ENGL 115 Introduction to Novels

Background Sources

Find Introductory Sources on Authors & Text

Find introductory articles on authors and literature in the library database Gale Literature by limiting to Topic & Work Overviews.

(click on image to enlarge)

Gale Literature: Topic and Work overviews, interviews, biographies

Topic & Work Overviews can be helpful way to get to know a literary work.

  • Topic & Work Overviews provide a plot and character summary, biographical and historical context for the author and work, an overview of key themes and literary elements, an overview of critical approaches to the text, and a few short pieces of criticism.
  • The purpose of Topic & Work Overviews is to teach about the text, rather than present an original argument on interpretation.

Find Historical Info

Understanding the history of the era in which an author lived or in which a piece of literature was written will often give you better insight into that literature's meaning, symbolism, and themes. 

Searching Tips

  • Search by event or era in U.S. History in Context, History Reference Center, or Gale Ebooks

  • or Browse for ideas.

    • Start with reference sources for context, as once you know a little more about your topic, it will be easier to build on that info and search for more in-depth sources.
  1. This is an example of a Keyword Search in U.S. History in Context for the words: "Chinese exclusion act" 
  • In the image below, notice there is a list of document types that you can limit to, or browse to see a range of perspectives on the topic.

(click on image to enlarge)

US history in context. Search and start with reference for background or primary sources for documents from that era

  1. This is an example showing how you can browse topics.
  • select browse topics by clicking on the little light bulb icon
  • Dive in by decade, era, or event. See image below to see how the topics are listed out.

(click on image to enlarge)

US History in Context Browse for Topics

US History - browse- japanese american internment

Find Biographical Info

Use the databases linked below, along with the featured search tips to find biographical information. 

Search for author info in Gale Literature:

Tip: In Gale databases, sometimes family name, first name works best!

(click on image to enlarge)

gale lit search by author

  • Topic & Work Overviews for biographical and historical contexts, and news, reviews and primary sources for interviews and other articles about the author.
  • Select Biographies for articles about the author and their work

(click on on image to enlarge)

Gale Literature about the author

This excerpt from "Julie Otsuka," a biography in Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors points to the intersection of her life and interests with her fiction. 

(click on image to enlarge) excerpt Otsuka biography