Introduction
Area A: Worlds of the Play
The general period, place, and conditions of the play's composition: including relevant imagery, pictorial illustrations of the subject matter, related art forms, etc. This concerns the setting in which the action takes place. The setting includes:
- specific information about the environment,
- what has happened before the play begins,
- and the attitudes of characters toward the world of the play.
When doing research on the world of the play, look for information about:
- Economic environment --class, wealth and poverty
- Political environment --the relationship of the characters to the form of government under which they live
- Social environment --the mores and social institutions under which the characters live
- Cultural environment --the arts, architecture, sports, fashion, popular culture
- Historical environment --events in history
Finding Background Information
Find out background information on your topic using the online encyclopedias listed below.
- Credo ReferenceCredo Reference is a full-text online reference service. The collection includes over three million entries from hundreds of well-regarded titles from some of world's the best reference publishers.
- Encyclopedia Britannica
The online version of the classic Encyclopedia Britannica which also includes web links, select articles, and access to Webster's Dictionary. Research tools included are the world atlas, country comparison tool, original sources, and The World Factbook.
The following timeline resources are good for identifying events that had taken place in given years.
The 2010s in America by Call Number: Reference E907 .R534 2021ISBN: 9781637000083Publication Date: 2021-10-30The 2010s was a turbulent decade that began with two major issues -- an uneven economic recovery and new Internet technologies -- both of which significantly shaped a decade of noteworthy political and economic events. This new title, in two volumes, includes essays on these important events and more, such as the smartphone, increased polarization and politicization, conspiracy theories, and bold, new activist movements focused on race in America. Essays also cover those topics that Americans were most concerned about as the decade drew to a close, including economic divisions, the rise of nationalism, the country's failing infrastructure, increasing social fragmentation, as well as those persons most responsible.
The Nineties in America by Call Number: Reference ; E839 .N56 2009ISBN: 1587655039Publication Date: 2009-02-01The Gulf War, dot-coms, impeachment, grunge, Y2K--the 1990s were a time of both optimism and conflict, hope and worry. The decade began with a seemingly victorious war, fell into recession, bounced back with a strong bull market, and ended in political bitterness and scandal. The Nineties in America examines the iconic personalities and moments of this important decade. With articles about films, books, political leaders, events, fads, and technology, the encyclopedia serves as a valuable source of reliable information and keen insights for todays students. Volume 3 contains sixteen appendixes that provide additional information about selected aspects of the decade in easily accessible formats : five entertainment, two literature, two music, one sports, and two legislative appendixes, a glossary of new words and slang, and a detailed time line.-- from p. ix-x.
The Eighties in America by Call Number: Reference ; E876 .E347 2008ISBN: 1281382523Publication Date: 2008-08-27The Eighties in America provides comprehensive coverage of the impact of the 1980's (defined as 1980-1989) on the United States and Canada. Subjects of the approximately 680 articles include political leaders, athletes, entertainment figures, films, books, TV shows, plays, events, fads, products, technology, and overviews of such broad issues as education, economics, race relations, politics, and the arts. This three-volume series joins the acclaimed sets The Sixties in America, The Fifties in America, and The Seventies in America as a means of studying history by covering the impact of a given decade on the United States and Canada.
The Sixties in America by Call Number: Reference ; E169.12 .S5 1999ISBN: 9780893569846Publication Date: 1999-01-01The Sixties in America, surveys the events and people of the 1960's, a turbulent decade that had a profound and lasting effect on the life and culture of the United States. The set not only provides in-depth coverage of all aspects of the three major events of the 1960's that give the decade its distinctive character-the Civil Rights movement, the social revolution, and the Vietnam War-but also surveys important developments in the arts, science and technology, business and the economy, government and politics, and gender issues. In addition, to impart a sense of what people were doing and thinking during the decade, the set looks at the most important people and events in the arts, media, music, and sports and covers the headline-grabbing news items of the period.
The Fifties in America by Call Number: Reference ; E169.12 .F498 2005ISBN: 1587652021Publication Date: 2005-01-31The Fifties in America covers these and many other topics in its 640 essays, which range from half-column articles on individual personages, books, events, films, court cases, and other subjects, to 7-page overviews on such subjects as literature, economics, education, politics, medicine, music, science, film and television. Written with the needs of students and general readers in mind, the articles present clear discussions of the topics, explaining terms and references that may be unfamiliar to contemporary readers.
