Background Literature Resources
Why use background or tertiary resources?
- Learn important terms, notable scholars or works, and more information about a topic.
- Bibliographies, further reading, and works cited sections can lead you to secondary sources you can use in your research.
- It's a quick overview of a theme, work, author, or other topic, which can save you time!
- Gale Literature
A literature database combining biographical, bibliographical, and contextual information on authors and their works.
The Encyclopedia of Literary and Cultural TheoryLiterary theory from 1900 to present. Available in print and online.
The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and CriticismISBN: 0801880106Includes overviews of literary theories, concepts, and methodologies. Available in print and online
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Literary Theory by Comprehensive collection of essays on literary theory
Encyclopedia of Race and Racism by In more than 1,800 pages of alphabetical entries on the underlying social, economic, geographical, and political conditions that gave rise to, and continue to foster, racism.
Secondary Resources - Databases for Literature Research
- MLA International Bibliography
Citations, abstracts, and full text materials. Includes articles and books. Does not include book reviews. - Humanities International Index
Citations and abstracts for articles, books, reviews, and reference sources in the humanities. Many links to full text articles. - JSTOR
Journal articles. Most items are older than five years. - Project Muse
Journal articles. Most items are recent publications (less than five years old).
Library Catalog Searching - Subject Headings
- "United States > Race relations.": Subject Heading BrowseSee all the subject headings under the "United States > Race relations." umbrella.
- "Race in literature."Searches the catalog for all materials that are catalogued with this subject heading.
- "Caste in literature."Searches the catalog for all materials that are catalogued with this subject heading.
- "Postcolonialism in literature."Searches the catalog for all materials that are catalogued with this subject heading.
- "Racism": Subject BrowseSee all the subject headings under the "Racism" umbrella.
Helpful handouts and links
- Bookmark PasskeyBookmark link that reloads a page with your Cornell credentials, when available.
- Scan RequestsRequest a scan of an article or chapter of book. This can be of items Cornell owns, or items that we do not own!
Land Acknowledgement
Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' (the Cayuga Nation). The Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. We acknowledge the painful history of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' dispossession, and honor the ongoing connection of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' people, past and present, to these lands and waters.
This land acknowledgment has been reviewed and approved by the traditional Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' leadership.
