Printer Friendly VersionPoets & Poetry
This guide is meant to assist researchers in locating biographical information on poets as well as critical information on their work. Consult a reference librarian for assistance in locating and using these resources.
Table of Contents:
Handbooks and Encyclopedias
Dictionaries
Biographical Sources
Criticism
Poem Locators
Use these sources to find definitions of literary terms,
brief biographical information, identification of characters and places, and
general discussions of literary schools and movements.
Cuddon, J.A. A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory.
Oxford: Blackwell, 1998.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN41 .C83 1998]
Provides definitions and illustrations of poetic forms and genres.
Holman, C. Hugh, and William Harmon. A Handbook to Literature. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN41 .H355 2003]
A dictionary of literary terms with useful outline of English and American literary history.
Myers, Jack. The Longman Dictionary of Poetic Terms. New York: Longman, 1989.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN1042 .M94 1989]
Defines a critical vocabulary of poetic terms.
Preminger, Alex, ed. New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics. Princeton, NJ: Princeton UP, 1993.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN1021 .E5 1993]
The best source available for encyclopedic information about history, theory, and criticism of poetry and poetics from earliest times to present.
Kinzie, Mary. A Poet's Guide to Poetry. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1999.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN1059.A9 K56 1999]
Illustrates definitions of poetic terms with thoughtful, lengthy examples. Discusses reading, writing, and understanding the art of poetry.
Murphy, Bruce, ed. Reader's Encyclopedia. 4th ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1996.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN41 .B4 1996]
A handy one-volume reference to identification of writers, summaries of specific works, and definitions of literary terms. Covers all periods of world literature. Useful for tracking down literary allusions.
Special Dictionaries
The following sources will help you identify meanings of words, define foreign words and
slang, and find references for phrases, quotes, and symbols. Browse the PE
section of Reference for additional sources.
Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 20 vols. New York: Oxford UP, 1989.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PE1625 .O87 1989 & Online Resource]
A masterpiece of dictionaries. This 20 volume set is especially useful for tracing word history. Includes quotations to illustrate historical usage at different periods.
Room, Adrian. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. New York: HarperCollins, 1995.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN43 .B65 1995]
Provides brief definitions of allusions and references to literary and mythological characters.
Guinagh, Kevin, ed. Dictionary of Foreign Phrases and Abbreviations. 2nd ed. New York: Wilson, 1983.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PE1670.G8 1983]
Useful for translating foreign quotations that appear in literature.
Allsopp, Richard, ed. Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage. New York: Oxford UP, 1996.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PE3304.D54 1996]
Defines terms of Caribbean English, including regionalisms. Provides pronunciation guide.
Smith, Eric. Dictionary of Classical Reference in English Poetry. Towata, NJ: Barnes and Noble, 1984.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR508 C68 S63 1984]
Cites classical references used by 80 British poets. Explains references and cites original source.
Beale, Paul, ed. Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. New York, Macmillan, 1984.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PE3721.P3 1984]
Includes examples and definitions of British and American slang and colloquialisms.
Brohaugh, William. English Through the Ages. Cincinnati, OH: Writers' Digest, 1998.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PE 1680.B67 1998]
This interesting sources lists words by the date of their first recorded use. Organized chronologically, then by category.
Bartlett, John. Familiar Quotations. 16th ed. Boston: Little, Brown, 1992.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN6081 .B27 1992]
Traces passages, phrases, and proverbs to their source in ancient and modern literature.
New Century Cyclopedia of Names. New York: Appleton, 1954.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PE1625 .C43 1954]
Includes references and pronunciation for over 100,000 names of peoples, places, literary characters, and legendary figures.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Use these sources to find biographical essays:
Biography and Genealogy Master Index. Detroit: Gale, 1995-.
[Online Resource]
This database is an excellent place to begin a search for biographical information. Indexes over 500 biographical sources, making it easy to know which sources to consult. Check LEO for local holdings.
Spender, Stephen, and Donald Hall, eds. Concise Encyclopedia of English and American Poets and Poetry. New York: Hawthorne, 1963.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR19 .S6]
Includes biographical information on major poets and general articles on various aspects of poetry.
Contemporary Authors. Detroit: Gale, 1967-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN451 .C6 & Online Resource]
International in scope, this tool gives biographical information about contemporary authors and lists their works. In the print version, consult the separate index volume to locate entries on specific writers.
