literary essay titles

• school Campus Bookshelves
• menu_book Bookshelves
• perm_media Learning Objects
• login Login
• how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
• hub Instructor Commons
• Download Page (PDF)
• Download Full Book (PDF)
• Periodic Table
• Physics Constants
• Scientific Calculator
• Reference & Cite
• Tools expand_more
• Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

12.20: 12-20 Literary Essay Titles

• Last updated
• Save as PDF
• Page ID 148319

• Heather Ringo & Athena Kashyap
• City College of San Francisco via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative

Like thesis statements, titles are a small but important part of your literary analysis essay. Why?

• They help readers determine the topic of your essay
• They help you as a writer focus your essay
• They let readers know what to expect from the essay

And, like your thesis statement, your title will likely change as you compose and revise your essay. It should reflect the topic, purpose, and content of your essay. It may hint at the thesis statement, but likely won't give it all away.

Literary Title Basics

Titles are a creative subgenre of the literary analysis essay. There is a lot of creative freedom in crafting them. But there are some common features of effective titles.

• Precisely convey topic and text(s) essay will cover
• Catch readers' attention
• Usually between 4-14 words -- yes, you're right, scholarly titles are a bit longer than titles in other genres!
• Unique to your essay
• Differentiate from other essays on topic
• Hint at thesis statement
• May use a colon to link ideas
• May incorporate a striking quotation from your chosen text(s) which connects to your topic or thesis

Let's start with what not to do when crafting a title. While it can be difficult to determine what makes a good title, it can help to determine some "bad" titles first. And by bad, I don't mean the title has a curly mustache and ties innocent victims to railroad tracks while laughing "mwahahaha!"; I mean they may not quite fit with reader expectations. That is, a "bad" title does not do justice to your essay.

The Missing Title

Why it stinks: titles help readers know what to expect. Without one, readers are not sure what to expect from the essay. They may feel the essay it starting off on the wrong foot because it's not following the expectations of the literary analysis genre. In terms of technical issues with missing titles, when it comes to publication, a title is necessary to catalogue a work of literary criticism. Without a title, readers won't be able to find your essay in the databases! (not to mention the essay probably wouldn't be published in the first place!)

The Lazy Title

Example 1: "Literary Analysis Essay"

Why it stinks: while it is better than a missing title, there are millions of essays with this same title. It's so general as to be basically meaningless. Readers know your essay is a literary analysis; what they want to know is what kind of literary analysis essay you're writing.

Example 2: "Literary Analysis of Hamlet "

Why it stinks: This is better than "Literary Analysis Essay" because at least it tells us the text we will be reading about. However, this title doesn't tell us anything about what aspect of Hamlet you're writing about. Plus, there are likely many, many, many essays with the same title. You want your essay to stand out!

Ya Basic Title

Example 1: " Hamlet as Tragedy"

Why it stinks: this is much better than The Missing Title or The Lazy Title , because we know what text you're examining ( Hamlet ) and we have an aspect of that text that you are focusing on (Tragedy as genre). However, there is nothing new or interesting here for readers. Readers know that Hamlet is a Tragedy. This is well-accepted among scholars. When writing a literary analysis essay, you're trying to create new knowledge and tread new ground. Be more specific!

Title Examples

So now that we have covered some "bad" titles, let's "Read Like a Writer" and think about what makes for an effective essay title. To do this, we will examine some essay titles written by literary scholars.

• "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness" by Chinua Achebe (1977)
• " Shut up in prose: gender and genre in Austen's Juvenilia" from The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar (1979)
• "Superhero from the Margins: Darna and the Hybridity of the Filipino Superhero Genre" by Cherish Aileen Aguilar Brillon (2021)

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Which of these titles looks the most interesting to you? What makes it an interesting or effective title?

Regardless of which you chose, each of these titles gives you a strong sense of what topic(s) and text(s) will be the focus of the essay. They are specific enough to be unique. Each names the specific text, topic, genre, and/or time period. "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness " tells you will be will be examining Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. It also tells us that this will likely be an exploration of racism (topic); more specifically, racism in Conrad's depiction (image) of Africa. It hints at the thesis by presenting the start of its main argument (Conrad's images of Africa are racist). If you chose "Shut up in prose: gender and genre in Austen's Juvenilia", we know the text to be examined is Jane Austen's writings from when she was a teenager (juvenilia). We know the topics will be gender, genre, and prose. And we may have a hint of a thesis statement with "Shut up", which piques our curiosity because it is a brash and potentially offensive command that we can imagine will likely connect to gender representations. Lastly, "Superhero from the Margins: Darna and the Hybridity of the Filipino Superhero Genre" lets us know we will be examining a particular character (Darna) in the genre of the Superhero. It seems as if the topic will be "Hybridity" and marginalization.

Title Formula

If you're having a tough time, you can use one of the following formulas

• "Short Representative Quotation": [Topic] in [Text Title(s)] Example: "golden daffodils": botanical economics in Wordsworth's "I wandered lonely as a cloud"
• [Topic]: [Literary Device] in [Text Title(s)] Example: Extracted Bodies: Human/Land Metaphor in Shelley's Frankenstein (1818) and LaValle's Destroyer (2017)
• [Topic] in [Author's name] [Text Title]: brief into to thesis Example: Biblical Allusion in Morrison's Beloved : The Limits of Hermeneutics

Literary Analysis Essay Writing

Literary Analysis Essay Topics

Interesting Literary Analysis Essay Topics & Ideas

15 min read

On This Page

Good Literary Analysis Essay Topic Ideas

How to choose a literary analysis essay topic , tips to write a compelling literary analysis essay.

You’re a literature student, and you’ve been assigned to work on a literature analysis essay, but you’re not sure which topic to go for. It’s a tricky situation!

We understand that choosing a worthy topic for a literary analysis essay is never an easy task. But don’t you worry!

For literature students, we know the importance of drafting an excellent literary analysis essay . And for an exceptional essay, one needs a standout topic.

That’s why in this blog, we have gathered more than 200 exciting and interesting literary analysis essay ideas for you to get started. 

Read on! 

If you are a high school or a college student, and you’re having difficulty coming up with a good topic for your essay, choose from the topic list below.  

Literary Analysis Essay Topics Middle School

• The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane 
• Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie
• Harry Potter’s powers in the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling 
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 
• Allegory in Lord Byron’s Vision of Judgement 
• Impact of Henry Miller and Gordon Byron’s life on their legacy 
• Comparative analysis of Dickens VS Thackeray 
• Canterbury Tales VS Decameron 
• The irony in Jerome’s stories
• Mood expressions in Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for High School

• The representation of justice in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird
• Analyze the theme of friendship in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men
• Explore the theme of identity in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series
• The role of nature in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights
• Discuss the concept of heroism in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
• The use of foreshadowing in George Orwell's Animal Farm
• The representation of mental health in Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar
• The impact of war on individuals in Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried
• The use of symbolism and allegory in Lois Lowry's The Giver
• Discuss the role of cultural identity in Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Literary Analysis Essay Topics For College

• Literary devices used in The Night by Elie Wiesel 
• The portrayal of the escape theme in Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer 
• The evolution of Celie's character in 'The Color Purple' by Alice Walker
• Jane Austen's critique of social class and marriage in Pride and Prejudice
• Shed light on the theme of chaos in Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Examine the historical events of World War II and their significance in Elie Wiesel's “Night.”
• The power of love in The Princess Bride by William Goldman 
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain 
• Presentation of dreams in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 
• The Rocking Horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence 

Literary Analysis Essay Prompts in Classics

• The portrayal of fate in Romeo and Juliet 
• The portrayal of love in Romeo and Juliet 
• Concept of mortality in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet 
• Misogyny in Hamlet 
• Witchcraft in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth 
• The tragic flaws and character development of King Lear in William Shakespeare's play
• The philosophical underpinnings of justice and governance in Plato's 'The Republic
• Exploring the theme of civil disobedience and consequences in Sophocles' 'Antigone’
• Exploring the conflict between illusion and reality in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'
• The complex character relationships and moral dilemmas in 'Montana' by Larry Watson

Social Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Social injustice in Oliver Twist 
• Ethnicity in Burmese Days by Orwell
• Torture and injustice in Night by Elie Wiesel
• Vanity Fair - the culture of the 19th century according to Thackeray 
• The portrayal of the Civil Western Society in Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
• The role of women in society in the 18th Century according to Jane Austen 
• Escape from society and its rules in Into the Wild by John Krakauer 
• The place of women in the society in Hamlet 
• Social status of women in the 17th century portrayed by Jane Austen in Emma 
• The wrongs of the modern society in Fight Club by Palahniuk 

War and Peace Topics for Literary Analysis Essay

• The portrayal of war and violence in the poems of Stephen Crane
• Literary works during WWI
• War setting in Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
• The depiction of war in Homer’s plays
• Toni Morrison’s views on the civil war
• The war between demons and angels in Paradise Lost
• War in the Mother Courage and Her Child by Bertolt Brecht
• The portrayal of war and peace by George Orwell
• Concept of war in A Fable by Faulkner
• Steinbeck’s presentation of injustice in The Grapes of Wrath

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Movies

• Comparison between the book and film “Sense and Sensibility.” 
• The portrayal of women in the “Little Women.” 
• Imitation of society and class in “The Great Gatsby.”
• The ideas of love and trust in “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” 
• The good and evil in “A Wrinkle in Time.” 
• Feminity in Sense and Sensibility 
• The role of Saruman and Gandalf 
• Spirituality and religion in “Lord of the Flies.” 
• Oskar’s struggle to find a sense of home in “The Tin Drum.”
• Jealousy and male pride in “The Dead.” 

