A Handbook to Literary Research - edited by Simon Eliot and W.R. Owens

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Eden

A Handbook to Literary Research provides practical methods and scholarly frameworks for conducting literary studies. It guides readers through research techniques, library use, and internet-based discovery, then covers bibliography, the history of the book, and editing literary texts. Further sections introduce major critical theories, including deconstruction, reader-response, new historicism, feminist criticism, post-colonial theory, and culminate with dissertation planning, writing, presentation, and reference tools such as glossaries and library model answers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages244

Reading Time6 h 16 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction to the Handbook

Contributors

Part 1: Tools of the trade

Research techniques and the use of libraries

Using the Internet for literary research

Part 2: Textual scholarship and book history

Bibliography

History of the book

Editing literary texts

Part 3: Literary research and literary theory

From New Criticism to structuralism

Literature, gender, feminist criticism

Deconstruction

Reader-response criticism and reception theory

New Historicism

Post-colonial theory

Part 4: The dissertation

Planning, writing and presenting a dissertation

Part 5: Reference

Glossary

Library exercises—model answers

Checklist of libraries, reference books and other sources

Index

A Handbook to Literary Research edited by Simon Eliot and W.R.Owens in association with Copyright © 1998 The Open University Published by Routledge, written and produced by The Open University 11 New Fetter Lane London EC4P 4EE This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of [eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk](eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk).” Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street New York, NY 10001 All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purpose of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. Details of such licences (for reprographic reproduction) may be obtained from the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1P 0LP. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A handbook to literary research/edited by Simon Eliot and W.R.Owens[p. cm](p. cm). includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Literature-Research-Methodology. 2. Criticism-Authorship I. Eliot, Simon. II. Owens, W.R. PN73 .H36 1999 807′.2–dc21 98–41735 ISBN 0-203-97968-0 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0 415 198593 hardback ISBN 0 415 198607 paperback This book forms part of the Open University course AA810, The Postgraduate Foundation Module in Literature. Details of this and other Open University courses can be obtained from the Course Reservations and Sales Office, PO Box 724, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6ZS, United Kingdom; tel. + 44 (0)1908 653231. For availability of this and other course components, contact Open University Worldwide Ltd, The Berrill Building, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, United Kingdom; tel. + 44 (0)1908 858585, fax + 44 (0)1908 858787. [email ouwenq@open.ac.uk](email ouwenq@open.ac.uk) Alternatively, much useful course information can be obtained from The Open University’s website: [http://www.open.ac.uk](http://www.open.ac.uk) 19142B/aa810hblril.l CONTENTS Contributors v 1 Introduction to the Handbook 1 Simon Eliot and W.R.Owens Part 1: Tools of the trade 2 Research techniques and the use of libraries 9 W.R.Owens 3 Using the Internet for literary research 16 Simon Eliot Part 2: Textual scholarship and book history 4 Bibliography 36 Simon Eliot 5 History of the book 47 Simon Eliot 6 Editing literary texts 62 W.R.Owens Part 3: Literary research and literary theory 7 From New Criticism to structuralism 82 Graham Martin 8 Literature, gender, feminist criticism 114 Richard Allen 9 Deconstruction 128 Stuart Sim 10 Reader-response criticism and reception theory 137 Stephen Regan 11 New Historicism 148 Graham Martin iv 12 Post-colonial theory 157 Dennis Walder Part 4: The dissertation 13 Planning, writing and presenting a dissertation 169 W.R.Owens Part 5: Reference 14 Glossary 182 Simon Eliot and W.R.Owens 15 Library exercises—model answers 192 W.R.Owens 16 Checklist of libraries, reference books and other sources 197 Anthony Coulson Index 226 CONTRIBUTORS Simon Eliot is Staff Tutor and Senior Lecturer in Literature at The Open University. He has published extensively on biographical, bibliographical and book history topics from the period 1800–1919. He is currently joint editor of Volume 6 of Cambridge University Press’s History ofthe Book in Britain, an associate editor on the new Dictionary of National Biography, and general editor of The Oxford Companion to the Book. W.R.Owens is Staff Tuto

FAQs

What research skills does the handbook teach first?

It starts with practical research techniques, including how to use libraries and how to use the Internet for literary research.

Which topics cover bibliography and the history of the book?

The handbook includes a section on bibliography and another on the history of the book, addressing textual scholarship and related methods.

How does the handbook support writing a dissertation?

It provides guidance on planning, writing, and presenting a dissertation, and includes reference support such as a glossary, model answers, and checklists of libraries and sources.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Eden