Many literature papers rely wholly on primary sources—the literary work or works under discussion. You document such papers using MLA in-text citations. If a list of works cited is required, it will consist only of the literary work or works.
In addition to relying on primary sources, some literature papers draw on secondary sources: articles or books of literary criticism, biographies of the author, the author’s own essays or autobiography, histories of the era in which the work was written, and so on. When you use secondary sources, you must document them with MLA in-text citations. You should also follow the advice and models for using MLA style to document secondary sources.
Keep in mind that even when you use secondary sources, your main goal should be to develop your own understanding and interpretation of the literary work.