Olin*Kroch*Uris Reference Division

http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/gerst109a.html

Library Research Guide for German Studies 109: 

From Fairy Tales to the Uncanny:
Exploring the Romantic Unconsciousness


From The Brothers Grimm Library
at Humboldt University in Berlin.

Developing a Search Strategy
Finding Background Information
Finding Books
Finding Periodical Articles
Finding Internet Resources
Citing Sources
Research Help

DEVELOPING A SEARCH STRATEGY

Search strategy is a library term for the process of finding information in a logical, step-by-step manner. Using a search strategy insures that you will find the information or material you need as quickly and efficiently as possible.
 
 

Research Steps:

  1. Choose your topic
  2. Find background information
  3. Find books on your topic
  4. Find periodical articles
  5. Find networked resources or relevant Web sites
  6. Cite your sources
For online help using on library research strategy and using library resources, try using Library Research, a Hypertext Guide - online, hypertext-based tutorial on library research.

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FINDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Printed Sources

Garland, Henry and Mary. The Oxford Companion to German Literature. 3rd. ed. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. (Olin Reference PT 41 G23 1997; earlier editions in Uris and Olin stacks at PT 41 G23)
Intended as a "companion to the historical and cultural background to German literature as well as to the writers and works themselves. Spans the period from c. 800 to the early 1970's, and the aim has been to cover in a reasonably representative way every period of the literature of each German-speaking country." (Preface). Entries vary in length from a few lines to a page, and are arranged in alphabetical order.

Konzett, Matthias, ed. Encyclopedia of German literature Chicago; London: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2000.
(Olin Reference PT41 .E53x 2000+)
Authors make up the majority of the more than 500 entries which conclude with bibliographies of works by the author, including English translations, as well as secondary scholarship. In addition to authors, literary movements and periods and types of literature (Fairy tales, Travel literature) are included. Also, the intersection of German literature with such topics as fascism, film, homosexuality, and religion is explored. Entries for important cities (Berlin, Vienna) and historical developments (National Socialism) provide the background of persons, places, issues, and events.

Robertson, J.G. A History of German Literature. 5th ed. rev. and enl. London: Blackwood, 1966. (Uris Ref PT 91 R65 1966)
A chronological account of German literature, from the earliest times through the present. Discusses schools of thought and the works of individual authors. All of Part V (pp.349-523) is devoted to the 19th century. There is a good bibliography at the back of the work, as well as an Author Index.

Hohendahl, P.U., gen ed. A History of German Literary Criticism. Lincoln: University of Nebraska, 1988. (Olin Stacks PT 73 G38 1988)
This work provides an historical overview of German literary criticism. It is divided in five parts: From Classicist to Classical Literary Criticism, The Concept of Literary Criticism in German Romanticism, Literary Criticism in the Epoch of Liberalism, Literary Criticism from Empire to Dictatorship, and Literary Criticism from 1933 to the Present. There is a lengthy notes section and an index to the authors mentioned.

Faulhaber, Uwe K. and Penrith Goff. German literature: an annotated reference guide. New York : Garland Pub., 1979. (Olin Reference Z 2231 F26)
An extensive and clearly-arranged, guide and annotated bibliography on German literature. Although some English language sources are included, the majority are in German language.

Holman, Hugh C. and William Harmon. A Handbook to Literature. 6th ed. New York: Macmillan, 1992. (Olin Reference PN 41 T524 1992)
This "handbook" is really a dictionary of literary terms and concepts. Entries range in length from a few sentences to several pages. Many provide references for further reading. An index of proper names atthe end of the volume cites the entries within which these names appear.

Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism.Uris Reference PN 761 N71+)
"Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism presents significant passages from published criticism on authors who died between 1800 and 1900." (Preface). Included are a wide variety of genres and nationalities, although criticism of articles and books which have not been translated into English are not included. The work is designed to give students of that period an introduction to the authors of the period and to the most significant commentators on these authors. At the end of each volume is an index of critics' names with the names of the authors on whom they have written listed below them. There is also an index to the authors included. These indexes are cumulated in each new volume as it appears.

Zipes, Jack, ed. The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
(Olin Reference PN 3437 .094 2000)
With more than 800 entries written by a team of 67 specialists from around the world, the Companion offers discussion of the classic tales themselves, both ancient and modern, from Jack and Jill and Cinderella to Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. The contributors also profile the writers who wrote or reworked these tales, as well as the illustrators, film-makers, choreographers, and composers who have been involved with creating or interpreting them. The Companion also covers such related topics as film, art, opera, ballet, music, even advertising. An introductory overview by Jack Zipes sets the subject in its historical and literary context, and special survey articles explore the development of the fairy-tale tradition in individual countries, focusing particularly on the European and North American traditions. The volume includes a detailed bibliography, to aid in further research into this fascinating topic. Illustrated with 70 pictures, from early engravings to 20th-century film stills.

