POETRY EXPLICATION: A CHECKLIST OF INTERPRETATION SINCE 1925 OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN POEMS PAST AND PRESENT. (REF. Z 2014 .P7 .K8 1980) Joseph M. Kuntz and Nancy Martinez. Boston, G.K. Hall, 1980
		An index to interpretation of individual poems found in selected journals and books from 1925 through 1977. ASK FOR THIS BOOK AT THE REFERENCE DESK.
	GUIDE TO AMERICAN POETRY EXPLICATION, Volume 1: COLONIAL AND NINETEENTH CENTURY. (REF. Z 1231 .P7 .R66 1989). James Ruppert. Boston, G.K. Hall, 1989.
		Updates and expands upon the title above and limits coverage to North American poets (for Great Britain see below.) ASK FOR THIS BOOK AT THE REFERENCE DESK.
	GUIDE TO AMERICAN POETRY EXPLICATION, Volume 2: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY. (REF. Z 1231 .P7 .L46 1989). John R. Leo. Boston, G.K. Hall,1989.
		Concentrates on 20th century North American poets (for British poets see below.) Updates and expands upon POETRY EXPLICATIONthrough 1987. ASK FOR THIS BOOK AT THE REFERENCE DESK.
	GUIDE TO BRITISH POETRY EXPLICATION. 2 Volumes. (REF. Z 2014 .P7 .M34 1991). Nancy C. Martinez and Joseph G. R. Martinez. Boston, G. K. Hall, 1991 and 1992.
		Volume 1: OLD ENGLISH - MEDIEVAL. Volume 2: RENAISSANCE. The current volumes update and expand upon POETRY EXPLICATION's coverage for these periods. ASK FOR EITHER OF THESE BOOKS AT THE REFERENCE DESK.
Sample reference entry:
	DICKINSON, EMILY ( Author's surname will always be at the head of the entry). A Narrow Fellow in the Grass" (Title of poem)
		Johnson, Emily Dickinson: Perception and the Poet's Quest, 35-37. (Reference to a book)
	L.C. Knights, "Defining the Self: Poems of Emily Dickinson," SR 91 ( Summer 1983): 367-69.
		Reference to an article in a journal. Note the "SR" in this citation, it is an acronym for the journal's title. In all of these reference books there are tables at the front or back of the book which spell out the abbreviations and acronyms used to identify the sources cited.
At the back of each of the works listed above is a bibliography of sources cited. If the sources are books, call numbers penciled in next to individual titles indicate that these titles can be found in the Paul Meek Library. Periodical or journal sources may be listed in the bibliography, or separately at the front of the book. The library's holdings of periodical titles can be searched by selecting "P" from the main menu of the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) and entering the title of any periodical when the search screen comes up. See page12 for a discussion of the OPAC. THE EXPLICATOR, a journal of explication, is a good source for recent explication. The last number in each volume contains an index to the volume. For the library's holdings of THE EXPLICATOR, check the Periodicals database on the OPAC (See previous paragraph).

