English literature: finding your way
This guide outlines the location numbers for books on English literature and basic information on finding information in this subject.
- To find books on a specific topic search the Unicorn catalogue
- To find journal articles search Databases for English literature
Where are the English literature books?
- Most of the English literature books are on the 3rd Floor of the Library.
- Larger sized (Folio) books are shelved separately from normal sized books for practical reasons. You will find your key sections in both large (Folio) and normal sized sections.
- Pick up a floor plan from the Information Desk to help you find your way around. View the 3rd Floor plan (PDF)
Key sections for English literature
| 800 | Literature |
| 801 | General literary theory and criticism |
| 808 | Literary composition |
| 809 | History and criticism of literature in general |
| 810 | American literature (in English) |
| 811 | American poetry |
| 812 | American drama |
| 813 | American fiction |
| 814 | American essays |
| 817 | American satire and humour |
| 819 | Canadian literature in English |
| 820 | English literature |
| 821 | English poetry |
| 822 | English drama |
| 823 | English fiction |
| 824 | English essays |
| 827 | English satire and humour |
| 828.99 | Other literatures in English (eg African, Australian) |
| 829 | Anglo-Saxon and Old English literature |
| 830-860, 890 | Other literatures |
| 870-880 | Classical literature |
Subdivisions indicating historical period
Each of the main divisions in the 820s is further subdivided into historical periods, which are indicated by the number after the decimal point:
.1 Early English, 1066-1400
.2 Pre-Elizabethan, 1400-1558
.3 Elizabethan, 1558-1625
.4 Post-Elizabethan, 1625-1702
.5 Queen Anne, 1702-1745
.6 Later 18th century, 1745-1800
.7 Early 19th century, 1800-1837
.8 Victorian, 1837-1900
.9 20th century in general
.912 Early 20th century, 1900-1945
.914 Later 20th century, 1945-
.92 21st Century
The subject number plus a subdivision represents a type of literature in a specific period, eg:
821.3 Elizabethan poetry
823.8 Victorian fiction
The same principle applies to American (and other) literature, although the actual subdivisions are different.
Call Numbers for selected topics
African literature in English 828.996
American drama: as text 812
American drama: as theatre 792.0973
American essays 814
American fiction 813
American poetry 811
Anglo-Saxon literature 829
Australian literature 828.9994
Beowulf 829.3
Canadian literature in English 819
Caribbean literature in English 828.99729
Chaucer 821.17
Cinema 791.43
Contemporary American fiction 813.54
Contemporary English fiction 823.914
Criticism of literature in general 809
Dictionaries of literary terms 803
Dictionaries of quotations 808.88
Eighteenth-century drama 822.5
Eighteenth-century literature 820.905
Eighteenth-century poetry 821.5
Elizabethan drama 822.3
Elizabethan literature 820.903
Elizabethan poetry 821.3
English drama: as text 822
English drama: as theatre 792.0942
English essays 824
English fiction 823
English poetry 821
Feminist literary criticism 801.9
Film 791.43
History of literature in general 809
Literary criticism: theory 801.9
Literary movements 809.91
Medieval drama 822.1
Medieval literature 820.901
Medieval poetry 821.1
Modernism literature 809.91
New Zealand literature 828.9993
Nineteenth-century novel 823.8
Old English literature 829
Renaissance drama 822.2-822.3
Renaissance literature 820.902-820.903
Renaissance poetry 821.2-821.3
Restoration drama 822.4
Romanticism: literature 809.91
Shakespeare 822.33
Theatre 792
Victorian poetry 821.8
Victorian fiction 823.8
West Indian literature 828.99729
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