Sample Searches

LitFinder Sample Searches

LitFinder is international in scope, covers all time periods, and contains a wealth of primary literature content, including more than 128,200 full-text poems, 850,000 poem citations and excerpts, and thousands of full-text short stories, essays, speeches, and plays. LitFinder also includes biographies, work summaries, photographs, and a glossary. A subject navigator provides over 10,000 subject headings, and basic and advanced search modes allow users to search by keyword, author, subject, work title, work date, nationality, gender, timeline, and more.

Search 1:

A student from Hotchkiss High School in Colorado wanted to find the full-text of Edgar Allen Poe's short story, The Tell-Tale Heart.

Solution:

1. Logged into LitFinder and clicked on the "STORIES" button.
2. Entered "tell tale heart and poe" in entry box.
3. Clicked on the orange arrow button to search.
4. Clicked on the "THE TELL-TALE HEART" link and retrieved the full-text of the short story.

Search 2:

How can can the text of Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken be found in LitFinder?

Solution:

1. Log into LitFinder and enter "road not taken" in quotes in the "BASIC SEARCH" entry box.
2. Check the "POEMS" box.
3. Click on the orange arrow button to search.
4. Click on the "THE ROAD NOT TAKEN" link to retrieve the text of the poem along with related commentary and references.

Search 3:

How can the text of George Washington's farewell speech be found in LitFinder?

Solution:

1. Log into LitFinder and click on the "SPEECHES" button.
2. Enter "george washington and farewell" in the entry box.
3. Click on the orange arrow button to search.
4. Click on the "FAREWELL ADDRESS" link to retrieve the full-text of the speech.

Search 4:

A primary school teacher in Wales, United Kingdom, wanted to find English poems for children about Jesus for a Christmas program.

Solution:

1. Logged into LitFinder and clicked on the "God" link under "KIDS' KORNER".
2. Clicked on the "JESUS CHRIST" link.
3. Clicked on the "ENGLISH" link under "BY NATIONALITY" and retrieved 10 poems that fulfilled the teacher's request.

Search 5:

How can one find a biographical information on Herman Melville?

Solution:

1. Log into LitFinder and click on the "Authors" link.
2. Enter "herman melville" in the "BASIC SEARCH" entry box.
3. Click on the orange arrow button to search.
4. Click on the "MELVILLE, HERMAN" link to retrieve a biographical essay on him.