Research Materials

If there’s something or someone you don’t quite understand, you can use a variety of tools to research things on your own. (I already introduced some of these in an earlier step, but I’ll repeat them here.) I said before, this is an important skill to learn when reading literature. You need to learn how to figure out the meaning of words, the nature of characters, or the history of authors. Here are some options:

Benet’s Reader’s Encyclopedia

I have spent countless hours flipping through Benet’s Reader’s Encyclopedia to learn about characters and subjects I come across in books.

The first edition is in the public domain, so here is a download of the rather large PDF:

Download Benet’s Reader’s Encyclopedia, 1st edition

You can buy these versions used online very easily. I have a two-volume set of the Second edition, which I like a lot. The edition I used in college was the Third Edition. I can’t vouch for the 4th or 5th – they have a tendency to get more progressive as they get later.

I’ve included a specific step that includes a “Flip Book” of this PDF so you can read it online.

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

You can always use an old school printed dictionary or encyclopedia set. (I have both.) You can get older Encyclopedia Britannica’s (1990 or earlier) online and at used book stores. An Unabridged dictionary is also wonderful. They can be great resources for researching literature.

AI Platforms

Now that we are in the age of AI, it’s important for students to learn how to use them effectively. Talk to your parents about this if you’re unsure you can use one; you need their permission first!

Personally, I find AI platforms very useful for research questions such as “Who is Menelaus?” or “Explain the background of Scylla in The Odyssey”.

Critical Books & Essays

I will provide these for you at the proper time. Some of them will be included in the editions of the used books you purchase.

Additional Readings

In this class I often will provide you with more resources than you need. I am doing this for students who want to dig deeper into certain works of literature. I am naturally curious myself, so I’m simply including things that I find interesting. You are welcome to read them, or you can pass them by.