: 0801880106
Publication Date: 2004
The Blackwell Guide to Literary Theory by Gregory Castle
Call Number: PN94 .C38 2007
ISBN: 0631232729
Publication Date: 2007

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