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for the Subject of Race

• “Waiting for the Barbarians” by J.M. Coetzee
• Race and Injustice in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird
• Race and fellowship in Melville’s Moby Dick
• “Under The Feet Of Jesus”
• Description of culture and tradition in “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
• Interracial relationship in Back to Life by Wendy Coakley
• Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by McMorris
• The Art Of Love by Hong Ying
• Multiculturalism in the Captain Underpants series by Dev Pilkey
• Imitation of slavery in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

General Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Focalization techniques in When I Lay Dying
• Historical background of Duma’s Novels
• The use of imagery in Walt Whitman’s works
• Male and female characters in Beowulf
• Character analysis of Emmy in Vanity Fair
• Character analysis of Rebeca in Vanity Fair
• The complicated relationship between mother and daughter in Beloved
• Beauty standards in The Bluest Eye
• Comparison in the portrayal of death by Keats and Blake
• The idea of death in Renaissance literature

1984 Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Roles of genders in the novel
• What role does the Ministry of Truth play in the story?
• The theme of subversion of love in 1984
• The importance of memory in 1984
• Totalitarian society in George Orwell's 1984
• Analyze the role O'Brien plays in Winston's life
• An in-depth analysis of the novel 1984 by George Orwell
• How is the historical background reflected in 1984?
• Lack of privacy in 1984
• Propaganda and totalitarianism in Orwell’s “1984”

Hamlet Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• A theme of revenge in Hamlet
• Explore Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia
• Explore Hamlet’s mental state
• Discuss Hamlet's relationship with Gertrude
• Ghost in Hamlet
• Was Hamlet truly mad?
• Is Hamlet a villain or a hero?
• How does Shakespeare present the idea of madness in Hamlet?
• Is Hamlet’s love for Ophelia genuine?
• Tragedies in Hamlet VS Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Discuss the development of characters during the play
• Examine the role of women in Romeo and Juliet.
• What is the role of history in Romeo and Juliet?
• Analyze the Romeo and Juliet play
• Romeo and Juliet: Fate or Free Will?
• Why did Juliet warn of danger?
• Rosaline in Romeo and Juliet
• The love language of Romeo and Juliet
• A fate analysis essay on Romeo and Juliet
• The death of Romeo and Juliet

Macbeth Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Macbeth’s mental state
• The role of morality in the play “Macbeth”
• Describe the use of figurative language in Macbeth
• The symbolism of blood in Macbeth
• Applying imagery in Macbeth to advance the story
• Lady Macbeth character analysis
• What role did social hierarchies play in the play?
• Analysis of gender roles in Macbeth
• Role of women in Macbeth by William Shakespeare
• Is Lady Macbeth a dominant heroine?

Beowulf Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Why is Beowulf a work of Christian propaganda?
• What is the main idea of the story?
• The meaning of rings in Beowulf
• Which of Beowulf's fights was most heroic?
• How do Beowulf’s heroic qualities affect the story?
• Discuss the digression's role in Beowulf
• Analyze the significance of the mead hall in Beowulf.
• The difference between Beowulf and Modern-Day Heroes
• Beowulf’s personality traits in the epic story
• Analysis of Beowulf's symbols and their importance

Frankenstein Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Analyze what fire is trying to symbolize.
• Frankenstein: The theme of guilt
• Discuss any romantic elements in “Frankenstein”
• The family relationship in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• Who is more human, Frankenstein or the monster?
• Romantic and gothic Frankenstein elements
• Sacrifices for ambitions in the novel Frankenstein
• Relationship between Victor and Frankenstein
• Romanticism in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
• Family Values and Frankenstein

The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Discuss the novel as a cautionary tale
• The meaning of wealth in the novel
• What is the novel’s title meaning?
• Explain how the novel demonstrates the characteristics of modernism
• Explore the symbolism of the “green light” in “The Great Gatsby”
• Discuss the role of women in the 1920s society as portrayed in “The Great Gatsby”
• Dreams are the main theme in “The Great Gatsby”
• What makes The Great Gatsby great?
• The Great Gatsby: Winter Thoughts
• What role does money play in Fitzgerald’s novel?

The Crucible Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Relate the Crucible to modern society
• Analyze the most important theme of 'The Crucible.'
• What are the dynamics of puritanism?
• Examine the importance of religion in 1953 in work
• The use of fear tactics in “The Crucible”
• John Hale in The Crucible
• Morality and The Crucible
• The Crucible Critical Lens
• The sinful confessions in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible

Fahrenheit 451 Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• History of the Fireman in Fahrenheit 451
• Discuss the roles of both nature and technology play in Fahrenheit 451
• The use of Parallelism in Fahrenheit 451
• Analyze the three parts of Fahrenheit 451
• Discuss the dual image of fire in the novel
• How relevant is Fahrenheit 451 today?
• The role of Clarisse McClellan in “Fahrenheit 451”
• Analyze Mildred Montag
• Discuss the usage of literary quotes in Fahrenheit 451
• Examine the novel's main title

Literary Analysis Essay Topics For Othello

• Examine the portrayal of women in ‘Othello’
• A true reason for Othello's demise
• Consider Othello’s suicide
• The real motives of Iago in Othello
• Women's roles in Shakespeare’s Othello and Hamlet
• Gender roles and racism in “Othello”
• Discuss Othello's relationship
• Analysis of The Film “Othello” By Oliver Parker
• Explore themes of love and betrayal within Shakespeare's work of literature, “Othello”
• How was Emilia treated by the men in the play “Othello”?

Lord of The Flies Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• The symbolism of the conch shell and its significance in the novel
• Analyze the themes of civilization versus savagery in “Lord of the Flies”
• Explore the character development of Ralph and Jack in the story
• Discuss the role of fear and the “beast” in the boys' descent into chaos
• The portrayal of innate human nature and its consequences on the deserted island
• Analyze the role of Piggy and his glasses as symbols of knowledge and reason
• Analyze the use of irony in the story and its implications for the characters
• Discuss the themes of power and leadership in the struggle for dominance
• Examine the relationship between the boys' names and their personalities
• The role of the island's setting in shaping the events and characters of the story

Literary Analysis Essay Topics For The Catcher In The Rye

• Analyze the novel from the perspective of Bildungsroman
• Analyze literary devices used in “The Catcher in the Rye”
• Discuss the theme of death in the novel
• Analyze the theme of self-discovery from the novel
• Describe the story's topic of loneliness
• Analyze growing up in the novel
• Why does Holden love the Museum of Natural History?
• The Role of Dialogue in The Catcher in the Rye
• Describe the novel's portrayal of phoniness and naivety
• Describe the character of Holden

Interesting Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• War, existentialism, and love in “A Farewell to Arms”
• Sense of Sin in The Scarlet Letter 
• Analyze the use of biblical allusions and religious symbolism in William Golding's novels
• Analyze the symbolism of the “white whale” in Melville's work of literature, “Moby-Dick”
• Lies and deceit in “The Godfather” 
• Analyze the portrayal of fear and the human psyche in William Golding's novels
• The symbols used to describe nature by William Wordsworth
• Comparison between urban and rural settings of nature in the dystopia of Huxley
• Decay and revival in post-apocalyptic novels
• A religious and spiritual journey in “Jude the Obscure”

Now that you have the liberty to choose from a wide range of literary analysis example topics, you could use some help on how to opt for a good topic. 

To select a good and worthy topic for your literary analysis essay, follow the tips provided below:

• Always go for an interesting topic for an engaging piece of paper
• Look for an idea with available research material to support your analysis
• Ensure your topic allows for an in-depth analysis rather than a surface-level summary
• Choose an idea that challenges you to think critically and make meaningful connections
• Avoid overly broad topics; instead, focus on a specific aspect or element of the work.
• Choose an idea that best reflects your stance on the chosen work.
• Analyze the topic deeply before you start writing about it
• Balance personal interest with the potential appeal to your target audience
• Make sure that the theme of the work is visible in your essay topic 

Here are some tips for you to pen down a compelling literary analysis essay!

