HUM 1001: Western Literature

Encyclopedias and Other Reference Resources

Andrews, J.F. (Ed.). (2001). Shakespeare's world and work. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
An alphabetical list of topics that provides a brief overview of themes, influences, and staging. This volume also includes timelines and illustrations. This is a good place to start getting acquainted with this complex author and his work.
Reference PR 2892 .S56 2001 (v. 1 - 3)

Barton, J., & Muddiman, J. (Eds.). (2001). Oxford Bible commentary. New York: Oxford University Press.
A good introduction to the "religious, cultural, and historical significance" of the Bible that includes "verse by verse explanation of every book of the Bible."
Reference PS 491.3 .O94 2001

Dukore, B. (Ed.). (1972). McGraw-Hill encyclopedia of world drama. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
A good source for an overview of a major dramatist's life and work. Includes entries for writers from Antiquity to the 20th Century. Entries include biographical information, critical reviews, summaries of major works, lists of plays, and references for further reading.
Reference PN 1625 .M3 (v. 1- 4)

Grendler, P.F. (Ed.). (1999). Encyclopedia of the Renaissance. This volume includes essays, listed alphabetically, on people, places, and ideas related to the Renaissance. Also includes maps, genealogical tables, and a chronology.
Reference CB 361 .E52 1999

Howatson, M.C.(Ed.). (1989). Oxford companion to classical literature. New York: Oxford University Press.
Entries on "important myths, science, geography, religion, and thought." Most entries are brief (dictionary-style) and include cross references.
Reference PA 31 .H69 1989

Hunter, W.B., Jr. (Ed.). (1978). The Milton encyclopedia. Cranbury, NJ: Associated University Presses, Inc.
A multi-volume set featuring scholarly articles on several aspects of this period (history, poetry, politics, religion) and their influence on Milton's work.
Reference PR 3580 .M5 (v. 1 - 8)

Lansing, R. (Ed.). (2000). The Dante encyclopedia. New York: Garland Publishing.
Brief entries on characters, locations, and ideas featured in Dante's work. Also includes some criticism and brief essays on the time in which Dante wrote.
Reference PQ 4333 .D36 2000

Luce, J.T. (Ed.). (1982). Ancient writers: Greece and Rome. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Essays on major writers. Each entry details the writer's life and works. A good source for placing the writer in context, understanding the place of his work in history and society, and for understanding the dramatic conventions used at the time. Each entry includes a select bibliography for further study.
Reference PA 3002 .A5 1982 (v. 1 - 2)

Books in the Circulating Collection

For books, try searching the catalog for the following subjects:

Aeschylus
Aristophanes
Chaucer
Dante
Euripides
Machiavelli
Milton
Shakespeare
Sophocles

You can also use the catalog to search for other subjects, such as "tragedy" or "comedy" or the name of a particular play ("Oedipus", for example).

Periodicals

To locate journal articles you may have found referenced in other sources, use the Journal Locator. This tool will help you determine online availability of titles to which the library subscribes.