Q. Where do I find some articles on literature criticism for my paper in a literature class?

It is first important to know what literary criticism is, as that will affect where you search. Depending on the resource and  article types your assignment may require, the following outlines some routes to discover sources for this area of research.

Our Discovery Catalog searches through a lot of our databases all at once and is found on our library homepage. It can be a good place to start to cast a wide net to see what is available. It will even find items the library doesn't own, but can possibly get via interlibrary loan (ILL) – though you can limit those results out after doing a search to items held by the TCC Library. ILL is a free service for TCC students and employees. Here is an FAQ that teaches you how to use the catalog.

After doing a search in Discovery, you can limit to the source type you are needing (articles, books, video, etc.) and even to specific dates. If searching for a peer-reviewed article, you can even limit to that! 

You can search the online library catalog (main search bar on the library homepage) for literary criticism on the author or a specific work of fiction. Use the "author keyword" feature in the basic search screen followed by term "criticism" (here's an example). Or, using an advanced search, you can limit to the author and keyword there. Here's an example: kw:(criticism) AND au:(Victor Hugo)

The library has several databases you can search for literary criticism. To access our literature databases, follow these steps:

1. Go to the library's homepage, click on Articles & Databases.
2. You'll see the  A-Z Databases list, look for the drop-down menu, All Subjects. Search the list via the Subject limiter "English & Literature."
3. Select English and Literature and then select the Search button. Some good databases to start with are Gale Literature Criticism Online or JSTOR. 

For tips on how to search in our databases and catalog, we recommend this FAQ. 

If searching on the web, here’s some FAQ that we find helpful to limit to a credible source or help you refine your search:

• Q. How can I get to Google Advanced Search?
• Q. How do I find .GOV or .EDU or .ORG websites?
• Q. How can I find an article over a specific topic from a magazine (or other periodical) my instructor has recommended, published within a specific timeframe?
• Q. Can I access The New York Times online?

Try the links below to the research guides on literature. These guides on literature might help you get started. They provide information and links to sources with  poetry, drama, and short story criticism.

Research Guides are another resource.  Check these out: 

• Literary References: print and online

• Literary Research

You will be prompted to sign into MyTCC to get access to the online resources, if you are not already signed in.

Remember, if you have trouble with your research, you can always schedule a one-on-one research help appointment with a TCC librarian!