ENGL 160: Women's Literature

Find Background Information on Texts, Genres, Topics, & Authors

Find Author Biographies

  1. Type in the author's name. Tip: In this database, last name, first usually works best.
  2. Click on the author's name. 
  3. Look over the source types. Biographies will discuss the author's significance, ideas they address, their influences, and other helpful information. NOTE: Not all articles will discuss the author in depth, so look for substance.
  4. Other articles in the database may be helpful as well. 

Do a search for author websites.

  • Note: If you use web sources, be sure the information you use is substantial enough and offers important insight into your research project.
Google Web Search

Find Background Information on the genre, specific fairy tale, or topic. 

Gale Literature: 

In Gale Literature look for Topic & Work Overviews, Interviews, Biographies, and Reviews and News. Note that I do not usually start with Literary Criticism. 

This example shows a snip from a search of Snow White.  

Click on image to enlarge.

Gale Lit search of Snow White

Gale eBook Academic Encyclopedia Collection

Gale eBooks is a multidisciplinary encyclopedia collection. Look for introductory articles related to your stories. 

Click on image to enlarge

Gale eBooks for introductory articles

Print Academic Encyclopedias in Holman Library

Use the One Search - and limit to Reference - to find introductory overviews of authors, texts, and genres.