QVHS
Analysis and Critical Interpretation
Before you begin analyzing an author’s work
Why Literary criticism? Literary criticism is the act of interpreting literature.
Authors present us with work that can have multiple meanings, expecting us to consider
thoughtfully--to interpret. Writers and critics build on each others' understanding of a
work of literature in a kind of dialog. Noted authors often have a body of criticism
attached to their work. Critics evaluate and debate the ideas of fellow critics. Good
criticism can help us develop a better understanding of a work. It can help us develop a
point of view about a work, whether or not we agree with the opinions of the critic.
As you work with literary criticism in your writing it is important that you incorporate
your own reactions and points of view.
Internet Public Library's Online Literary Criticism Collection
contains critical and biographical websites about authors and their works that can be
browsed by author, by title, or by nationality and literary period.
http://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit/
The Internet Public Library states, good, authoritative critical works can be some of the
hardest kinds of information to find on the Internet. To help retrieve relevant information,
they've gathered and described some of the best starting places for finding online literary
criticism.
What’s important to look for….
When looking for criticism, identify:
• Credentials of the writer(s) The experts to name a few - Bloom, & Magill
Editors and authors are different and should be noted as such.
• Quality of the sources--journals, books, Websites
Is there a bibliography attached to the source?
Does the source have an index and or a link to more comprehensive sources?
QVHS
Analysis and Critical Interpretation
Interviews with authors and those that study them
Opinions supported by evidence, relating to:
• Characterization
• Voice
• Style
• Theme
• Setting
• Technical qualities of the writing (artistry, style, use of language)
• Interpretation
• Complex ideas and problems
• Relationship of work to the time, or social, historical, or political trends
When looking for criticism, AVOID:
• Plot summaries, Spark Notes, Pink Monkey, etc.
• Casual posts on discussion groups
• The works of other students
• Author biography
 Book Reviews
Before your start to research:
1.
Create a web and or research list of the things you want to find about your author,
his/her writings and what the critics might say.
This will help limit your research time.
2.
Treat your Author and his/ her works as a subject and or genre and not just as a
keyword. This is the best reason to use the online databases and web catalogs.
3.
Editors and authors are different and should be noted as such.
Quality of the sources--journals, books, Websites
Is there a bibliography attached to the source?
Does the source have an index and or a link to more comprehensive
sources?
QVHS
Analysis and Critical Interpretation
Finding the Critics
Subscription Databases and Web Catalogs
Content includes:
Gale Literature Resource Center
User Id:
Leet30946
Password: Leet30946
Literature Resource Center is a comprehensive database that provides
users with a broad spectrum of information on thousands of authors and
their works across literary disciplines and timeframes.
POWER LIBRARY @ Quaker Valley
POWER LIBRARY @ HOME requires a public library card
See the Literature box for appropriate databases


Net Library
BEST ONLINE eBook RESOURCE
LitFinder / POETRY Finder
Libraries and Web Catalogs
Finding Print and “qualified” electronic resources
Quaker Valley HS Web Catalog
http://qvfollett.qvsd.org/
For books in our library….Click this link and
complete your own search or check out the list of books on the
following pages that may help you.
Remember SUBJECT searching is the key
SEWICKLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
http://www.einetwork.net/ein/sewickley/
Search “The Catalog” which is part of the Carnegie Library system. Have books
ordered online for delivery at Sewickley Public or print out the bib record and let
us do the work for you.
Virtual Online Help 24/7
http://www.askherepa.org/
QVHS
Analysis and Critical Interpretation
Bibliographies and (Parenthetical) Documentation
Gale Literature Resource Center
Have the citation for each source at the bottom of the docuemtn –
Copy and paste the citations in alphabetical order
Voila - you have a correct bibliography
Landmark Citation Machine
http://citationmachine.net
Noodle BIB
http://www.noodletools.com/
BOOKS in QVHS Library
LITERATURE – REFERENCE / NON-FICTION
REF 809 MAJ
Major 20th Century Writers A Selection of Sketches from
Contemporary Authors
REF 810.9 GRE
Great American Writers Twentieth Century
REF 810.9 MAG
Magill’s Survey of American Literature
REF 810.9 WRI
Writers for Young Adults
REF 810.9 TWE
The Chelsea House Library of Literary Criticism/ TwentiethCentury American Literature, General Editor, Harold Bloom
REF 810.9 AME
American Writers, A Collection of Literary Biographies
REF 810.9 MAS
Masterpieces of African-American literature
edited by Frank N. Magill.
QVHS
Analysis and Critical Interpretation
GENERAL NON-FICTION LITERATURE
813.54 HUN Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers/ Amy Tan,
A Critical Companion
813.54 MAR Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers/ Kurt Vonnegut,
A Critical Companion
813.54 GAR Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers/ Tom Clancy.
A Critical Companion
813.53 BLO
Comprehensive Research and Study/ Guide Bloom’s Major Short Story
Writers, J.D. Salinger, Edited and with an introduction by Harold Bloom
92 ROW
J.K. Rowling, A Biography
92 TOL
J. R. R. Tolkien, A Biography
823.91 REA
The Greenhaven Press Literary Companion to Contemporary Authors/
Readings on J. K. Rowling
813.54 REA The Greenhaven Press Literary Companion to Contemporary Authors/
Readings on John Grisham
813.54 REA
810.9 OXF
The Greenhaven Press Literary Companion to Contemporary Authors
/Readings on Stephen King
The Oxford Book of Women’s Writing in the United States
810.9 MOD
Modern American Women Writers
813.54 RAY
Modern Critical Interpretations Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Edited
by Harold Bloom
813.54 CRI
Critical Essays on Toni Morrison’s Beloved
813 REA
The Greenhaven Press, Literary Companionto American Literature
Readings on A Separate Peace
813.009 AME American Women Fiction Writers 1900-1960/
Edited by Harold Bloom
813.3 REA
The Greenhaven Press, Literary Companion to American Literature
Readings on The Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe
QVHS
Analysis and Critical Interpretation
813 FAU
Modern Critical Interpretations, William Faulkner’ , The Sound and the
Fury Edited by Harold Bloom
813 FIT
Modern Critical Interpretations, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great
Edited by Harold Bloom
813 HOF
Twayne’s United States Authors Series, William Faulkner
818 PAU
The Twentieth Century Views Series/ Thoreau, A Collection of Essays
818,50 BLA
Writers of English: Lives and Works Black American Prose Writers,
Before the Harlem Renaissance Edited by Harold Bloom
818.5 JAM
Modern Critical Views, James Baldwin / Edited by Harold Bloom
813 MIZ
Twentieth Century Views/ F. Scott Fitzgerald, A Collection of Critical
Essays
830.9 BLA Black American women poets and dramatists
edited and with an introduction by Harold Bloom.
810.9 ASI Asian-American women writers
edited and with an introduction by Harold Bloom.
810.9 CON Contemporary Black American poets and dramatists
edited and with an introduction by Harold Bloom.
810.9 MAJ
Major modern black American writers
edited and with an introduction by Harold Bloom.
813.54 KAL Understanding the catcher in the rye
810.9 BLA Black American poets and dramatists of the Harlem Renaissance
edited and with an introduction by Harold Bloom.
810.9 WOM Women writers of children's literature
edited and with an introduction by Harold Bloom.
813.54 CRI Critical essays on Toni Morrison's Beloved
edited by Barbara H. Solomon.
813.4 WIE Understanding the adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Wiener, Gary.
813.54 LES On writing for children & other people
Lester, Julius.