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English 102 (Writing About Literature) Research Guide: Our Town

Use this guide to find articles about authors and their works! We also have tips for citing sources in MLA style.

Find Books or Articles in Books on Our Town

Under the Drama Resources tab above are a number of book sources for drama. 

  • See the link below for the article on Our Town in Drama for Students.

Also find information on Our Town in:

  • Masterpieces of 20th Century American Drama and
  • MagillOnLiterature Plus.

Also under the Drama Resources tab is a link to the Catalog. 

  • Search Our Town as a subject to find whole books about Our Town.
  • Search Thornton Wilder criticism to find books of criticism about the author of the play.  They may include information about OurTown.

Find Articles on Our Town

Under Drama Resources, search the Literature Resource Center database to find articles about Our Town.

  • Use the drop-down next to the search window to search Name of Work
  • On the right you can Search Within Results for another concept such as marriage, women, etc.

Prompt #1 "Culture or Love of Beauty"

To research the cultural significance of:

  • the Bible and Robinson Crusoe
    • do a Name of Work search in Literature Resource Center under the Drama Resources tab above
    • search either as a subject in the catalog
      • Try adding the word culture to the search
  • of Handel's "Largo"
    • search Oxford Music Online (below) or
    • search by subject in the catalog for books about Handel
  • of Whistler's "Mother"
    • search Oxford Art Online (below) or
    • search by subject in the catalog for books about Whistler

Prompt #3 Position of Women 1901-1913

To find books on women in the catalog do a subject search for: women history United States

  • Also try adding 20th century

Also try the History Reference Center database.

  • Search by subject in the Advanced Search
    • women and United States and history
    • women and United States and 20th century

Selected titles:

Prompt #2 "Realize Life While They Live It"

Saints

Use one of the sources below to select a saint.

For more information about a specific saint, search the catalog (below) by subject for books about the saint.

Poets

If you are interested in poets, use some of the sources under the Poetry Resources tab above to select a poet. 

  • Try the Author or Subject/Theme Index in Poetry for Students to pick a poet.
    • The actual poem may or may not be present in the article.
    • Search by subject for books about the poet in the catalog.
    • Search Person By or About in Literature Resource Center.
  • Use the catalog to find anthologies of poetry and pick a poet
    • Search by subject:  American poetry; Poets, American; English poetry; etc.

Prompt #4 Marriage: Early 20th Century U.S.

In addition to the books below, also try the
History Reference Center database

  • Search by subject in the Advanced Search
    • marriage and United States and history or
    • marriage and United States and 20th century

Selected titles: