Background info - such as that found in these books and eBooks - provides the basic information about a work, author or literary topic. Background info can give a foundation for reading literary criticism.
Gods and Goddesses Online. Examines stories associated with gods and goddesses: their relationships with each other and with human beings; their faults, foibles, strengths, and special powers. It offers explanations of how the gods and goddesses gifted humans with life, water, fire, music, and dance. Covers deities from around the globe.
Heroes and Heroines In the library and online. 40 essays presented in six thematic categories ("Birth and Prophecy," "Trial and Quest," "The Host of Heroines," "Myth and Monstrosity," "The Cultural Hero," and "Survey of Myth and Folklore") allow students to compare heroes and heroines across eras and cultures.
Love, Sexuality, and Desire In the library and online. Discusses myths and folklore about love and sexuality from cultures and countries such as ancient Greece and Rome, ancient Egypt, India, China, Japan, Mesopotamia, Southeast Asia, North and South America, American Indian, and Western Europe.
World Mythology In the library and online. Myths in the volume are organized by regions of the world and cultures, such as Oceania, South East Asia, and Meso-America. In addition, twelve maps listing ancient cultures and charts on mythological figures will provide a broad overview of major deities.
The Greenwood Encyclopedia of World Folklore and Folklife In the library and online. TIPS:These books are online eBooks only.
UXL Encyclopedia of World Mythology Online. A culture's mythology is more than just a collection of stories and characters. Myths and heroes act as a window into the beliefs and values of ancient civilizations. This book helps students with the plot points, historical context, and mythological allusions they need to fully understand how mythologies not only reflect cultures of old but also remain meaningful in society today.
The Zombie Book: The Encyclopedia of the Living Dead Online. More than 250 entries cover everything from hit television shows, books, and movies, including The Walking Dead, World War Z and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, to zombies in folklore and mythology, such as the Greek god Asclepius, ancient Voodoo religion, and the Native American Wendigo legend. The Zombie Book: The Encyclopedia of the Living Dead examines mad cow disease, the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, the Centers for Disease Control preparing for the end of the world, and more.
Encyclopedia of the Vampire Encyclopedia relating to all phases of vampirism—in literature, film, and television; in folklore; and in world culture.Unlike background information, scholarly articles on mythology topics provide interpretation and opinion by professors who hold advanced degrees in humanities, literature, and related fields
The following two links open into new windows.
This video tutorial shows how to find literary criticism in the library catalog and in literary article databases. Captions are available.
The catalog search demonstration begins at 00:01:06. The databases search demonstration begins at 00:02:54.
The databases demonstrated are Bloom's Literature and Gale Literature. The techniques shown are useful for any database.