Deaf Characters in Literature

A Pathfinder

SCOPE

Deaf and hearing authors have long included deaf characters in short stories, novels, poetry, and plays. This pathfinder is not a bibliography of literary works with deaf characters. Instead, this pathfinder will guide you to various resources which identify literary works with deaf characters and to literary criticism.

INTRODUCTION

For introductory information about deaf characters in literature, check the following reference books:

• Van Cleve, John V., ed. Gallaudet encyclopedia of deaf people and deafness. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1987. Use the index in Volume 3 to find related articles under the following headings:
  • Literature, dramatic characters in
  • Literature, fictional characters in
  • Literature, writers in
• Carbin, Clifton F. Deaf heritage in Canada: a distinctive, diverse, and enduring culture. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1996. See "Authors" in the index.
• Jackson, Peter. Britain's deaf heritage. Edinburgh: Pentland Press Limited, 1990. See Chapter 18: Literature, theatre, and television.
• Gannon, Jack. Deaf heritage. Silver Spring, MD: National Association of the Deaf, 1981. See Chapter 11: Publications of the Deaf.

BOOKS

You can find single works and anthologies in the WRLC Libraries Catalog of the ALADIN computer system. Use the following keyword searches:

• fiction and deaf
• fiction and "hearing impaired"
• "literary collections" and deaf
• "literary collections" and "hearing impaired"
• "deaf character?"

For individual forms of literature:

• drama and deaf
• poetry and deaf
• "science fiction" and deaf
• "comic books" and deaf
• mystery and fiction and deaf
• romance and fiction and deaf
• [etc.]

For children's literature with deaf characters:

• "children's literature" and deaf
• "deaf children" and fiction
• "juvenile fiction" and deaf

Other categories:

• "deaf athletes" and fiction
• "deaf women" and fiction
• "deaf blind" and fiction
• deaf and fiction and criticism
• "[author's name]" and criticism (example: "Harriet Martineau" and criticism)

Helpful search tips:

• Remember that keyword concepts must be joined with the word "and."
• Phrases of two or more words must be enclosed in quotation marks.
• To eliminate videorecordings, use "not videorecording" in the keyword search. Example: fiction and deaf not videorecording

VIDEOTAPES AND DVDS (VIDEORECORDINGS)

Videorecordings identified in the WRLC Libraries Catalog as "Video Copy 2: Three Day" may be borrowed for three days by current Gallaudet students, faculty, and staff members only. Other videotapes must be used in the Library. Use the following keyword example:

• deaf and fiction and videorecording

ONLINE DATABASES

Gallaudet University Library Index to Deaf Periodicals

Several now-ceased deaf-related periodicals include fictional works. These periodicals are:

• Deaf Life
• Deaf American
• Deaf Nation
• Silent Worker

They are indexed in the Gallaudet University Library Index to Deaf Periodicals (available through Deaf-Related Resources on the Gallaudet University Library Web page).

Periodical and Dissertation Indexes

Periodicals and dissertations are also good sources of literary criticism. We recommend the following ALADIN databases to search for journal articles and Dissertation Abstracts International to search for dissertations.

• Ebscohost Academic Search Premier
• MLA International Bibliography
• Periodical Index/1983-1993
• Proquest Research Library

ALADIN databases may be accessed from any location by current Gallaudet students, faculty, and staff, and by visitors to the Gallaudet campus. Other researchers may be able to access similar databases through their own libraries.

OTHER RESOURCES

World Wide Web (WWW)

• For more information on deaf characters in fiction, use a search engine such as Google and conduct the following search:
  deaf fiction
• Subject-Based Deaf and Hard of Hearing Internet Resources (produced by Rochester Institute of Technology Libraries)
  
  Look at the "Deaf literature and poetry" section.
• For further information about individual authors, the Gale Group Literary Index identifies other reference resources that may be available in the library.

FOR NON-GALLAUDET USERS: HOW TO GET COPIES

To obtain articles or books contact your academic or public library. If your library does not have these resources, it can obtain photocopies of journal articles or borrow books for you through Interlibrary Loan. Your library will not necessarily get those copies from Gallaudet University; it will usually request items from the nearest library that owns them. There may be a charge for Interlibrary Loan, depending on the policies of your library and of the lending library. Your librarian will advise you of any charges or restrictions.

Remember: if you are having trouble finding information, or if you would like any additional help, please ask at the Library Service Desk or email library.reference@gallaudet.edu.