In addition, students conducting all levels of literature research can apply one or more of the Gale suite of literature research databases listed below to find the information needed. Read through the descriptions and click the database name to begin your search. If you have questions or need help, please contact us!
1. Literature Resource Center (Gale) – Context and Author Background
Purpose: Gather biographical and contextual information about the author and historical background.
Use: Learn about the author’s life, influences, and the literary/historical context of their work.
Example: The student reads about Langston Hughes’s background and the Harlem Renaissance to understand the poem’s cultural context.
2. Literature Criticism (Gale) –
Critical Analysis
Purpose: Access in-depth, scholarly literary criticism and interpretation.
Use: Analyze how scholars have interpreted the work, themes, or style over time.
Example: The student finds multiple scholarly perspectives on Langston Hughes's themes of identity and race, using them to support their own analysis.
3. LitFinder (Gale) – Discover Primary Texts
Purpose: Begin by locating original works such as poems, short stories, plays, and speeches.
Use: Students find and read primary sources to select a work or author for analysis.
Example: A student chooses the full text copy of a Langston Hughes poem from LitFinder to analyze.
Cultural context