Research Guides: English Language & Literature: Search for Articles

Why Use Journal Articles?

Journal articles -- also known as "scholarly articles," "peer-reviewed articles," or "academic articles" -- are sources that are written and reviewed by scholars; this means the information is approved by other experts before publication.

When and Why You Should Use Journal Articles:

You need information that is based on research and expertise
You need in-depth analysis of a topic or a single case study explored in-depth
You need recent scholarly conversations about a topic
You need suggestions for additional sources (tip: look in the bibliography)
You need sources that are peer-reviewed

Remember: Journal articles can sometimes feel dense or intense. Look for visual cues (headings, sections, bullets, charts/graphs) within articles to help guide you to relevant information. Need help? Check out this Anatomy of a Scholarly Article tutorial.

Find Literary Articles & Criticisms -- Best Bets

These are subject-specific databases, meaning they contain sources focused on one discipline -- unlike the Library Search which contains many. For some researchers, searching in a subject-specific database is more efficient and less overwhelming than searching in the Library Search. You decide your preference.

MLA International Bibliography This link opens in a new window
Contains citations (and some full-text) to scholarly articles on literary works, language and linguistics, folklore, literary theory, dramatic arts, and much more.
ProQuest One Literature This link opens in a new window
ProQuest One Literature supports the study of literature from a variety of sources including primary texts, criticism, full-text journals, book reviews, dissertations, eBooks, reference material, audio, and video. Now includes an AI-powered Research Assistant. Read more on their blog and in this FAQ.
Gale Literature Resource Center This link opens in a new window
Contains full-text scholarly articles on literary works as well as biographies on national and international authors (past and present).

Identify More English Databases

Find Even More Articles & Criticisms - Related Databases

These databases are useful for literary scholars whose research interests are more interdisciplinary.

Communication & Mass Media Complete This link opens in a new window
Contains full-text articles focused on Communication Studies, including mass media, journalism, television, radio, newspaper publishing, advertising, broadcasting, and more.
Film & Television Literature Index with Full Text This link opens in a new window
Contains full-text articles focused on the entire spectrum of television and film writing.
GenderWatch This link opens in a new window
Contains full-text articles focused on the impact of gender across a broad spectrum of subject areas.
Performing Arts Periodicals Database This link opens in a new window
Contains citations (and some full-text) to articles on film, theatre, dance, stagecraft, television, and more.
Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts This link opens in a new window
Contains articles and more focused on the study of language and language sciences, including linguistics.
JSTOR This link opens in a new window
Contains full-text articles from many key humanities-focused journals, including language and literary journals, as well as ebooks from core publishers. Now includes an interactive, AI-powered research tool.
Project Muse This link opens in a new window
Contains full-text articles in many key scholarly journals in the humanities and social sciences. Now includes e-books, too.
ProQuest Arts & Humanities Full Text This link opens in a new window
Contains full-text articles from journals in Art, Architecture, Design, History, Philosophy, Music, Literature, Theatre and Cultural Studies.
Underground and Independent Comics, Comix, and Graphic Novels This link opens in a new window
Note: Access to Volumes II and III are guaranteed through May 2027
Underground and Independent Comics is a scholarly online collection for researchers and students of adult comic books and graphic novels. This collection contains graphic scenes of sex, violence, and drug use that some may find offensive.

Find Journals

Want to know if we have a specific journal or periodical? Use the search box to find full-text online or print journals:

ILLiad
If the journal does not appear in this search or the available date range does not match the date you need, request the item via ILLiad (interlibrary loan).

Find the Full-Text

Can't Locate Your Article Online?

Use the link found in the Library Search or the button available from most other databases to locate the entire article online.
If your article is not available in print or via another research database, request it via ILLiad (interlibrary loan).