Literature: Poetry
This guide will assist you in doing research in the fields of American and English Literature.
Available in the Library
These books, plus many more, can all be found in the Reference section of our library. Search the Library Online Catalog to find additional resources.
The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry in Anthologies by Tessa Kale
Call Number:
REF PN 1022 .H39 2007
Contemporary Poets 7th ed. by Thomas Riggs
Call Number:
REF PR 603 .C6 2001
Encyclopedia of American Poetry. The 20th Century by Eric L. Haralson (Editor)
Call Number:
REF PS323.5 .E53 2001
Encyclopedia of American Poetry. The Nineteenth Century by Eric L. Haralson
Call Number:
REF PS316 .E53 1998
Masterplots II. Poetry Series Rev. Ed. / Editor, Philip K. Jason ; Project Editor, Tracy Iron-Georges. By Philip K. Jason
Call Number:
REF PN 1110.5 .M37 2002 v.1-8
Library Databases
These databases will be useful to you in your research:
- Ebook CentralContains over 116,000 full-text e-books in a wide variety of subjects and disciplines. There is a powerful user interface that includes highlighting, bookmarking and automatic citations.
- JSTORThis collection contains the complete archived holdings of over 1,100 scholarly, full-text journals. New titles and disciplines are added regularly. The capacity for searching across disciplines opens up vast possibilities for scholarship and research.
- Oxford English DictionaryThe Oxford English Dictionary is the authoritative source on the evolution and usage of the English language.
- Salem LiteratureContains analytical essays (both classic criticism and original analysis) on authors, works, and themes central to literary study.
Poetry Websites
Here are some links that will help you as you research poetry and poetry explication. These are aggregate sites as opposed to sites devoted to individual poets.
- Cambridge History of English and American LiteratureConsidered the most important work of literary history and criticism ever published, the Cambridge History contains over 303 chapters and 11,000 pages, with essay topics ranging from poetry, fiction, drama and essays to history, theology and political writing.
- Glossary of Poetic TermsAn A-to-Z listing of terms used in poetry with their corresponding definitions. Produced by McGraw-Hill.
- Internet Public Library: PoetryAlthough ipl2 has closed, there are almost 500 academic sites devoted to all aspects of poetry found here.
- Poetry ArchiveListen to poets reading their own works.
- Poetry ExplicationProduced by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, “this handout reviews some of the important techniques of approaching and writing a poetry explication, and includes parts of two sample explications.”
- Poetry Foundation“The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience.”
- Poets.orgCreated by the American Academy of Poets, this site contains thousands of poems. Biographical articles are also included. A good source of contemporary poets and poetry.
- Project Gutenberg: Poetry BookshelfFree ebooks of poetry anthologies organized chronologically and also by genre.
Library Databases
These databases will be useful to you in your research:
- Ebook CentralContains over 116,000 full-text e-books in a wide variety of subjects and disciplines. There is a powerful user interface that includes highlighting, bookmarking and automatic citations.
- JSTORThis collection contains the complete archived holdings of over 1,100 scholarly, full-text journals. New titles and disciplines are added regularly. The capacity for searching across disciplines opens up vast possibilities for scholarship and research.
- Oxford English DictionaryThe Oxford English Dictionary is the authoritative source on the evolution and usage of the English language.
- Salem LiteratureContains analytical essays (both classic criticism and original analysis) on authors, works, and themes central to literary study.
Professional Associations
Here are poetry and poetry-related associations and organizations that may be of interest to you:
National Federation of State Poetry Societies
“Its purpose is to recognize the importance of poetry with respect to national cultural heritage. It is dedicated solely to the furtherance of poetry on the national level and serves to unite poets in the bonds of fellowship and understanding.”- Poetry Foundation “is an independent literary
organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience.” - “Non-profit organization devoted to fostering and promoting poetry in US.”
Poetry Explication
Here are some sites that will assist in analyzing poetry:
- The Writing Center: Poetry ExplicationsThis website is produced by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Writing About PoetryProduced by the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University.
Featured Poet
- J.R.R. TolkienListen to Tolkien read excerpts of poems from “Fellowship of the Ring.”