Rose, Carol. Spirits, fairies, gnomes, and goblins : an encyclopedia of the little people. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 1996. (Olin Library Reference GR549 .R65x 1996)
More than 2,000 alphabetically arranged entries on angels, demons, elves, encantados, fairies, familiars, keremets, nats, nymphs, and many other strange beings. Global in scope, this volume provides dictionary type articles with bibliography.

Leach, Maria, and Jerome Fried, ed., Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1984. (Olin Reference and Uris Reference + GR35 .F98 1984)
Draws materials together from scattered sources in a systematic, though necessarily selective, fashion. Entries range from brief descriptions of motifs (correlated to Thompson), legendary people or deities, songs, biographical entries on folklore scholars to signed survey articles on such topics as African and New World Negro Folklore, Games, and Fairy Tales.

Green, Thomas A., ed. Folklore: an encyclopedia of beliefs, customs, music, and art Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 1997. (Olin Reference GR35 .F63x 1997 +)
There are approximately 240 articles varying in length from one to ten pages and covering forms, themes, and methods of inquiry. Each entry begins with a basic definition that situates the topic in the field of folklore and folkloric research. This is generally followed by a historical overview with information and analysis of the important studies and research. Each entry contains a bibliography or reference list for further reading, as well as see also references. Noted authorities in the field contributed many of the entries and they generally take a cross-cultural perspective. A good one-stop source for information.

yon, Christopher, ed. The International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers. 5 vols. Chicago: St. James, 1990. (Uris Reference and Olin Referece PN 1993.45 I61 1990
Vol. I of this five-volume set lists and describes approximately 650 international and historical films. Descriptions include production information, a cast list, a plot summary, an essay of the film's place in film history, and a lengthy bibliography. Vols. II-IV focus on Directors/Filmmakers, Actors and Actresses, and Writers and Production Assistants. Vol. V is a title index.

Electronic Sources

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FINDING BOOKS

Help Using the Cornell Library Catalog


Search Commands, Subject Searching, Keyword Searching, and other functions of the online catalog are explained on these pages. Some typical subject searches are:

FAIRY TALES--GERMANY
TALES--GERMANY
FOLKLORE--GERMANY
ROMANTICISM--GERMANY
SUPERNATURAL IN LITERATURE
GERMANY--CIVILIZATION--19TH CENTURY

Connect to the Cornell Library Catalog

The Cornell Library Catalog currently includes all items from all Cornell libraries cataloged since 1973, some pre-1973 items, and items on order or in process. Included in the Cornell Library Catalog are books, periodicals and government documents, as well as some other materials located in the libraries at Cornell. The catalog provides the call number, the name of the library, and the circulation status for most materials.

When to Check the Card Catalog

When the book you want was published before 1973 and it's not in the Cornell Library Catalog, check the card catalog located in the John M. Olin Library. This card catalog contains cards for authors, subjects and titles filed in an alphabetical, word-by-word arrangement for books cataloged through December 1972. Whenever you cannot locate the material you need, ask at a reference desk for assistance.

Understanding Library of Congress Call Numbers

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FINDING PERIODICAL ARTICLES

 

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FINDING INTERNET RESOURCES

You might use web search engines or Internet subject guides to find resources or sites on the World Wide Web to supplement print material. Search engines are software that allow you to search the contents of web pages and internet subject guides are web pages that use menus and lists to sort and classify web sites.

 Question Authority! The Internet is a very democratic tool, in that anyone can write or say virtually anything they wish to on it. As you would do with books and journal articles, look to see who is responsible for producing the web page or site that you are accessing. Does the individual or institution have a particular bias or concern or agenda in presenting their information. How objective is the information? How accurate or truthful? How authoritative? For guidance, see Evaluating Web Sites

 

Selected Web Sites

CITING SOURCES

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RESEARCH HELP

Help is available at our reference and information desks, over the phone, by chat, or by e-mail:

Question? Ask a Librarian

Olin*Kroch*Uris Reference Division
Reference Home Page

November 5, 2002
Virginia Cole, vac11@cornell.edu
Reference Services Division, Olin Kroch Uris Libraries
Cornell University Library
URL: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/gerst109a.html
Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853
Information and reference: 607-255-4144, okuref@cornell.edu
Circulation: (Olin) 607-255-4245, (Uris) 607-255-3537, olincirc@cornell.edu