The following is a summary of the main subject divisions relevant to English Literature as arranged in the Library. It is not a comprehensive list of all subjects covered.
| M |
Literature |
| M 31 |
Philosophy of literature |
| M 31.9 |
Literary criticism |
| M 38 |
Rhetoric & literary composition |
| M 38.89 |
Writings by particular groups, e.g., blacks, women |
| M 39 |
Literary history |
| M 39.91 |
Literary movements, e.g. Romanticism |
| M 39.93 |
Special literary topics, e.g. chivalry in literature |
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| MA |
English literature |
| General works are subdivided by form: |
| MA 41 |
English poetry |
| MA 42 |
English drama |
| MA 43 |
English prose and fiction |
| MA 44 |
English essays and criticism |
| MA 45 |
English theology & philosophy |
| MA 46 |
English letters and diaries |
| MA 47 |
English satire & humour |
| MA 48 |
Miscellaneous writings |
| MA 49 |
English historical writings |
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| All other works are classified within their chronological period, e.g.: |
| MA 50 |
Anglo-Saxon literature |
| MA 60 |
Middle English literature |
| MA 100 |
Elizabethan literature |
| MA 190 |
English literature, 1945-1999 |
| MA200 |
English Literature 2000- |
| Each period is further subdivided by literary form, e.g. |
| MA 51 |
Anglo-Saxon poetry |
| MA 102 |
Elizabethan drama |
| MA 193 |
Modern fiction |
| Example: |
| MA 190 |
General works on English literature 1945-1999 |
| MA 191 |
English poetry 1945-1999 |
| MA 192 |
English drama 1945-1999 |
| MA 193 |
English prose 1945-1999 |
| MA 203 |
English prose 2000- |
| Other literatures are arranged in the same way, e.g. |
| MB |
American literature |
| MG |
German literature |
| MJ |
French literature |
| MM |
Spanish literature |
| MN |
Italian literature |
| MQ |
Latin literature |
| MR |
Greek literature |
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Major authors have their own individual classification number within their literary period and form, e.g. Charles Dickens is MA 163.4. Others are placed together at the end of the section for their period and form, e.g. Martin Amis at MA 193.9 AMI and William Golding at MA 193.9 GOL. Critical works about a literary author are shelved immediately after works by that author. Use the Subject search on the catalogue to find the location of works by or about a literary author; or search under English Literature to see a list of chronological periods with their classmarks
Specific literary themes or topics are classified with the literature of the same period and form, e.g. fantasy in modern English prose writing is shelved at MA 193.093.
