Writing Corporeality in France
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Introduction Professor: Katherine Dauge-Roth -
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Introduction
Doing research in French literature and culture can be an enjoyable task. Depending on your subject, you will find useful sources by using the tools described in the following general categories. If you have specific problems using these tools, the reference librarian on duty will be glad to assist you. Always feel free to call or e-mail Karl Fattig (x3027, kfattig@bowdoin.edu) for individual help. Also remember that Karl is available in person at the Reference Desk of Hawthorne-Longfellow Library on Monday's from 1-3 pm.
For art history research tools, Anne Haas, Art Librarian (x3690, ahaas@bowdoin.edu), is ready to help you find the information you need. Anne is available in person at the VAC (Pierce Art Library) weekdays during library hours.
The Online Catalog (OPAC)
Phebe, Bowdoin's online library catalog is the primary instrument for accessing the collections of the Bowdoin College libraries. The catalog contains electronic bibliographic records for books, video recordings, CD-ROMs, periodicals and sound recordings. For the government documents collection and manuscript and rare books housed in the Special Collections and Archives suite, specialized indexes must be consulted since the records for those collections are only partially represented in the OPAC.
In the OPAC, you may search for an item by: Author -- including editors, illustrators, translators, and corporate authors; Title -- including periodical titles, as well as series and alternative titles; Subject -- using the Library of Congress Subject Headings; Words in Title -- keyword searching of titles, contents and corporate authors; and additional specialized access points -- Call number, Government Document number, etc. You may Limit your search by such categories as Year of Publication, Material Type (for videorecordings or sound recordings, etc.) or Language.
Most research begins with a subject search. This function is both very powerful and very flexible in an online catalog. The best results are still obtained through use of standardized subject headings found in the Library of Congress Subject Headings books. For example, a subject search using the heading Women -- France reveals many items in our collection, while use of the phrase French women turns up none; the latter is not an "official" subject heading. And there is often inconsistency between specific subject headings in a broad subject. For example, French drama is a valid subject heading. Subject headings are also often subdivided into more specific categories, such as by place or by subtopic. Examples of useful subject headings:
French literature -- To 1500 -- History and criticism
French literature -- 16th century -- History and criticism
French literature -- 17th century -- History and criticism
French literature -- 18th century -- History and criticism
France -- Intellectual life
Rabelais, François, ca. 1490-1553? also as an author
Medicine -- History
Medicine, Greek and Roman
Childbirth
Death in literature also -- in art
Gender identity in literature also -- in art
Sex in literature also -- in art also -- in opera also -- in dance also -- in music
Femininity also in art also in literature
Masculinity also in art also in literature
Women and literature -- France
Women in literature
Human figure in art
Body, Human in literature
Generative organs, Male, in literature
France -- History -- Henry II, 1547-1559
Research Strategies
- When you find a relevant source, check the subject headings in the catalog record or any descriptors if the citation is from an index. You may discover other relevant subject headings to enter as search terms.
- Remember to try keyword searching. This search method often turns up different or additional material, especially when the search words are new terminology, jargon or older terms - or terms in French.
- Check for bibliography notes in records for relevant secondary sources and this will often lead you to listings of primary source materials, other secondary sources and authors prominent in the area which you are researching.
- Take time to browse the collection. It will be easier and more productive when you understand the way French literature is organized in the Library of Congress Classification system.
Electronic Indexes
- MLA International Bibliography
Library Gateway 1963-present
- Produced by the Modern Language Association of America, this bibliography consists of records pertaining to literature, language, linguistics and folklore and includes access to scholarly research in over 3,000 journals, relevant monographs, working papers, proceedings, bibliographies and other formats in a variety of languages
- ITER : Gateway to the Middle Ages and Renaissance
Library Gateway
- A bibliography of approximately 230,000 records indexed from the complete runs of more than 400 scholarly journal titles pertaining to the Middle Ages and Renaissance (400-1700). Also includes approximately 46,000 records encompassing monographs, material published in monographs, and collected essays pertaining to the Middle Ages and Renaissance (400-1700)
- Art Abstracts
Library Gateway 1984-present
- A bibliographic database that cites articles from more than 285 periodicals published throughout the world. Covers art, art history, graphic arts, crafts, landscape, interior design, etc.