Essay writing is an essential part of academics. Students always require some tips and tricks to draft perfect essays and score good grades.

To make your literary analysis essay impeccable, follow the tips provided below:

• Thoroughly read the chosen literary work
• Identify the main themes, settings, and characters
• Understand the purpose of the work 
• Pay attention to the tools and techniques used by the author to deliver the message
• Pick an interesting literary analytical essay topic for your essay.
• To write an analytical essay effectively, draft a perfect literary analysis essay outline
• Develop a strong thesis statement 
• Craft strong topic sentences to guide and structure your analysis effectively
• Prove and support all your statements using phrases and quotes from work
• Write your literary essay from the third-person perspective
• Write in the present tense
• Avoid writing a plot summary of the work
• Use multiple literary terms to write your essay professionally
• Always cite properly

Literary Analysis Essay Example

To sum it up , writing a literary analysis essay can be extremely daunting if your analyzing abilities are weak. From selecting the right literary analysis topic to writing a conclusion for your essay, the process is lengthy.

To score well in academics, get a professional’s help drafting your essays. MyPerfectWords.com is an expert essay writing service that provides top-level assistance and guidance to students. 

Our experienced and credible writers will deliver you a literary analysis essay while strictly sticking to your requirements. 

Let us help you ease your writing woes, so you can have a sigh of relief.

Happy Writing!

Cathy has been been working as an author on our platform for over five years now. She has a Masters degree in mass communication and is well-versed in the art of writing. Cathy is a professional who takes her work seriously and is widely appreciated by clients for her excellent writing skills.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Keep reading

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay - A Step-by-Step Guide

Literary Analysis Essay Outline - A Step By Step Guide

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• How to write a literary analysis essay | A step-by-step guide

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay | A Step-by-Step Guide

Published on January 30, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on August 14, 2023.

Literary analysis means closely studying a text, interpreting its meanings, and exploring why the author made certain choices. It can be applied to novels, short stories, plays, poems, or any other form of literary writing.

A literary analysis essay is not a rhetorical analysis , nor is it just a summary of the plot or a book review. Instead, it is a type of argumentative essay where you need to analyze elements such as the language, perspective, and structure of the text, and explain how the author uses literary devices to create effects and convey ideas.

Before beginning a literary analysis essay, it’s essential to carefully read the text and c ome up with a thesis statement to keep your essay focused. As you write, follow the standard structure of an academic essay :

• An introduction that tells the reader what your essay will focus on.
• A main body, divided into paragraphs , that builds an argument using evidence from the text.
• A conclusion that clearly states the main point that you have shown with your analysis.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Step 1: reading the text and identifying literary devices, step 2: coming up with a thesis, step 3: writing a title and introduction, step 4: writing the body of the essay, step 5: writing a conclusion, other interesting articles.

The first step is to carefully read the text(s) and take initial notes. As you read, pay attention to the things that are most intriguing, surprising, or even confusing in the writing—these are things you can dig into in your analysis.

Your goal in literary analysis is not simply to explain the events described in the text, but to analyze the writing itself and discuss how the text works on a deeper level. Primarily, you’re looking out for literary devices —textual elements that writers use to convey meaning and create effects. If you’re comparing and contrasting multiple texts, you can also look for connections between different texts.

To get started with your analysis, there are several key areas that you can focus on. As you analyze each aspect of the text, try to think about how they all relate to each other. You can use highlights or notes to keep track of important passages and quotes.

Language choices

Consider what style of language the author uses. Are the sentences short and simple or more complex and poetic?

What word choices stand out as interesting or unusual? Are words used figuratively to mean something other than their literal definition? Figurative language includes things like metaphor (e.g. “her eyes were oceans”) and simile (e.g. “her eyes were like oceans”).

Also keep an eye out for imagery in the text—recurring images that create a certain atmosphere or symbolize something important. Remember that language is used in literary texts to say more than it means on the surface.

Narrative voice

Ask yourself:

• Who is telling the story?
• How are they telling it?

Is it a first-person narrator (“I”) who is personally involved in the story, or a third-person narrator who tells us about the characters from a distance?

Consider the narrator’s perspective . Is the narrator omniscient (where they know everything about all the characters and events), or do they only have partial knowledge? Are they an unreliable narrator who we are not supposed to take at face value? Authors often hint that their narrator might be giving us a distorted or dishonest version of events.

The tone of the text is also worth considering. Is the story intended to be comic, tragic, or something else? Are usually serious topics treated as funny, or vice versa ? Is the story realistic or fantastical (or somewhere in between)?

Consider how the text is structured, and how the structure relates to the story being told.

• Novels are often divided into chapters and parts.
• Poems are divided into lines, stanzas, and sometime cantos.
• Plays are divided into scenes and acts.

Think about why the author chose to divide the different parts of the text in the way they did.

There are also less formal structural elements to take into account. Does the story unfold in chronological order, or does it jump back and forth in time? Does it begin in medias res —in the middle of the action? Does the plot advance towards a clearly defined climax?

With poetry, consider how the rhyme and meter shape your understanding of the text and your impression of the tone. Try reading the poem aloud to get a sense of this.

In a play, you might consider how relationships between characters are built up through different scenes, and how the setting relates to the action. Watch out for  dramatic irony , where the audience knows some detail that the characters don’t, creating a double meaning in their words, thoughts, or actions.

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

Your thesis in a literary analysis essay is the point you want to make about the text. It’s the core argument that gives your essay direction and prevents it from just being a collection of random observations about a text.

If you’re given a prompt for your essay, your thesis must answer or relate to the prompt. For example:

Essay question example

Is Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” a religious parable?

Your thesis statement should be an answer to this question—not a simple yes or no, but a statement of why this is or isn’t the case:

Thesis statement example

Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” is not a religious parable, but a story about bureaucratic alienation.

Sometimes you’ll be given freedom to choose your own topic; in this case, you’ll have to come up with an original thesis. Consider what stood out to you in the text; ask yourself questions about the elements that interested you, and consider how you might answer them.

Your thesis should be something arguable—that is, something that you think is true about the text, but which is not a simple matter of fact. It must be complex enough to develop through evidence and arguments across the course of your essay.

Say you’re analyzing the novel Frankenstein . You could start by asking yourself:

Your initial answer might be a surface-level description:

The character Frankenstein is portrayed negatively in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .

However, this statement is too simple to be an interesting thesis. After reading the text and analyzing its narrative voice and structure, you can develop the answer into a more nuanced and arguable thesis statement:

Mary Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.

Remember that you can revise your thesis statement throughout the writing process , so it doesn’t need to be perfectly formulated at this stage. The aim is to keep you focused as you analyze the text.

Finding textual evidence

To support your thesis statement, your essay will build an argument using textual evidence —specific parts of the text that demonstrate your point. This evidence is quoted and analyzed throughout your essay to explain your argument to the reader.

It can be useful to comb through the text in search of relevant quotations before you start writing. You might not end up using everything you find, and you may have to return to the text for more evidence as you write, but collecting textual evidence from the beginning will help you to structure your arguments and assess whether they’re convincing.

To start your literary analysis paper, you’ll need two things: a good title, and an introduction.

Your title should clearly indicate what your analysis will focus on. It usually contains the name of the author and text(s) you’re analyzing. Keep it as concise and engaging as possible.

A common approach to the title is to use a relevant quote from the text, followed by a colon and then the rest of your title.

If you struggle to come up with a good title at first, don’t worry—this will be easier once you’ve begun writing the essay and have a better sense of your arguments.

“Fearful symmetry” : The violence of creation in William Blake’s “The Tyger”

The introduction

The essay introduction provides a quick overview of where your argument is going. It should include your thesis statement and a summary of the essay’s structure.

A typical structure for an introduction is to begin with a general statement about the text and author, using this to lead into your thesis statement. You might refer to a commonly held idea about the text and show how your thesis will contradict it, or zoom in on a particular device you intend to focus on.

Then you can end with a brief indication of what’s coming up in the main body of the essay. This is called signposting. It will be more elaborate in longer essays, but in a short five-paragraph essay structure, it shouldn’t be more than one sentence.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

Some students prefer to write the introduction later in the process, and it’s not a bad idea. After all, you’ll have a clearer idea of the overall shape of your arguments once you’ve begun writing them!

If you do write the introduction first, you should still return to it later to make sure it lines up with what you ended up writing, and edit as necessary.

The body of your essay is everything between the introduction and conclusion. It contains your arguments and the textual evidence that supports them.

Paragraph structure

A typical structure for a high school literary analysis essay consists of five paragraphs : the three paragraphs of the body, plus the introduction and conclusion.

Each paragraph in the main body should focus on one topic. In the five-paragraph model, try to divide your argument into three main areas of analysis, all linked to your thesis. Don’t try to include everything you can think of to say about the text—only analysis that drives your argument.

