The flow of information within the field of Literary Studies is represented above. Click on the parts of the image map to view pages that describes research activities, information types related to those activities, and selected archival tools for finding those sources.

The flow chart suggests a stream of behaviors, thinking, information-seeking, and writing that is neither ideal nor scientific. There are many ways to engage in literary scholarship. What we have tried to do in this model is indicate a sequence of pathways that will typically be followed by those doing research in Literary Studies. This begins with a critical reading of an imaginative work (novel, story, poem) or the experience of a dramatic production (play or film.) Start with the link at Imagination and follow the pathways to learn more about the activities, communication, publications, and archives that make up the information world of Literary Studies.