MASTERPLOTS:A quick reference for literature questions

Have you ever walked by these volumes at your library and wondered why they are so worn and shabby?

Because they were used over the years…and used often.

Magil, Frank. (c1976) Masterplots; 2010 plot stories and essay reviews from the world’s fine literature Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Salem Press

What is Masterplots?

It is not as ominous as it sounds. Masterplots is a series of books that provide useful information about many popular pieces of literature.

There are many editions, and you should be able to make the most of the publication your library has in its collection.

This presentation will examine the 1979 version.

Do you have a library patron who would like to know:

Why an article they just read compares people in their town to those described in Sinclair Lewis’ Main Street?

The name of the Hans Christian Anderson story that features a girl who cannot stop dancing?

How closely the plot of Jude The Obscure matches the film adaptation Jude?

• First you must find the correct volume by using the first few letters of the title.

The volumes are arranged alphabetically.

For Jude The Obscure you would use

Volume Six, JOU-MAN.

• Next, scan the list of titles until you find the one you need.

(note: the author’s name is listed after the title if you need further confirmation)

• Each title has a corresponding page number.

So, in the case of Jude you would turn to page 3079.

Now you are at the correct page, what information will you find?

Quick facts such as:

• Types of work• Author• Type of Plots• Time of Plots• Locale• First Published• Principle characters

• The Story

This is the plot synopsis.

It gives the overall plot arch as well as

picking out many key plot points throughout

the piece of writing.

• The Critique

If you are looking for finer details than the critique

provides, you may look past the plot section

to the section called:

Further Critical Evaluation of the Work.

In conclusion, Masterplots can be a very

useful quick reference source at your library.

You should take the time to become familiar

with it, and if you enjoy it…

you may also look into the benefits of having your library purchase the 4th edition of Masterplots from Salem Press which boasts complimentary online access and easier search functions.

http://salempress.com/store/samples/masterplots_4/masterplots_4.htm

Thank you for reading this presentation.

For questions or more information you may contact me atseagalli@my.dom.edu