In longer essays, the same principle applies on a broader scale. For example, you might have two or three sections in your main body, each with multiple paragraphs. Within these sections, you still want to begin new paragraphs at logical moments—a turn in the argument or the introduction of a new idea.

Robert’s first encounter with Gil-Martin suggests something of his sinister power. Robert feels “a sort of invisible power that drew me towards him.” He identifies the moment of their meeting as “the beginning of a series of adventures which has puzzled myself, and will puzzle the world when I am no more in it” (p. 89). Gil-Martin’s “invisible power” seems to be at work even at this distance from the moment described; before continuing the story, Robert feels compelled to anticipate at length what readers will make of his narrative after his approaching death. With this interjection, Hogg emphasizes the fatal influence Gil-Martin exercises from his first appearance.

Topic sentences

To keep your points focused, it’s important to use a topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph.

A good topic sentence allows a reader to see at a glance what the paragraph is about. It can introduce a new line of argument and connect or contrast it with the previous paragraph. Transition words like “however” or “moreover” are useful for creating smooth transitions:

… The story’s focus, therefore, is not upon the divine revelation that may be waiting beyond the door, but upon the mundane process of aging undergone by the man as he waits.

Nevertheless, the “radiance” that appears to stream from the door is typically treated as religious symbolism.

This topic sentence signals that the paragraph will address the question of religious symbolism, while the linking word “nevertheless” points out a contrast with the previous paragraph’s conclusion.

Using textual evidence

A key part of literary analysis is backing up your arguments with relevant evidence from the text. This involves introducing quotes from the text and explaining their significance to your point.

It’s important to contextualize quotes and explain why you’re using them; they should be properly introduced and analyzed, not treated as self-explanatory:

It isn’t always necessary to use a quote. Quoting is useful when you’re discussing the author’s language, but sometimes you’ll have to refer to plot points or structural elements that can’t be captured in a short quote.

In these cases, it’s more appropriate to paraphrase or summarize parts of the text—that is, to describe the relevant part in your own words:

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

The conclusion of your analysis shouldn’t introduce any new quotations or arguments. Instead, it’s about wrapping up the essay. Here, you summarize your key points and try to emphasize their significance to the reader.

A good way to approach this is to briefly summarize your key arguments, and then stress the conclusion they’ve led you to, highlighting the new perspective your thesis provides on the text as a whole:

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

By tracing the depiction of Frankenstein through the novel’s three volumes, I have demonstrated how the narrative structure shifts our perception of the character. While the Frankenstein of the first volume is depicted as having innocent intentions, the second and third volumes—first in the creature’s accusatory voice, and then in his own voice—increasingly undermine him, causing him to appear alternately ridiculous and vindictive. Far from the one-dimensional villain he is often taken to be, the character of Frankenstein is compelling because of the dynamic narrative frame in which he is placed. In this frame, Frankenstein’s narrative self-presentation responds to the images of him we see from others’ perspectives. This conclusion sheds new light on the novel, foregrounding Shelley’s unique layering of narrative perspectives and its importance for the depiction of character.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, August 14). How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay | A Step-by-Step Guide. Scribbr. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/literary-analysis/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to write a thesis statement | 4 steps & examples, academic paragraph structure | step-by-step guide & examples, how to write a narrative essay | example & tips, unlimited academic ai-proofreading.

✔ Document error-free in 5minutes ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

‌How to Title an Essay with Literary Analysis Examples

How to Write a Controlling Idea Essay

You may have spent hours brainstorming your thesis, searching for quotations and polishing your final draft, but a good title can make the difference between someone reading your literary essay and tossing it aside. Good literary essay titles not only capture your reader's interest, but they also preview the argument you'll be making in the paper itself. They capture the central idea that is presented in your work, and entice the viewer to read. Creativity, humor and innovative plays on the work you're writing about can transform a dull title into one that piques your audience's curiosity.

Include the Subject and Focus

Your title should not just name the literary work that is the ​ subject ​ of your essay but also describe its ​ focus ​, the target idea, literary device or theme that the piece explores. This is sometimes referred to as a "working title" as well, since it focuses heavily on the main part of your essay, and can remind you of your focus as you read. In an essay about morality in "To Kill a Mockingbird," for example, Harper Lee's novel would be the subject of the paper, while morality would be the essay's focus. Including the phrase "Morality in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' " somewhere in your title would clearly indicate to audiences what themes your essay will deal with. This is a more basic example of an essay title, but effective in most all cases.

Link Two Ideas With a Colon

While including the subject and focus in the title gives a good summary of your essay topic, it's not enough to pull readers in. Using a colon to punctuate the subject with a catchy explanation of the focus can not only add an air of professionalism to your paper but also give a more in-depth, eye-catching preview of your topic for readers. An essay about Holden Caulfield's painful transition to adulthood, for example, might be titled "The Precarious Edge of the Cliff: Loss of Innocence in J.D. Salinger's 'The Catcher in the Rye.' "

This title choice also allows you to present two ideas that are key parts of your essay, if you choose to. Maybe you can't decide on just one, because both are equally important. This choice would be a good tool for featuring both ideas and connecting them to each other. Displaying a longer, more developed essay title, can also give you the freedom to discuss these ideas in your essay with more detail since they are featured in the title.

Include a Quotation from the Work

Sometimes, a quotation from the book can provide inspiration for your essay's title. Try adding a brief, snappy portion of this quote to your title's focus statement. For example, the title for an essay about mother-daughter relationships in Flannery O'Connor's short stories might borrow from a quote in the story "Good Country People," in which the central character, Hulga, tells her overbearing, critical mother, "If you want me, here I am -- like I am." The title of this essay might read, "Like I Am: Mother-Daughter Dysfunction in Flannery O'Connor's Short Stories."

Use Wordplay

While the tone of your literary essay should ultimately be professional and credible, using puns or humor to play off an aspect of the title can be a friendly way to entice your audience to read further. For example, an essay about the symbolic villages of East and West Egg in "The Great Gatsby" might be titled "The Eggs Came First: Settings as Symbols in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby.' "

You can be assured your teacher, or whoever is viewing your paper, is going to sift through many boring and unoriginal essay titles, so making sure that yours will pop is important.

Related Articles

How to Write a Thesis Statement for "Robinson Crusoe"

How to Start a Good Book Report

How to Add Figurative Language to an Essay

How to write an essay with a thesis statement.

How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Critical Lens Essay

How to Write a Lab Report Title

How to Write Conclusions for Expository Papers

How to Write an Anecdotal Essay

• Dawson College: Some Tips on Titling Your Critical Essay
• Bucks County Community College: How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay

Kori Morgan holds a Bachelor of Arts in professional writing and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and has been crafting online and print educational materials since 2006. She taught creative writing and composition at West Virginia University and the University of Akron and her fiction, poetry and essays have appeared in numerous literary journals.

644 Literary Analysis Essay Topics & Good Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

Literary analysis essay topics include a diverse landscape of genres, time periods, authors, and themes. They can explore the subtle nuances of symbolism in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” the treatment of femininity in Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre,” or the depiction of dystopia in George Orwell’s “1984.” Various themes may dissect the function of soliloquy in Shakespeare’s plays or delve into the role of realism and magic in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” Discussions on contemporary works might question the societal implications found in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Analysis can also touch on broader aspects, such as the influence of historical context on literary development or the intersectionality of race, class, and gender in literature. Hence, literary analysis essay topics facilitate a profound exploration of literature’s multi-faceted nature.

