Northwest Missouri State University B.D. Owens Library



Poetry Sources

Searching the Library Catalog

Locating Poems in Collected Works

Periodical Indexes for Sources on Poetry

Indexes to Sources of Criticism on Poetry

Poetry Criticism

Biographical Information on Poets


TIP: Press Ctrl/f and enter a root word, word, or phrase in the Find what: box and click on Find Next to search for a topic on this page. For example, type poe to search for poem, poems, poetry.


Searching the Library Catalog

To locate poetry criticism in Owens Library, do a subject search using the Library Catalog. Note: capitalization and punctuation are ignored. To locate criticism on a specific work or author, use "author's last name first name" when doing a subject search. For example, to locate materials about sylvia plath, type:

plath sylvia

To perform a subject search on criticism of American poetry in the 20th century, type American poetry 20th century history and criticism and it will appear on the screen as shown below:

American poetry--20th century--history and criticism


Other examples include:

American poetry 19th century history and criticism
American poetry history and criticism
English poetry 19th century history and criticism

To locate a biography on a specific author, use "author's last name first name" when performing a subject search. To locate biographical information about poets, there are several general resources found under subject headings like the following examples:

American poetry women authors
American poetry Afro-American authors
women poets American
poets English biography
poets American biography

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Locating Poems in Collected Works

Granger's Index to Poetry
3rd Floor 016.80881 G75g  
Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry

1st Floor, Reference 016.80881 G75g

This set indexes poetry from collections. To find a poem that has been published in a collection, each edition must be searched unless the publication date is known since each edition adds some anthologies and drops other anthologies. Poems may be located by author, first line, last line, subject or title.

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Periodical Indexes for Sources on Poetry


MLA International Bibliography
(1963-present)
(Search MLA International Bibliography using EBSCOhost on Search for Articles)
This reference tool indexes scholarship in modern languages, literature, and folklore with bibliographic data for more than 3,000 journal and book titles. Author, subject, and title indexing are available. A print version (1969-1990 only) is also available under the call number 1st Floor, Reference 016.4 M68m.

Humanities Index
1st Floor, Reference 016.0013 H91h 

This indexes language and literary topics found in periodical literature.

Search for Articles
Articles on literary topics, including literary criticism, can also be found by using InfoTrac and EBSCOhost periodical indexes. These two databases index thousands of articles, many of which provide the full text online.

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Indexes to Sources of Criticism on Poetry

Guide to American Poetry Explication
1st Floor, Reference 016.811 G94g  
This is an index to criticism on American poetry.

English Poetry, 1900-1950: A Guide to Information Sources
3rd Floor 016.821 A54e

Twenty-one modern British poets are covered here. It includes a list of principal works, biographical sources, and sources of criticism.

English Poetry, 1660-1800: A Guide to Information Sources
3rd Floor
16.821 M52e
This work covers 21 British poets and includes a list of principal works, biographical sources, and sources of criticism.

American and British Poetry: A Guide to the Criticism 1925-1978
3rd Floor
016.82109 A37a
This bibliography of criticism is arranged alphabetically by poet.

Poetry Explication: A Checklist of Interpretation Since 1925 of British and American Poems Past and Present
3rd Floor 016.82109 A73p

A comprehensive index of poetry explications from 1925-1977 is provided in this source. Entries are arranged alphabetically by poet, with titles arranged alphabetically under each poet.

Guide to British Poetry Explication
1st Floor, Reference 016.82109 M38g

These four volumes index criticism of British poetry from medieval to modern times.

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Poetry Criticism

Critical Survey of Poetry: Foreign Language Series
1st Floor, Reference 809.1 C93c  

This series provides critical studies of 197 poets whose works have had an important influence on the literature of their native languages. It includes principal collections, achievements, biographical information, and an analysis of their poetry.

Masterplots II: Poetry Series
1st Floor, Reference 809.1 M42m  

Criticism of 760 individual works of poetry by 275 poets is arranged in alphabetical order by title of the poem. Coverage ranges from seventh-century Chinese to twentieth-century worldwide.

Poetry Criticism
1st Floor, Reference 801.9 P745p  

Substantial critical excerpts and biographical information are presented here.

Critical Survey of Poetry: English Language Series
1st Floor, Reference 821.09 C93c  

Essays on English-language poets from all time periods, arranged alphabetically by poet are included. A biographical sketch, a critical survey of the writer's professional achievements, and an extensive critical analysis of the poet's works are included in each essay.

Oxford Companion to 20th Century Poetry in English
1st Floor, Reference 821.0903 O98o

Offered as a reference work and as a history of 1900-present, the work covers topics, movements, magazines, and genres as well as biographical information on individual poets.

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Biographical Information on Poets

For biographical information on short story writers access the Biographical Sources About Authors page.

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Revised (April 6, 2007)
Created (March 1998)
Current Author: Patricia J. Wyatt
Links Verified (July 2005)
Catalog Verified (February 2004)