GEW 101--Brown--Fall 2009

You are to select a story and analyze the theme to write a four-page paper.Your professor has given you a partial list of themes to explore, but not every theme is found in every story. You also need

• to include at least ONE scholarly text discussing your work.

Analysis is also known in literature studies as critical or textual analysis.

The authors you are reading have all produced a number of works over a span of time. That means that you will not only find critical analysis of individual works but that there are entire books written to critically analyze an author's works as to themes and intent. Our databases will bring back a great deal as well, and are frequently focused on one aspect of an author in comparison to the broader coverage found in books.

To find books in our Library Catalog, the best way to start is an author as subject search in lastname, firstname order and then look for the subheading "Criticism and Interpretation". 

To find articles in our databases, it is important to select an appropriate database. For purposes of your essay, you are looking for critical analysis of themes and writing strategies the author employs in the work. This will not only be found in literature databases, but some other scholarly databases as well. Each tab will show you places to start with resources particular to your author.