Best Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Exploring Symbolism and Other Themes in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Decoding Gothic Elements in Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”
• Interpreting Allegorical Meanings in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
• Investigating Feminist Themes in Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre”
• Scrutinizing Social Constructs in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”
• Unveiling Cultural Commentary in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
• Revealing Dystopian Elements in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”
• Examining Existentialism in Albert Camus’ “The Stranger”
• Analyzing Satire in Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”
• Highlighting Racial Prejudice in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• Assessing Immigrant Experiences in Jhumpa Lahiri’s “The Namesake”
• Dissecting Historical Context in Ernest Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls”
• Pondering on the Paradox of Freedom in Anthony Burgess’ “A Clockwork Orange”
• Surveying Eco-Criticism in Barbara Kingsolver’s “The Poisonwood Bible”
• Detailing Magic Realism in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude”
• Probing the Clash of Ideologies in Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged”
• Delineating Human Nature in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
• Comparing the Past and Present in George Eliot’s “Middlemarch”
• Contrasting Class and Gender in Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening”
• Understanding the Subversion of Gender Roles in Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando”
• Decoding Satirical Portrayal of American Society in Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”
• Evaluating the Concept of Heroism in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”

Easy Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Unraveling the Psychology of Fear in Stephen King’s “It”
• Comprehending Trauma and Healing in Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner”
• Investigating Environmental Ethics in Rick Bass’s “The Watch”
• Clarifying Absurdism in Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot”
• Appraising Romanticism in Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights”
• Gauging the Effects of Colonialism in Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”
• Judging War’s Consequences in Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five”
• Differentiating Reality and Fantasy in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”
• Parsing Faith and Doubt in Yann Martel’s “Life of Pi”
• Scrutinizing the Concept of Time in Marcel Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time”
• Inspecting Self-Identity in J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”
• Delving Into the Power of Language in George Orwell’s “1984”
• Analyzing Love and Sacrifice in Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities”
• Extrapolating Class Conflict in Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of the d’Urbervilles”
• Measuring Human Connection in Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway”
• Studying the Influence of Cultural Heritage in Amy Tan’s “The Joy Luck Club”
• Surveying the Pursuit of Happiness in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”
• Deciphering the Intricacies of Memory in Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”
• Contemplating Maturation in Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
• Disentangling Illusion and Reality in Tennessee Williams’s “A Streetcar Named Desire”
• Decoding the Dilemma of Choice in Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”
• Analyzing Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter”
• Discussing Themes of the Human Spirit in John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath”
• Probing Into the Conflict of Science and Religion in Ian McEwan’s “Enduring Love”

Interesting Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Probing Into Ethical Ambiguity in Herman Melville’s “Billy Budd”
• Grasping Loss and Acceptance in Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go”
• Decoding Southern Identity in William Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury”
• Tracing the Evolution of Feminine Independence in Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House”
• Dissecting Political Machinations in Robert Penn Warren’s “All the King’s Men”
• Understanding Postmodernism in Thomas Pynchon’s “The Crying of Lot 49”
• Interpreting the Influence of Tradition in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “Love in the Time of Cholera”
• Deconstructing the Dystopian Society in Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
• Appreciating Nature and Transcendentalism in Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden”
• Evaluating the Role of Innocence in J.D. Salinger’s “Franny and Zooey”
• Probing the Concept of Morality in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment”
• Assessing the Impact of Alienation in Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”
• Investigating the Clash of Cultures in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Americanah”
• Analyzing the Absurdity of War in Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22”
• Scrutinizing the Power of Ambition in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Critiquing Gender Stereotypes in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Interpreting the Notion of Justice in Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman”
• Dissecting Existentialist Themes in Jean-Paul Sartre’s “Nausea”
• Exploring Rebirth and Redemption in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov”
• Examining Racial Identity in Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man”
• Disentangling the Theme of Prejudice in Mark Twain’s “Pudd’nhead Wilson”
• Investigating Power Dynamics in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for High School

• Exploration of Heroism in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Portrayal of Society in Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
• Symbolic Themes in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Understanding Gender Roles in Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women”
• Romanticism vs. Realism in Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights”
• Dystopian Themes in George Orwell’s “1984”
• The Power of Fate in Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”
• Fear of the Unknown in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
• The Influence of Setting in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter”
• Love and Betrayal in William Shakespeare’s “Othello”
• The Struggle for Identity in J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”
• The Interplay of Power and Corruption in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
• Evolution of Characters in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
• Roles of Dreams in John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”
• Unveiling Racism Through Narrative in Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”
• Contrasting Morality in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment”
• Death as a Motif in Emily Dickinson’s Poetry
• The Psychology of the Characters in Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
• Irony and Satire in Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”
• The Dilemma of Choice in Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”
• Class and Social Conflict in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Middle School

• Disillusionment in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
• Ambition and Its Consequences in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• The Concept of Time in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude”
• Reflection of Society in Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations”
• The Role of Prophecy in Homer’s “The Iliad”
• Humanity’s Inherent Goodness in Anne Frank’s “The Diary of a Young Girl”
• Illusion vs. Reality in Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”
• Examination of Nihilism in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Notes From Underground”
• Survival and Hope in Elie Wiesel’s “Night”
• Nature and Self-Discovery in Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden”
• Exploration of Mental Health in Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar”
• Tragedy and Redemption in John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars”
• Individual vs. Society in Ken Kesey’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
• Parenting and Childhood in Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman”
• Unveiling Gender Stereotypes in Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando”
• The Impact of Isolation in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
• Quest for Immortality in Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Depicting Class Struggle in John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath”
• The Paradox of Freedom in Anthony Burgess’ “A Clockwork Orange”
• The Weight of Guilt in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The House of the Seven Gables”

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for College Students

• Postcolonial Perspectives in Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children”
• Gothic Elements in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
• Feminist Critique of Virginia Woolf’s “To The Lighthouse”
• Satirical Devices in Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”
• Existential Themes in Albert Camus’s “The Stranger”
• Racism and Identity in Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”
• Narrative Structure in “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte
• Exploration of Consciousness in James Joyce’s “Ulysses”
• Religious Allegory in John Milton’s “Paradise Lost”
• Examining Sexuality in E. M. Forster’s “Maurice”
• Romanticism in Wordsworth’s “The Prelude”
• Imperialism Critique in Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”
• Roles of Nature in Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden”
• Impact of Industrial Revolution on Dickens’s “Hard Times”
• Commentary on Social Class in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”
• Nihilism in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Notes from Underground”
• Exploration of Southern Gothic in Flannery O’Connor’s Stories
• Influence of the American Dream on Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Power Dynamics in George Orwell’s “1984”
• War Commentary in Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five”
• The Concept of Time in Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway”

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for University

• Commentary on Materialism in Theodore Dreiser’s “Sister Carrie”
• Rebellion against Victorian Norms in Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of the d’Urbervilles”
• Individualism in Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged”
• Struggles of the Immigrant Experience in Amy Tan’s “The Joy Luck Club”
• Reflections on War in Wilfred Owen’s Poems
• Cultural Clash in “White Teeth” by Zadie Smith
• Exploration of Adolescence in Judy Blume’s “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”
• Examination of Insanity in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Postmodernism in Thomas Pynchon’s “The Crying of Lot 49”
• Examination of Loss and Grief in Joan Didion’s “The Year of Magical Thinking”
• Isolation and Loneliness in Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick”
• Exploration of Self-Discovery in Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist”
• Dystopian Themes in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”
• Examination of Childhood Trauma in Stephen King’s “IT”
• Influence of Religion in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov”
• Exploration of Feminine Mystique in Betty Friedan’s Work
• Roles of Faith in Elie Wiesel’s “Night”
• Significance of Social Status in Edith Wharton’s “The Age of Innocence”
• Modernism in T. S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land”
• Influence of Culture and Tradition in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
• Destruction of Innocence in J. D. Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye”
• Examination of Hubris in Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”

Classics Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• The Symbolic Role of Water in Homer’s “The Odyssey”
• The Tragic Hero’s Journey in Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”
• Gender Dynamics in Euripides’ “Medea”
• Foreshadowing in Virgil’s “The Aeneid”
• Portrayal of Power and Corruption in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”
• Fate in Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”
• Theme of Justice in Aeschylus’ “Oresteia”
• Exploration of Identity in Dante’s “Inferno”
• Concept of Love in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
• Conflict Between Individuality and Society in Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”
• Representation of War and Heroism in Homer’s “Iliad”
• Nature of Gods and Mortals in Milton’s “Paradise Lost”
• Revenge in Euripides’ “The Bacchae”
• Examination of Madness in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
• Symbolism of the River in Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
• Irony in Voltaire’s “Candide”
• Exploration of Fate and Free Will in Sophocles’ “Antigone”
• Theme of Transformation in Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”
• Loyalty and Betrayal in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Pride and Hubris in Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”

George Orwell’s “1984” Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Totalitarianism and Surveillance in George Orwell’s “1984”
• Language and Control in Orwell’s “1984”
• Rebellion and Resistance in “1984”
• Power and Manipulation in Orwell’s “1984”
• The Role of Technology in “1984”
• Symbolism of Big Brother in Orwell’s “1984”
• Love and Intimacy in a Dystopian Society in “1984”
• Identity and Individuality in “1984”
• Propaganda and Indoctrination in Orwell’s “1984”
• The Theme of Doublethink in “1984”
• Psychological Manipulation in Orwell’s “1984”
• The Significance of Newspeak in “1984”
• Rebellion through Art and Literature in “1984”
• The Loss of Freedom and Privacy in Orwell’s “1984”
• Roles of Memory and History in “1984”
• Gender Roles and Sexual Repression in “1984”
• The Critique of Totalitarianism in Orwell’s “1984”
• Language as a Form of Control in “1984”
• The Destruction of Love and Relationships in “1984”
• Themes of Fear in Orwell’s “1984”
• The Role of the Proles in “1984”