Contemporary Poets. 6th ed. Detroit: St. James, 1995-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR603 C6 1995]
Contains brief biographical information, author bibliographies, and critical essays.
Shelton, Pamela L., ed. Contemporary Women Poets. Detroit: St. James Press, 1998.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PS151.C67 1997]
250 prominent women poets writing in English are featured. Each entry contains a short biography, a bibliography, and a critical essay.
Dictionary of Literary Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1978-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN451 D28 & Online Resource]
This multi-volume work provides chapter length biographical essays. The most recent volume includes a comprehensive index to the set. A well known, reliable source.
Hamilton, Ian, ed. Oxford Companion to Twentieth Century Poetry in English. New York: Oxford, 1994.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR601 .O9 1994]
Abiographical dictionary of 1,500 20th Century English language poets.
Use these sources to find book length biographies:
LEO Library Catalog
[Online Resource]
Books about an individual poet can be found by doing a subject search using the poet's name as a subject heading. For example, choose Subject
and type Dickinson, Emily and the database will retrieve several books about Emily Dickinson.
Sometimes biographies will have the subdivision --biography, although frequently
biographical materials are filed under the author's name.
Use the same approach for locating biographies in other libraries by conducting
subject searches in UVA's catalog, VIRGO, or from other libraries by using the WorldCAT database. Items located through VIRGO and WorldCAT can be
borrowed through Interlibrary
Loan. Connect to these resources from the
Carrier Library Webpage.
CRITICISM
The sources listed below are reference books that give brief general criticism of writers. These
are useful for general criticism of individual authors.
American Writers ed. by Leonard Ungar. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1974-
[Carrier Library - Reference - PS29 .A55]
Critical essays about the lives and works of American writers. Lists each author's works as well as critical studies about the author.
British Writers ed. by Ivan Scott-Kilvert. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1979-
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR85 .B688]
Critical essays about the lives and works of British authors. Lists each author's works as well as critical studies about the author.
Critical Survey of Poetry ed. by Frank N. Magill. New Jersey: Salem Press, 1982. 8 vols.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR502 .C85 1982]
Organized by author, each entry provides a biographical essay and a summary of
critical reception for major English language poets.
The Explicator Cyclopedia ed. by Charles Child Walcutt and J. Edwin Whitesell. Chicago: Quadrangle, 1966-1968.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR401.E9]
A quick reference to explication and interpretation of selected works. Volume I covers modern poetry. Volume II covers
Medieval
to late Victorian.
Modern Black Writers comp. and ed. by Michael Popkin. New York: Ungar, 1978.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN841 .M58]
Criticism of 30 black American authors and 50 black authors from foreign countries.
Poetry Criticism ed. by Robyn V. Young. Detroit: Gale Research, 1991. 28
volumes.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN1031 .P54 1991]
Provides excerpts of criticism about major world poets. Most recent volume
indexes the entire set.
Use LEO to find books. The following subject headings are examples of how to
search:
(Last Name, First Name, years)--Criticism and Interpretation
(Last Name, First Name, years)--Style
American Poetry--20th Century--History and Criticism
English Poetry--Early Modern, 1500-1700--History and Criticism
Poetry, Medieval--History and Criticism
BIBLIOGRAPHIES OF CRITICISM
The following bibliographies will lead you to literary criticism in books,
journal articles, and essays. These sources are useful for locating criticism of a
specific poet or poem.
American and British poetry : a guide to the criticism
1925-1990 by Harriet Semmes Alexander. Athens, Oh: Swallow Press, c1996.
[Carrier Library - Reference - Z1231.P7 A44 1984]
Indexes criticism of American and British poems. Useful for locating
lengthy discussions of specific poems.
Literary Criticism Index by Alan Weiner and
Spencer Means. London: Scarecrow Press, 1994.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN523.W455
1994]
An excellent sources for locating criticism on a specific poem. Consult the annotated pages in the front for the call numbers of cited works.
Poetry Explication: A Checklist of Interpretations Since 1925 of British and American Poems Past and Present by Joseph Kuntz and Nancy Martinez. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1980.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR502 K8 1980]
Cites criticism in books and periodicals. Arranged by poet and then individual work.
Articles on American Literature, 1900-1950 comp. by Lewis Leary. Durham, N.C.: Duke, 1954. (also 1950-1967, and 1968-1975)
[Carrier Library - Reference - PS88 L39]
This source is particularly good for finding criticism about individual authors. Comprehensive in its coverage of American authors.