	HUMANITIES INDEX. (REF. AI 3 .H85x). June 1974 to date. Formerly titled SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES INDEX (REF. AI 3 .R49), June 1965 to May 1974. Still earlier, the title was INTERNATIONAL INDEX (REF. AI 3 .R49), 1907 to May 1965.
		All the above titles index articles in periodicals or journals. The articles can be biographical, general critical discussions, or interpretations of specific poems.
	AMERICAN AND BRITISH POETRY: A GUIDE TO THE CRITICISM, 1925 - 1978. (REF. Z 1231 .P7 .A44 1984). Harriet Semmes Alexander, comp. New York, Swallow Press, 1984.
		A selective bibliography of criticism of individual poems found in selected journals and books published between 1925 and 1978. Arrangement of entries is similar to POETRY EXPLICATION (See above). ASK FOR THIS BOOK AT THE REFERENCE DESK.
	MLA INTERNATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BOOKS AND ARTICLES ON MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE. (REF. Z 7006 .M64). Modern Language Association of America. 1921 to current.
		The MLA BIBLIOGRAPHY provides a classified listing of books and periodical articles published on modern languages, literatures, folklore and linguistics. Volumes I and II are arranged mainly by national literatures (American, French, Spanish, etc.) and are further divided by chronology (Medieval, Eighteenth Century, Twentieth Century, etc.). Within most categories the arrangement is alphabetical by the surname of the literary figure. Volume III, Linguistics, is arranged by broad categories (General Linguistics, etc.) and then by specific language interests. Volumes from early years have different arrangements. IF YOU ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTY IN USING THIS BIBLIOGRAPHY, ASK A REFERENCE LIBRARIAN FOR ASSISTANCE.
	ARTICLES ON AMERICAN LITERATURE, 1900 - 1975. (REF. Z 1225 .A75 to .A77). Lewis G. Leary, comp. Durham, NC, Duke University Press, 1979.
	AN INDEX TO CRITICISMS OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN POETRY. (REF. Z 2014 .P7 .C55x). Gloria S. Cline and Jeffrey A. Baker, comp. Metuchen, NJ, Scarecrow Press, 1973. ASK FOR THIS BOOK AT THE REFERENCE DESK.
	ESSAY AND GENERAL LITERATURE INDEX. (REF. AI 3 .E75 1933A). 1900 to current.
		The E&GL indexes essays which have been published in book form or as parts of books and are difficult to locate without using this index. Entries are arranged primarily by author and subject. In the "List of Books Indexed" at the back of each volume of the index are complete bibliographic descriptions of all titles cited in that volume. Call numbers penciled in next to individual titles indicate that these titles are in the Paul Meek Library's Circulating collection.

	THE LIBRARY OF LITERARY CRITICISM OF ENGLISH AND AMERICAN AUTHORS. (REF. PR 83 .M73 1959). Eight Volumes. Charles W. Moulton, ed. New York, Peter Smith, 1959.
		Arrangement of the material is chronological and both the criticism and works criticized were written between the years 680 and 1904.
	AMERICAN POETS, 1880 - 1945. (REF. PS 129 .D5 Vols. 48 and 54). Detroit, Gale Research Co., 1980, 1986.
		Critical discussions of the works of American poets of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The articles also include bibliographies, biographies, and illustrations.
	AMERICAN POETS SINCE WORLD WAR II. (REF. PS 129 .D5 Vols. 5 and 120). Detroit, Gale Research Co., 1986, 1992.
		Critical discussions of the works of American poets since 1945. Bibliographies, biographies, and illustrations are included.
	AFRO-AMERICAN POETS SINCE 1955. (REF. PS 129 .D5 Vol. 41). Detroit, Gale Research Co., 1985.
		Critical discussions, bibliographies and biographies of African-American poets writing after 1955. Illustrations are included.
	VICTORIAN POETS BEFORE 1850. (REF. PS 129 .D5 Vol. 32). and VICTORIAN POETS AFTER 1850. (REF. PS 129 .D5 Vol. 35). Detroit, Gale Research Co., 1984, 1985.
		Critical discussions of the works of English poets writing during the time frames indicated. Both titles include biographies, bibliographies, and illustrations.
	BRITISH POETS, 1880 - 1914. (REF. PS 129 .D5 Vol. 19). and BRITISH POETS, 1914 - 1945. (REF. PS 129 .D5 Vol. 20). Detroit, Gale Research Co., 1983.
		Critical discussions of the works of British poets of the late 19th century and the 20th century to 1945. The articles include bibliographies, biographies and illustrations.
	POETS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND SINCE 1960. (REF. PS 129 .D5 Vol. 40). Detroit, Gale Research Co., 1985.
		For contemporary British and Irish poets, critical bio- bibliographic articles with illustrations.
	BRITISH WRITERS. (REF. PR 85 .B688). 8 Volumes and 3 Supplements. Ian Scott-Kilvert, gen. ed. New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1981.
		Signed critical articles on selected authors, from the Middle Ages to the present. Biographical information and bibliographies are included in each article.
	CONTEMPORARY LITERARY CRITICISM. (REF. PN 771 .C59 ). Ninety volumes published through 1996. Detroit, Gale Research Co., 1973-1996.
		Excerpts from criticism of the works of today's writers and those who have died since 1960.
	TWENTIETH CENTURY LITERARY CRITICISM. (REF. PN 771 .G27). Sixty-one volumes published through 1996. Detroit, Gale Research Co., 1978-1996.
		Excerpts from published criticism on authors writing in the twentieth century and who died before 1960.
	NINETEENTH CENTURY LITERARY CRITICISM. (REF. PN 761 .N5). Fifty-two volumes published through 1996. Detroit, Gale Research Co., 1981-1996.
		Excerpts from criticism of the works of authors who lived between 1800 and 1900, from the first published appraisals to current evaluations.
	LITERATURE CRITICISM FROM 1400 TO 1800. (REF. PN 86 .L53 1984). Thirty-one volumes published through 1996. Detroit, Gale Research Co., 1984-1996.