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on Coming-of-Age Novels

• The Transformative Journey of Self-Discovery in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• Identity Formation and Racial Prejudice in “The Catcher in the Rye”
• Rebellion and Independence in “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
• Gender Roles and Societal Expectations in “Jane Eyre”
• Moral Development and Ethical Dilemmas in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
• Maturation and Loss of Innocence in “Lord of the Flies”
• Cultural Assimilation and Individuality in “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”
• Exploration of Sexuality and Personal Growth in “Call Me by Your Name”
• Class Divide and Social Hierarchy in “Great Expectations”
• Acceptance and Belonging in “The Outsiders”
• Coming-of-Age and the Pursuit of Freedom in “The Scarlet Letter”
• Family Dynamics and Emotional Resilience in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Search for Identity and Heritage in “The Color Purple”
• Friendship and Loyalty in “The Kite Runner”
• Loss and Healing in “The Secret Life of Bees”
• Discovering Personal Values and Morality in “The Book Thief”
• Coming-of-Age in the Face of War in “All Quiet on the Western Front”
• Self-Reflection and Self-Discovery in “The Bell Jar”
• Rebellion Against Societal Norms in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
• Race and Prejudice in “Invisible Man”

Analysis Essay Topics on Gothic Literature

• Supernatural Elements in Gothic Literature: Exploring the Role of Ghosts and Hauntings
• The Sublime and the Gothic: Analyzing the Concepts of Terror and Awe
• Female Characters in Gothic Literature: A Study of Their Roles and Representations
• Madness and Insanity in Gothic Fiction: Portrayals and Symbolism
• The Role of Setting in Gothic Literature: Examining the Haunted Houses and Dark Landscapes
• The Power of Secrets in Gothic Novels: Unraveling Hidden Truths and Consequences
• The Use of Symbolism in Gothic Literature: Decoding Cryptic Messages and Meanings
• Psychological Horror in Gothic Fiction: Analyzing the Inner Turmoil of Characters
• Duality and Doubling in Gothic Novels: Exploring the Split Identities and Shadows
• Death and Decay in Gothic Literature: The Ephemeral Nature of Life and Beauty
• The Portrayal of Villains in Gothic Fiction: From Monsters to Manipulative Minds
• The Role of Women Writers in Gothic Literature: Examining Their Contributions and Challenges
• The Influence of Gothic Architecture in Literature: Analyzing the Aesthetic and Atmosphere
• Supernatural vs. Rational in Gothic Fiction: Clash of Beliefs and Realities
• The Grotesque in Gothic Literature: Disfigured Bodies and Distorted Characters
• Gothic Literature and the Exploration of Fear: Unveiling Human Anxieties and Phobias
• The Subjugation of Women in Gothic Novels: Analyzing Power Imbalances and Patriarchy
• Dreams and Nightmares in Gothic Literature: Unconscious Desires and Fears
• The Evolution of Gothic Literature: Tracing its Development from Horace Walpole to the Present
• The Role of Religion in Gothic Fiction: Exploring the Themes of Sin, Redemption, and Damnation
• Love and Desire in Gothic Novels: Unconventional Relationships and Obsessions

Literary Analysis Topics on Historical Fiction

• The Role of Power and Corruption in Historical Fiction
• Exploring the Effects of War on Historical Fiction
• Love and Betrayal in Historical Fiction Novels
• The Portrayal of Gender Roles in Historical Fiction Literature
• Analyzing the Theme of Identity in Historical Fiction
• The Significance of Historical Settings in Fictional Narratives
• Rebellion and Revolution in Historical Fiction
• The Impact of Historical Events on Fictional Characters
• Examining Historical Accuracy in Fictional Works
• Social Class and Its Representation in Historical Fiction
• Analyzing the Role of Historical Figures in Fictional Narratives
• The Use of Symbolism in Historical Fiction Novels
• Examining the Role of Religion in Historical Fiction
• Exploring the Theme of Freedom in Historical Fiction Works
• The Influence of Culture and Customs on Historical Fiction
• The Representation of Historical Trauma in Fictional Narratives
• Roles of Secrets and Hidden Histories in Historical Fiction
• Analyzing the Power Dynamics in Historical Fiction Novels
• The Portrayal of Race and Ethnicity in Historical Fiction Literature
• Effects of Colonialism and Imperialism in Historical Fiction

Literary Analysis Topics About Magical Realism

• Love and Transformation in Isabel Allende’s “The House of the Spirits”
• Symbolism and Metaphor in Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children”
• Magical Realism as a Vehicle for Social Critique in Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”
• The Intersection of Reality and Fantasy in Laura Esquivel’s “Like Water for Chocolate”
• Magical Realism as a Tool for Cultural Identity in Jorge Luis Borges’ “Ficciones”
• The Exploration of Time and Memory in Haruki Murakami’s “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle”
• Feminine Power and Magical Realism in Angela Carter’s “The Bloody Chamber”
• The Use of Magical Realism in Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
• Myth and Legend in Alejo Carpentier’s “The Kingdom of This World”
• The Theme of Supernatural in Octavia Butler’s “Wild Seed”
• Magical Realism and Postcolonialism in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun”
• The Concept of Dream and Reality in Milan Kundera’s “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”
• The Role of Magical Realism in José Saramago’s “Blindness”
• Dreams and Visions in Gabriel García Márquez’s “Love in the Time of Cholera”
• Magical Realism and the Power of Imagination in Italo Calvino’s “Invisible Cities”
• The Influence of Magical Realism in Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God”
• Symbolism and Allegory in Yann Martel’s “Life of Pi”
• Magical Realism and Political Satire in Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses”
• The Theme of Destiny and Fate in Laura Esquivel’s “The Law of Love”
• The Role of Magical Realism in Ben Okri’s “The Famished Road”
• Nature and the Supernatural in Isabel Allende’s “Eva Luna”

Modernist Literature Analysis Topics

• The Evolution of Cultural Identity in Modernist Novels
• Exploring Fragmentation and Streamlining Consciousness in Modernist Literature
• The Influence of World War I on Modernist Poetic Expression
• Reimagining Gender Roles in Contemporary Modernist Fiction
• Deconstructing Traditional Narrative Structures in Avant-Garde Novels
• The Role of Urbanization in Shaping Modernist Literary Movements
• Capturing the Essence of Modernity in Revolutionary Modernist Poetry
• The Representation of Time and Memory in Innovative Modernist Prose
• Modernist Literature and the Crisis of Faith in a Changing World
• Experimentation with Language and Form in Cutting-Edge Modernist Poetry
• The Impact of Psychology and Psychoanalysis on Bold Modernist Fiction
• Social Critique and Satire in Provocative Modernist Novels
• Rediscovering Mythology and Folklore in Transgressive Modernist Poetry
• Modernist Literature and the Quest for Genuine Personal Expression
• Examining Alienation and Isolation in Revolutionary Modernist Works
• The Transformation of the Heroic Ideal in Groundbreaking Modernist Prose
• Modernist Literature and the Exploration of Fluid Identity Constructs
• The Representation of Modernist Sensibility in Abstract Poetry
• Challenging Established Values and Morality in Defiant Modernist Novels
• The Modernist Aesthetic: The Influence of Visual Arts on Literary Innovations

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on Movies

• Cultural Identity in “Inception”: Exploring the Layers of Selfhood
• The Power of Redemption in “The Shawshank Redemption”
• Love and Sacrifice in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”
• Gender Roles and Stereotypes in “Mad Max: Fury Road”
• Loss and Grief in “Manchester by the Sea”
• Betrayal and Loyalty in “The Departed”
• Technology and Humanity in “Ex Machina”
• Social Class and Inequality in “Parasite”
• Freedom and Rebellion in “V for Vendetta”
• Existentialism and Absurdism in “Fight Club”
• Coming-of-Age in “Moonlight”
• Morality and Ethics in “No Country for Old Men”
• Symbolism and Allegory in “Pan’s Labyrinth”
• War and Its Consequences in “Apocalypse Now”
• Identity and Belonging in “Lost in Translation”
• Power and Corruption in “Citizen Kane”
• Colonialism and Post-Colonialism in “The Last Emperor”
• Individualism vs. Conformity in “The Truman Show”
• Nostalgia and Memory in “The Great Gatsby”
• The Hero’s Journey in “Star Wars: A New Hope”
• Environmentalism and Nature in “WALL-E”