Articles on Twentieth Century Literature: An Annotated Bibliography 1954-1970
ed. by David E. Pownall. New York: Kraus-Thomson, 1978.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN771 P78]
Cites journal articles on poems, short stories, novels, and plays. This bibliography is updated by "Current
Bibliography" which appears in the fall issue of the
journal Twentieth Century Literature (2nd floor, Bound periodicals).
A Bibliography of Studies in Metaphysical Poetry 1939-1960 comp. by Lloyd E. Berry. Madison, Wis.: Univ. of Wisconsin,
1964.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR545 M4 B47]
Cites critical studies on metaphysical poets such as Donne, Marvell, Herbert, and others.
Epic and Romance Criticism by Arthur Coleman. New York: Watermill, 1973.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR509 E7 C6]
Volume I deals with English and American epics and metrical romances. Volume II deals with classical and continental epics and romances. Criticism is listed
under the title of each work.
Guide to American Poetry Explication ed. by James Ruppert. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1989. 2 vols.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PS 306 .G9 1989]
Volume One covers Colonial to 19th Century Literature, Volume Two contains
criticism on Modern and Contemporary.
Guide to British Poetry Explication ed. by Nancy C. Martinez and Joseph G.R. Martinez. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1991.
3 vols.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR311 .M34 1991]
Volume One covers Old English through Medieval, Volume Two covers Renaissance
Literature, and Volume Three focuses on the Restoration to Romantic period.
Magill's Bibliography of Literary Criticism ed. by Frank Magill. Englewood Cliffs: Salem, 1979.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN523 M25]
Lists sources of criticism for the study of more than 2,500 works of literature. Covers writers from ancient Greece to
mid 20th Century.
INDEXES TO CRITICISM
These sources provide access to information in periodical articles, as well as
in books and dissertations. Use these sources to update information found in background sources and
bibliographies.
JOURNAL BIBLIOGRAPHIES
These literary journals publish bibliographies that are useful for locating
recent criticism of poetry. Bound volumes of each are located on Second
Floor; Current issues are in the Periodicals Room on the 1st floor.
Explicator "Checklist of Explication" 1945- (annual)
Victorian Studies "Victorian Bibliography" 1958- (annual)
American Literature "Articles on American Literature Appearing in Current Periodicals" 1929- (every issue)
Philological Quarterly "English Literature: 1660-1800: A Current Bibliography" 1922- (every issue)
Keats-Shelley Journal "Bibliography" 1952- (annual)
Twentieth Century Literature "Current Bibliography" 1955- (every issue)
The Romantic Movement: A Selective and Critical Bibliography 1963- (Annual
publication, shelved at PN603 .R652.
POEM LOCATORS
The following indexes and full text sources will help you find specific poems or poems on subjects in collections, anthologies, and periodicals.
Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry. New York: Columbia Univ., 1940-
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN1021 .G7]
Useful for locating a specific poem in an anthology. Includes title, first line, author, and subject indexes.
African-American Poetry, 1760-1900. Alexandria, Va.: Chadwyck-Healy Inc., c1995.
[Online Resource]
Includes the full text of almost 3,000 poems written between 1760 and 1900 by
African-American authors. Browse by author or search by keyword to
retrieve poems.
Index to Black Poetry by Dorothy H. Chapman. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1974.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PS153 .N5 C45]
Indexes poetry by black writers and poems on the black experience. Title, first line, author, and subject indexes.
English Poetry Full-Text Database. Alexandria, VA: Chadwyck-Healey, Inc., c1992.
[Online Resource]
Full-text of 165,000 poems from the Anglo-Saxon period through the end of the 19th century by English/British poets. Browse by author or search by keyword to retrieve poems.
Index of American Periodical Verse. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1971-
[Carrier Library - Reference - Index Table 5]
Provides access to poems from a broad selection of literary, scholarly, and
popular magazines, journals, and reviews. Includes U.S., Canadian, and
Caribbean periodicals.
Last Lines: An Index to the Last Lines of Poetry. New York: Facts on File, 1991.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN1022 .K55 1991]
Includes Author, Title, and Keyword as well as Last Line indexes to a selection
of poems in English.
Women's Poetry Index by Patricia A. Guy. Phoenix, Arizona: Oryx Press, 1985.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN1024 .G89 1985]
An author and first line index to poetry by women.
Created by Lynn Cameron and Rebecca Feind
Maintained and Updated by Melissa S. Van Vuuren, April 26, 2007
Questions? Contact the library reference desk.