- Bibliography of the History of Art/RILA
Library Gateway 1973-present
- Indexes and abstracts art-related books, conference proceedings, dissertations, exhibitions, dealer catalogs and articles.
- Arts and Humanities Search
Library Gateway
- Arts and Humanities indexes the contents of scholarly periodicals and books in the arts and humanities, published from 1980 to the present. The scope is international.
- Sociological Abstracts
Library Gateway 1952-present
- Abstracts and indexes the international literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. Drawn from over 1,700 serials publications, and also provides abstracts of books, book chapters, dissertations, and conference papers.
Dictionaries
- Le dictionnaire universel / d'Antoine Furetière
Main Ref PC2620 .F86 1978 - A dictionarie of the French and English tongues / Randle Cotgrave
Main Ref PC2640.A2 C7 1611a - Dictionnaire de la langue française du seizième siècle / Edmond Huguet
Main Ref PC2650 .H7 - Dictionnaire du français classique (Larousse)
Main Ref PC2650 .D83 1988 - Dictionnaires d'autrefois
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/efts/ARTFL/projects/dicos/ - Specialized dictionaries such as the Huguet, Furetière and Cotgrave are useful to provide modern readers with help understanding older words and connotations. Such dictionaries often include many quotations from contemporary texts. The ARTFL collection searche several older lexicons simultaneously.
Other Reference Works
- Chevalier, Jean, 1906-
A dictionary of symbols - Oxford : Blackwells, 1994
Main Ref GR931 .C4413 1994 - An excellent symbology dictionary. Entries are lengthy and the discussion drawn from a wide range of disciplines including history, religion, anthropology, mythology, and more. .
- France, Peter, 1935-
The New Oxford companion to literature in French - Oxford [England] : Clarendon Press ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1995.
Main Ref PQ41 .N48 1995 - Comprehensive coverage of the traditional canon, expanded to include entries on popular topics, folk-tales, songs, etc. Includes essays on literary movements, genres, etc.
- Lanson, Gustave, 1857-1934.
Manuel bibliographique de la litterature française moderne XVIe, XVIIe, XVIIIe, et XIXe siecles. - Paris: Hachette, 1921.
Main Ref Z2171 .L22 1921 - One of the more important handbooks, written by an important literary historian. Lanson covers the period from 1500-1900.
- Adam, Antoine, Lerminier, Georges and Edouard Morot-Sir.
Litterature française ... - Paris: Larousse, 1967-68.
Main Libr folio PQ101 .A3 - A standard history of French literature, illustrated, with bibliographical notes and index, in 2 volumes.
Full-Text resources (Ejournals & Special Databases)
- ARTFL: Project for American and French Research on the Treasury of the French Language
Online collection of nearly 2000 searchable electronic texts, including many classic works of French literature from the 12th century on. - Yale French Studies
Connect via JSTOR - Speculum
Connect via JSTOR - MLN: Modern Language Notes
1962-1994: Connect via JSTOR
1995-: Connect via Project Muse - French Forum
2001-: Connect via Project Muse - French Historical Studies
1999-: Connect via Project Muse - The above titles offer access to full-text articles in French on historical and literary subjects. Even though some of the titles are in English, articles may be in French.
Web Resources (selected)
- Fabula, la recherche en littérature
- http://www.fabula.org/
- Web site of general interest to those doing research in the area of literature, especially from a broader perspective, and inclusive of theory.
- Athena - Textes français
- http://un2sg4.unige.ch/athena/html/francaut.html
- By author - all centuries.
- ClicNet: Littérature francophone virtuelle
- http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/clicnet/litterature/litterature.html
- Another collection of French full-text resources.
- H-France
- http://www.h-france.net/
- Online archives of the pre-eminent French historical e-mail discussion list, including links to reviews and other pertinent web resources, including links to image collections and fulltext resources.
- Bowdoin College Library Art History Resources
- http://library.bowdoin.edu/art/elect.shtml
- Links to collections of the best resources on art history currently available on the WWW.
- Le ministère de la culture et de la communication
- http://www.culture.gouv.fr/
- French Cultural Ministry website contains links to resources, museums, digital collections.