Postcolonial Literature Analysis Topics

• Colonialism’s Impacts on Identity Formation in Postcolonial Literary Analysis
• Decolonizing Language and Literature: Strategies Within Postcolonial Textual Analysis
• Gendered Power Dynamics in Postcolonial Literary Works
• Resistance and Rebellion Explored in Postcolonial Fiction
• Subverting Colonial Narratives: Reimagining History in Postcolonial Literature
• Hybridity and Cultural Identity Formation in Postcolonial Text Analysis
• The Politics of Representing the Postcolonial in Fiction
• Postcolonial Eco-Criticism: Nature and the Environment in Literary Analysis
• Indigenous Perspectives and Voices in Postcolonial Literature
• Exploring Postcolonial Diasporas: Migration and Exile in Literary Works
• Examining the Language of Colonization in Postcolonial Texts
• Rewriting and Reimagining Canonical Texts in the Postcolonial Context
• Nationalism and Anti-Colonial Movements Explored in Postcolonial Literature
• Globalization and Its Impact on Postcolonial Literary Spaces
• Postcolonial Feminist Theory and Women’s Agency in Literature
• Negotiating Identity in Postcolonial Autobiographies
• Resistance through Oral Tradition: Folklore and Mythology in Postcolonial Texts
• Slavery’s Legacy Explored in Postcolonial Literary Analysis
• Revisiting the Past: Historical Fiction in the Postcolonial Context
• Postcolonial Perspectives on Language and Translation in Literature

Literary Analysis Topics About Satire and Social Criticism

• The Use of Irony in Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” as a Social Critique
• Satirical Depiction of Political Corruption in Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
• The Subversive Power of Satire in Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
• Analyzing Gender Roles and Stereotypes in Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”
• A Critical Examination of Society’s Obsession With Wealth in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Satirical Commentary on War and Nationalism in Heller’s “Catch-22”
• Critiquing the American Dream in Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath”
• The Use of Satire to Challenge Gender Inequality in Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”
• Social Criticism and Satire in Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five”
• Analyzing the Satirical Portrayal of Religion in Voltaire’s “Candide”
• The Critique of Victorian Society in Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”
• Satirical Exploration of Consumerism in Palahniuk’s “Fight Club”
• Examining Satire as a Vehicle for Criticizing Colonialism in Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”
• Social Commentary on Racism and Prejudice in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• Analyzing the Satirical Attack on Totalitarianism in Huxley’s “Brave New World”
• Critiquing Class Inequity through Satire in Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities”
• The Use of Satire to Highlight the Absurdity of War in Vonnegut’s “Mother Night”
• Social Criticism of Victorian Morality in Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Satirical Portrayal of Bureaucracy in Kafka’s “The Trial”
• Analyzing the Satirical Critique of Education in Twain’s “The Prince and the Pauper”
• Critiquing the Hypocrisy of Society in Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility”

Social Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Gender Inequality in Literature: Analyzing the Portrayal of Women in Classic Novels
• Racial Discrimination in Contemporary Fiction: Examining the Representation of People of Color
• Environmental Crisis in Literature: Depicting the Devastating Consequences of Climate Change
• Social Class Struggles in Victorian Novels: Unveiling the Disparity Between the Rich and the Poor
• The Role of Literature in Promoting Social Justice: Investigating the Power of Words in Activism
• Immigration and Identity in Literature: Exploring the Experience of Cultural Assimilation
• The Stigma of Mental Illness in Literary Works: Challenging Societal Misconceptions
• Dystopian Societies in Science Fiction: Reflecting on Contemporary Social Issues
• LGBTQ+ Representation in Contemporary Young Adult Literature: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion
• Substance Abuse and Addiction in Literature: Examining the Portrayal of Dependency
• Political Corruption in Novels: Critiquing Power Structures and Governance
• Bullying and Peer Pressure in Coming-of-Age Novels: Analyzing the Impact on Adolescent Characters
• Aging and Ageism in Literature: Exploring the Challenges Faced by Older Characters
• Homelessness in Urban Fiction: Shedding Light on Socioeconomic Marginalization
• Mental Health Stigma in Historical Literature: Revealing the Cultural Attitudes of the Past
• Disability Representation in Contemporary Fiction: Examining the Portrayal of Disabled Characters
• War and Trauma in Literature: Investigating the Psychological Effects of Conflict
• Cultural Appropriation in Literary Works: Addressing Issues of Identity and Authenticity
• Human Rights Violations in Historical Fiction: Uncovering Social Injustices of the Past
• Poverty and Social Inequality in Classic Literature: Reflecting on the Lives of the Impoverished

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About a Subject of Race

• Societal Constructs of Race in Postcolonial Fiction
• Cultural Identity and Racial Stereotypes Within Contemporary Narratives
• Power Dynamics and Racial Divisions in Historical Literary Works
• Racism and Resistance Explored in Afrofuturistic Novels
• Language’s Roles in Shaping Racial Narratives and Identity
• Intersectionality: Examining Race and Gender in Women’s Literature
• Symbolic Representations of Race in Poetry From the Symbolist Movement
• Racial Inequality and Pursuit of Social Justice in Young Adult Novels
• The Representation of Biracial Characters in Literary Works
• Racial Assimilation and Identity Crisis Explored in Immigrant Fiction
• Racial Discrimination and Community Dynamics in Urban Novels
• Race as Performance: Deconstructing Racial Expectations in Postmodern Literature
• Formation of Racial Identity in Coming-of-Age Stories
• Racial Injustices and Class Struggles in Southern Gothic Fiction
• The Portrayal of Native Americans in American Literary Works
• Racial Otherness and Exoticism in Colonial-Era Literature
• Exploring Racial Violence and Trauma Through Literary Memoirs
• Racial Reconciliation and Healing Themes in Contemporary Poetry
• Race and Memory: Unpacking Historical Fiction’s Depiction of the Past
• Satire and Social Critique: Analyzing Racial Themes in Satirical Novels
• Racial Utopias and Dystopias in Speculative Fiction

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About Symbolism and Allegory

• The Profound Symbolism of Nature in Romantic Poetry
• Allegorical Representations of Good and Evil in Classic Literature
• Symbolic Interpretations of Metamorphosis in Kafka’s Work
• Shakespearean Tragedies: Unveiling Symbolic Layers
• Allegorical Themes in George Orwell’s Satirical Works
• Edgar Allan Poe: Unraveling Symbolism and Allegory
• The Green Light’s Symbolic Significance in “The Great Gatsby”
• Unveiling Symbolism: The Conch Shell in “Lord of the Flies”
• Dante’s “Divine Comedy”: Journey Through Allegory
• Symbolism and Allegory in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Masterpiece
• The Symbolic River in Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
• Allegorical Elements in Hermann Hesse’s “Siddhartha”
• Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”: Uncovering Symbolic Layers
• Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”: Allegorical Reflections of Society
• Colors as Symbols in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Symbolism and Allegory in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter”
• J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”: A Tale of Symbolic Depth
• Symbolism in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
• Allegorical Representations of Death in Emily Dickinson’s Poetry
• Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”: The Symbolic Mockingbird

Literary Analysis of War and Peace Topics

• Impacts of Conflict on Individual Identity and Sense of Self
• Consequences of Diplomatic Negotiations in Historical Fiction
• Societal Transformation: The Influence of Warfare and Peacemaking
• Nonviolent Resistance as a Literary Expression
• Familial Dynamics in the Context of Armed Conflicts in Literature
• Exploring the Psychological Toll of Combat Through Literary Works
• Symbolism of Serene Landscapes in Anti-War Novels
• Women’s Roles in Wartime and Peace in Literary Texts
• Analyzing the Metaphorical Language of Conflict and Harmony
• Interplay of Love and Strife in Literary Depictions
• Representation of War Heroes in Literature: Impact on Societies
• The Use of Irony in Writings About War and Peace
• Evolution of War Narratives from Classical to Contemporary Works
• Theme of Reconciliation in Literary Works on War and Peace
• Propaganda’s Influence on Public Perception of Armed Conflicts
• Power Dynamics in Politics: War’s Influence in Literary Texts
• Contrasting the Brutality of Warfare With the Ideal of Harmony
• Exploring Loss and Grief in Literary Works on War
• War Poetry: Representation and Emotional Resonance
• Healing the Wounds of War: Role of Music and Art in Literature
• Honor and Sacrifice: Conceptualization in War Novels

Women’s Literature Analysis Essay Topics

• Exploring Female Identity in Contemporary Fiction
• Unveiling the Subversive Power of Women’s Memoirs
• Empowering Female Characters in Historical Novels
• Examining Gender Roles in Science Fiction Literature
• Deconstructing Patriarchy in Feminist Poetry
• Resilience and Resistance: Women’s Stories of Survival
• Challenging Stereotypes in Women’s Crime Fiction
• Motherhood and Maternal Bonds in Literature
• Reimagining Fairy Tales From a Feminist Perspective
• Female Sexuality in the Works of Women Authors
• Intersections of Race and Gender in Women’s Literature
• Feminist Dystopias: Questioning Gender Norms
• Women’s Coming-of-Age Stories: Identity and Self-Discovery
• Subverting Male Gaze: Reclaiming Female Narratives
• Exploring Sisterhood and Female Friendships in Literature
• Women’s Roles in War and Conflict: Narratives of Courage
• Portrayals of Mental Health in Women’s Literature
• Resistance and Activism in Women’s Poetry
• Breaking Boundaries: Female Protagonists in Historical Fiction
• The Politics of Body and Beauty in Women’s Writing

