Home > Research Guides > Short Stories

Librarian: Jason Ertz
Office: SRC 3050
Phone: (630) 942-3317
E-mail: ertzja@cod.edu

How do I find criticism for short stories?

First, try a search in the Library Catalog for books about the author or his or her works.

Sample search for an author

Second, use our collection of books specifically for short story research.
The following books are available in the Reference Collection.

• Critical Survey of Short Fiction Location: Reference. Call#: PN 3321 .C7 1993
• Reference Guide to Short Fiction Location: Reference. Call# PN 3373 .R36 1994
• Short Stories for Students Location: Reference. Call#: PN 3373 .S3844
• Short Story Criticism Location: Reference. Call#: PN 3373 .S386

Third, use an index or bibliography to refer to discussion often published in scholarly journals or books about a short story.
Usually, the actual critical essay is not listed. Instead, the index lists where you will find the critical essay.

• Essay & General Literature Index Location: Periodical Index Shelves
• Humanities Index Location: Periodical Index Shelves
• Literary Criticism Index Location: Reference. Call #: PN 523 .W4 1984
• Twentieth Century Short Story Explication Location: Reference. Call #: PN 3373 .W3
• Magill's Bibliography of Literary Criticism Location: Reference. Call #: PN 523 .M3 1979x

• Page
• View source
• History

• Log in