Best Bets for Starting Your Research in... :: Modern Languages & Literatures ::
Use databases to find articles on your topic. These databases are the best place to start.
- Humanities Full Text
Feature articles, interviews, obituaries, bibliographies, original works of fiction, drama, and poetry, book reviews, and more.
Date coverage: 1984-present.
- ARTFL
French texts from the 12th to the 20th Centuries, the first edition of Diderot and d'Alembert's Encyclopédie, and numerous other full-text resources.
Date coverage: 12th Century-present.
- LION (Literature Online)
Searches the MLA International Bibliography (MLAIB)
Date coverage: 1700-present.
Quick how-to video 
- NewspaperDirect PressDisplay
Full-color page images of newspapers from all around the world in foreign languages and English.
Date coverage: Past 3 months-present.
Tips: When searching databases, use AND, OR, and parentheses to focus your search.
The asterisk * symbol will search for all variations of a word. For example: basket* will search for baskets and basketry. Using quotes will search for a phrase.
Combine synonyms with OR and put them inside parentheses, like this:
"Albert Camus " AND (existential* OR philosoph*)
Here's another example:
"Gabriel Garcia Marquez " AND (narrative OR flashback)
Already have the citation? Find an article with citation linker! Did you know...Databases are basically just search engines for articles on specific subjects. |
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Find books using the library catalog. Browse these subjects to get general information on your topic.
- Authors, French
- Spanish literature 20th century History and criticism
Note: Substitute language of your choosing to find information about that language.
Search the library catalog! Find books, media materials, and more. Other searches:
Browse | Advanced Search Tips: When searching the library catalog with keywords, use the dollar sign ($) to search for a word and all of its variations.
For example: Existential* will search for existentialism and existentialist
Did you know...- WorldCat is a catalog of thousands of libraries around the world!
- If a book isn't in the Fairfield University catalog, search WorldCat and request the book from another library. Just click on the Interlibrary Loan button.
- You can search ReQuest to search just the libraries in Connecticut.
- Contact John Cayer, Interlibrary Services, with questions.
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Reference tools such as dictionaries and encyclopedias are good places to start your research because they provide an overview of the topic as well as keywords, dates, and facts.
Online Dictionaries:
Other tools:
- Columbia Dictionary of Modern European Literature
Ref. PN771.C575 1980
- Contemporary World Writers
Ref. PN51 .C6325 1993
- Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language
Ref. P29.C64 1987
Tips: Try looking at the bibliography at the end of the entry for a list of other sources such as relevant journal articles and books.
When you have found books on your topic, look at the books on the shelf nearby to see if they are related to your topic.
Did you know...
Wikipedia can be edited by anyone, so make sure you use another source to confirm the information you find there. |
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These web sites have been evaluated by librarians (that's a good thing) for your use in an academic setting.
Did you know...
There are billions of web pages and Google only finds a fraction of them (about 15%). The rest is held in what's called the "Invisible Web", which is made up of dynamically generated information, password protected sites, and databases-driven sites!
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Watch these short how-to videos to get quick answers!
Curtis Ferree , Reference & Electronic Resources Librarian
By phone at (203) 254-4000 ext. 2185
By e-mail at cferree@mail.fairfield.edu
AIM: cferree
Facebook
IM the Reference Desk at FairfieldULib - AOL and Yahoo
FairfieldUlib@hotmail.com - MSN
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