	POETRY HANDBOOK: A DICTIONARY OF TERMS. (REF. PN 44 .5 .D4 1974b). Bebette Deutsch. 4th ed. New York, Funk and Wagnalls, 1974.
		Explanations of poetry techniques such as rhyme, meter, imagery, etc.
	THE NEW PRINCETON ENCYCLOPEDIA OF POETRY AND POETICS. (REF. PN 1021 .N39 1993). Revised edition. Alex Preminger. Princeton NJ, Princeton University Press, 1993.
		Discusses the history, theory and technique of poetry from the earliest times to the present.
	THE JOHNS HOPKINS GUIDE TO LITERARY THEORY & CRITICISM. (REF. PN 81 .J554 1994). Michael Groden and Martin Kreiswirth, eds. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins, 1994.
		Individual critics and theorists, schools of criticism, movements, and historical periods are discussed. Selective bibliographies of primary and secondary sources are included in each entry.

	CONTEMPORARY POETS. (REF. PR 603 .C6 1991). James Vinson and D. L. Kirkpatrick eds. New York, St. Martins Press, 1991.
	OXFORD COMPANION TO TWENTIETH-CENTURY POETRY IN ENGLISH. (REF. PR 601 .O9 1994). Ian Hamilton. New York, Oxford University Press, 1994.
	OXFORD COMPANION TO AMERICAN LITERATURE. (REF. PS 21 .H3 1983). James D. Hart. 5th edition. New York, Oxford University Press, 1983.
	REFERENCE GUIDE TO AMERICAN LITERATURE. (REF. PS 21 .R435X 1987). D. L. Kirkpatrick, ed. Chicago, St. James Press, 1987.
	OXFORD COMPANION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE. (REF. PR 19 .D73 1987). Margaret Drabble. 5th edition. New York, Oxford University Press, 1987.

	THE POET'S DICTIONARY: A HANDBOOK OF PROSODY AND POETIC DEVICES. (REF. PN 44 .5 .P3 1989). William Packard. New York, Harper and Row, 1989.
		Definitions of terms with examples.
	DICTIONARY OF LITERARY TERMS. (REF. PN 41 .C83 1991). J.A. Cuddon. New York, Penguin Books, 1991.
	DICTIONARY OF WORLD LITERARY TERMS: FORMS, TECHNIQUES, CRITICISM. (REF. PN 41 .S5 1979). Joseph P. Shipley, ed. Boston, The Writer, Inc., 1979.
	CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF LITERARY TERMS. (REF. PN 41 .C67 1990). Chris Baldick, ed. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990.
	DICTIONARY OF CONCEPTS IN LITERARY CRITICISM AND THEORY. (REF. PN 41.H36 1992). Wendell V. Harris. New York, Greenwood Press, 1992.
	DICTIONARY OF MODERN CRITICAL TERMS. (REF. PN 41 .D4794 1990). Roger Fowler, ed. New York, Routlege, 1990.
	NTC's DICTIONARY OF LITERARY TERMS. (REF. PN 44 .M58 1991). Kathleen Morner and Ralph Rausch. Lincolnwood, IL, NTC, 1991.
	A HANDBOOK TO LITERATURE. (REF. PN 41 .H6 1986). C. Hugh Holman and William A. Harmon, eds. 5th ed. New York, Macmillan Co., 1986.

	GRANGER'S INDEX TO POETRY. First through sixth edition, 1940 - 1973 (REF. PN 1021 .G7 ).
	GRANGER'S INDEX TO POETRY. 1970 - 1977 SUPPLEMENT through 8th edition (REF. PN 1022 .G7). Ninth and tenth editions, 1990 - 1994 (REF. PN 1022 .H39).
		GRANGER'S is the best index the library has for locating texts of poems in books. A poem can be searched by its author, title, subject, first line, and lately, last line. Note that GRANGER'S indexes poems which appear in books only. For an index to poems appearing in periodical literature see the next entry. IF YOU HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY USING GRANGER'S INDEX, ASK FOR ASSISTANCE AT THE REFERENCE COUNTER.
	INDEX OF AMERICAN PERIODICAL VERSE. 1971 to Current. (Z 1231 .P7 .I47 Note: This index is in the Circulating Collection on the 2d Floor of the Library).
		This publication indexes texts of poems appearing in periodicals and journals.
	CHICOREL INDEX TO POETRY IN ANTHOLOGIES AND COLLECTIONS IN PRINT. (REF. PN 1022 .C5). Marietta Chicorel, ed. New York, Chicorel Library Publishing Corp. 1974.
	CHICOREL INDEX TO POETRY IN ANTHOLOGIES AND COLLECTIONS - RETROSPECTIVE. (REF. PN 1022 .C54). Marietta Chicorel, ed. New York, Chicorel Library Publishing Corp., 1975.
	INDEX TO BLACK POETRY. (REF. PS 153 .N5 .C45). Dorothy H. Chapman. Boston, G.K. Hall, 1974.

Additional biographical sources can be found by using the OPAC, see below.

Instructions at the bottom of the screen will list other options. Instruction cards can be found at all OPAC terminals. They explain the online catalog and give instructions on searching. If you encounter any difficulties while using the OPAC, or if you want to ask a question, HELP IS AVAILABLE AT THE REFERENCE COUNTER.

To select a subject on the OPAC, select "S" from the general menu and enter. The following subject headings, among others, can be used to locate poetry criticism:

The examples above can further sub-divided into chronological sequences such as "American Poetry-20th Century-History and Criticism".

To search an author as a subject, type and enter the author's name surname first e.g., "Dickinson, Emily" for Emily Dickinson. In the case of Emily Dickinson about 24 subject headings will be retrieved, including: "bibliography", "biography" and "criticism and interpretation". You can then make selections from the listed subject headings and begin retrieving the titles grouped under them.

Periodical and journal articles can be searched on the OPAC by selecting "F" from the general menu. This will get you into the PABS database, which indexes and abstracts articles appearing in over 1,600 different periodicals within the past ten years. After "F" has been entered another menu will appear. If you are seeking criticism on a particular poem, select "W" (Words in Title and Subject). When the search screen comes up, type a few keywords from the title of the poem. Example: Emily Dickinson's poem "A Narrow Fellow in the Grass" can be searched by typing and entering the keywords "narrow", "fellow" and "grass".

To search a person as a subject ("S"), type and enter the subject surname first e.g., "Dickinson, Emily", not"Emily Dickinson".

A small number of research journals which feature serious literary criticism and explication are indexed and abstracted by the PABS database. To check if a journal such as THE EXPLICATOR has published and article on a poem such as "A Narrow Fellow in the Grass," proceed as follows:

The result screen will show, with complete citation and abstract, that "A Narrow Fellow in the Grass" was the subject of one article in THE EXPLICATOR.