Use of Popular and Literary Criticism in Providing Subject Access to Imaginative Literature

This study examines the recent trend towards the provision of subject access to imaginative literature, particularly fiction. Results of the research include: (1) an enumeration of theoretical problems associated with the provision of multi-dimensional subject access to imaginative literature; (2) an investigation of literary criticism's relevance to the subject analysis of works of imaginative literature; (3) an analysis of the denotative and connotative topical elements constituting works of imaginative literature; and (4) an evaluation of the non-standard practice of formulating access points from criticism.