The Twenties in America by Call Number: Reference ; E784 .T84 2012ISBN: 9781587658556Publication Date: 2012-05-30Flappers, prohibition, jazz, and the Lost Generation...The Twenties in America examines the iconic personalities and moments of this uproarious decade. The encyclopaedia serves as a valuable source of reliable information and keen insights for today's students.
Women's Roles in Eighteenth-Century Europe by ISBN: 0313376964Publication Date: 2010-04-09This concise historical overview of the existing historiography of women from across eighteenth-century Europe covers women of all ages, married and single, rich and poor. During the 18th century, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, protoindustrialization, and colonial conquest made their marks on women's lives in a variety of ways. Women's Roles in Eighteenth-Century Europe examines women of all ages and social backgrounds as they experienced the major events of this tumultuous period of sweeping social and political change. The book offers an inclusive portrayal of women from across Europe, surveying nations from Portugal to the Russian Empire, from Finland to Italy, including the often overlooked women of Eastern Europe. It depicts queens, an empress, noblewomen, peasants, and midwives. Separate chapters on family, work, politics, law, religion, arts and sciences, and war explore the varying contexts of the feminine experience, from the most intimate aspects of daily life to broad themes and conditions. Illustrations A selected bibliography Chronology
Themes in Modern European History 1780-1830 by ISBN: 1134853416Publication Date: 2012-08-21Themes in Modern European History 1780-1830 is an authoritative and lively exploration of a period dominated by events which have shaped modern Europe. In a series of articles, six leading academics present some controversial conclusions: * the east/west contrast in Europe today has more to do with responses to the French Revolution of 1789 than the Russian Revolution of 1917 * the conservative Europe of 1814 was the product of the Romantic imagnation, not a `Restoration' of the old regime Spanning political, social, economic and demographic facets of revolutions, this is an indispensable textbook for all students of the nineteenth century, and for all those interested in understanding the nature of Europe today.
A History of European Women's Work by ISBN: 0415055326Publication Date: 1998-09-21The work patterns of European women from 1700 onwards fluctuate in relation to ideological, demographic, economic and familial changes. In A History of European Women's Work, Deborah Simonton draws together recent research and methodological developments to take an overview of trends in women's work across Europe from the so-called pre-industrial period to the present. Taking the role of gender and class in defining women's labour as a central theme, Deborah Simonton compares and contrasts the pace of change between European countries, distinguishing between Europe-wide issues and local developments.
Recommended Databases
- Academic Search Ultimate This link opens in a new window
Academic Search Complete provides both popular and scholarly journal coverage and video clips for nearly all academic areas of study including: social sciences, humanities, education, technology, engineering, physics, chemistry, language & linguistics, arts & literature, medical sciences and ethnic studies. Academic Search Complete is a great starting point for most general research.
- JSTOR
JSTOR provides electronic access to major journal titles, eBooks, and images. Subjects covered by this database include art, biology, business, ecology, botany, general science, language, literature, mathematics, sustainability, security, music, and more. JSTOR is a great resource for general research. A personal account can be created to store and organize resources.
- ARTSTOR
Artstor is a digital library of over one million images covering a wide variety of subject areas, including art, architecture, interior design, garden and landscape, music, religion, anthropology, literature, world history, American Studies, Asian Studies, Classical Studies, Medieval Studies, Renaissance Studies, and more.
- ImageQuest
ImageQuest has nearly three million rights-cleared images from 59 leading collections. These collections include the Bridgeman Art Gallery, Dorling Kindersley Images, Getty Images, the National Portrait Gallery of London, the National Geographic Society, and many other great collections.
- NY Times Digital EditionCreate user account to gain access to the online NY Times.
- New York Times TimesMachine
The TimeMachine has every issue of the New York Times from 1851-2002, as originally printed. Access is available through your New York Times Digital Edition account. Use your COD email to create an account or log in with your existing account information.
For further information, visit https://library.cod.edu/nyt/home.
Video Resources
Video resources can provide access to filmed productions of plays, or documentaries of about topics related to plays under study. Note that some video resources have additional information, such as essays about the playwright, production or topic that can help you contextualize your analysis of the play.