Library Research Guides: ENG 120: Critical Interpretation: Find Background & Overviews

Why Use Reference Works?

Reference works such as specialized encyclopedias, dictionaries, and handbooks can provide

an overview* of a topic, person, or work; often written by scholars in the field*	definitions of key terms
suggestions for further sources	vocabulary (keywords) for database searching

Literature Online (LION)
To find background, biographical information, and overviews of authors, works, movements, etc., check the box for Reference Works under Content Type when doing your search. You can also filter to Reference Works after running your search.
Oxford Bibliographies Online

Annotated bibliographies for a variety of subject areas.
Oxford Reference Online

Over 400 full-text academic encyclopedias, language dictionaries, books of quotations, and other sources. Includes subject-specific titles from art, classics, history, law, linguistics, literature, media studies, medicine, performing arts, philosophy, religion, science and technology, politics, and more.