Academic Encyclopedia, or Reference, articles are a good source of introductory information and can help you get started on a research project. Use reference to:
Learn about general schools of thoughts and literary movements. (Gale eBooks)
Learn about an author. (Biography in Context-biographies, Gale Literature)
Get an overview of critical approaches to a written text. (Gale Literature)
Learn about a historical era or cultural movement that offers important context to a literary work. (US & World History in Context).
Reference articles may also provide the specialized vocabulary of a field and leads to key sources on a topic.