William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” Literary Analysis Topics

• The Tragic Hero’s Soliloquies in “Hamlet”: Analyzing the Role of Self-Reflection
• Deception and Betrayal: Unraveling Motives of Characters in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
• Exploring the Complex Relationship Between Hamlet and Ophelia: Analyzing Love and Madness
• Revenge as a Central Theme in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”: Examining the Consequences of Vengeance
• Supernatural Intrigue: The Influence of the Ghost in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
• Analyzing the Role of Women in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”: Gertrude and Ophelia’s Impact
• Duty vs. Conscience: Hamlet’s Moral Dilemma and Its Ramifications
• Sanity vs. Madness: Unraveling Hamlet’s Mental State
• The Power of Language in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”: Analyzing Rhetoric and Wordplay
• Unmasking Deceptions: The Theme of Appearance vs. Reality in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
• Fatal Flaw: Analyzing Hamlet’s Tragic Downfall
• Mortality and Existentialism: Exploring the Theme of Death in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
• Analyzing the Symbolism of “The Mousetrap” in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
• Fate and Destiny: Examining the Tragic Elements in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
• The Significance of Hamlet’s Delay: Investigating the Protagonist’s Inaction
• Unveiling Corruption: Analyzing Political Intrigues in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
• Comparing and Contrasting Hamlet’s Relationships With His Father and Uncle
• Family Dynamics: Exploring the Theme of Family in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
• The Inner Conflict of Hamlet: Analyzing the Struggle Between Passion and Reason
• Foils: Examining Contrasting Traits of Characters in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
• The Consequences of Indecision in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”

William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” Literary Analysis Topics

• Fate and Destiny in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
• Tragic Love in “Romeo and Juliet”
• Gender Roles and Expectations in “Romeo and Juliet”
• Youth and Impulsivity in the Tragedy of “Romeo and Juliet”
• Contrasts Between Love and Hate in “Romeo and Juliet”
• The Role of Mercutio in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
• Social Class and Conflict in “Romeo and Juliet”
• Parental Influence in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
• Language and Wordplay in “Romeo and Juliet”
• Light and Darkness in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
• The Role of Nurse in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
• Themes of Loyalty and Betrayal in “Romeo and Juliet”
• Revenge in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
• Death and Suicide in “Romeo and Juliet”
• Individual vs. Society in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
• Time and Hastiness in the Tragedy of “Romeo and Juliet”
• Passion and Lust in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
• Use of Foreshadowing in “Romeo and Juliet”
• Friendship in the Play “Romeo and Juliet”
• Music in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”

William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” Literary Analysis Topics

• Ambition: A Catalyst for Destruction in “Macbeth”
• Guilt and Conscience in Shakespeare’s Tragedy, “Macbeth”
• Power and Corruption: Exploring “Macbeth”
• The Tragic Hero’s Downfall: Analyzing “Macbeth”
• Supernatural Elements in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Gender Roles and Stereotypes in “Macbeth”
• Fate vs. Free Will in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Manipulation and Deception: Themes in “Macbeth”
• Appearance vs. Reality: Unveiling “Macbeth”
• Lady Macbeth’s Influence on Macbeth’s Tragedy
• Blood Imagery: Symbolism in “Macbeth”
• Ambiguity in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Loyalty and Betrayal: Unraveling “Macbeth”
• The Witches’ Role in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Soliloquies: Insight into Characters in “Macbeth”
• Madness and Mental Decline in “Macbeth”
• Violence: Themes in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Sleep and Dreams: Symbolism in “Macbeth”
• Disruption of Natural Order in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• The Concept of Time in “Macbeth”
• Honor and Macbeth’s Tragic Flaw: A Character Analysis

“Beowulf” Literary Analysis Topics

• Heroic Archetypes in “Beowulf”: Exploring the Role of the Hero in the Epic Poem
• Symbolism in “Beowulf”: Analyzing the Significance of Grendel’s Lair
• Women in “Beowulf”: An Examination of Gender Roles and Femininity
• The Concept of Loyalty in “Beowulf”: Unraveling the Threads of Trust
• Fate and Destiny in “Beowulf”: A Journey of Predestined Heroes
• Beowulf’s Moral Code: An Exploration of Honor and Virtue
• The Theme of Good vs. Evil in “Beowulf”: The Battle of Light and Darkness
• Christian Influences in “Beowulf”: The Clash of Paganism and Christianity
• The Role of Kingship in “Beowulf”: Leadership and Power
• The Importance of Boasting in “Beowulf”: Pride and Bravery
• Revenge and Retribution in “Beowulf”: Examining the Cycle of Violence
• The Supernatural Elements in “Beowulf”: Magic and the Otherworldly
• Heroic Sacrifice in “Beowulf”: Analyzing Acts of Selflessness
• The Concept of Time in “Beowulf”: Life, Death, and the Passage of Ages
• Nature and the Environment in “Beowulf”: The Symbolism of Land and Sea
• Beowulf’s Battle With Grendel: An Analysis of Violence and Conquest
• Friendship and Companionship in “Beowulf”: The Bonds of Brotherhood
• Honor and Reputation in “Beowulf”: The Price of Glory
• Monsters and Monstrosity in “Beowulf”: The Line Between Human and Beast
• Wisdom and Knowledge in “Beowulf”: The Importance of Experience

Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” Literary Analysis Topics

• Romanticism in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”: Exploring the Portrayal of Emotions and the Sublime
• The Monster as a Tragic Hero: Analyzing the Character Development and Moral Ambiguity
• Gender Roles in “Frankenstein”: Examining the Portrayal of Masculinity and Femininity
• Nature vs. Nurture: Discussing the Influence of Environment and Upbringing on the Characters
• The Pursuit of Knowledge: Investigating the Consequences of Scientific Ambition and Discovery
• Social Alienation in “Frankenstein”: Analyzing the Theme of Isolation and Its Impact on the Characters
• Responsibility and Accountability: Examining the Ethical Dilemmas Faced by the Characters
• The Doppelgänger Motif: Exploring the Presence of Doubles and Reflections Throughout the Novel
• Monstrosity as a Symbol: Discussing the Metaphorical Representation of the Monster in Society
• Parent-Child Relationships in “Frankenstein”: Analyzing the Dynamics Between Victor and His Creation
• Gothic Elements in the Novel: Examining the Use of Darkness, Horror, and the Supernatural
• The Role of Fate in “Frankenstein”: Discussing the Influence of Destiny and Predestination
• The Power of Language: Analyzing the Importance of Communication and Rhetoric in the Novel
• The Subversion of Gender Stereotypes: Examining the Unconventional Female Characters in the Story
• Revenge and Retribution: Discussing the Motives and Consequences of Seeking Vengeance
• The Prometheus Myth: Analyzing the Allusions to the Greek Myth and Its Significance
• The Role of Science in Society: Discussing the Ethical Implications of Scientific Progress
• The Theme of Ambition: Analyzing the Characters’ Pursuit of Power, Success, and Recognition
• Guilt and Remorse in “Frankenstein”: Examining the Characters’ Moral Struggles and Regrets
• The Role of Nature in the Novel: Discussing the Symbolic Significance of Natural Elements
• The Sublime in “Frankenstein”: Analyzing the Awe-Inspiring and Terrifying Aspects of the Sublime

Literary Analysis Topics on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”

• Influence of Wealth and Materialism in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Symbolism of the Green Light in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Examining the American Dream in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• The Role of Social Class in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• The Significance of Gatsby’s Extravagant Parties in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Exploring the Decline of the American Dream in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Examining Nick Carraway as the Narrator in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• The Symbolic Role of the Valley of Ashes in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Analyzing the Theme of Time in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• The Role of Morality and Ethics in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Betrayal and Deception in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Foreshadowing in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Examining the Motif of Eyes and Vision in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Religion and Spirituality in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Analyzing the Theme of Isolation in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Fate and Destiny in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Nick Carraway’s Midwest Background in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Hope and Despair in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Dreams and Aspirations in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Examining the Theme of Identity in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”

Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” Literary Analysis Topics

• Individualism vs. Conformity in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
• Power and Authority: A Critical Analysis of “The Crucible”
• Betrayal and Loyalty: Exploring Motives in “The Crucible”
• Hysteria and Mass Psychology: An Analysis of “The Crucible”
• Reputation’s Impacts on Social Standing in “The Crucible”
• Justice and Injustice: A Closer Look at “The Crucible”
• Truth and Deception: Unveiling Hidden Agendas in “The Crucible”
• Guilt vs. Innocence: A Moral Examination of “The Crucible”
• Religion and Morality in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
• Fear and Paranoia: Examining the Motifs in “The Crucible”
• Gender Roles and Patriarchy: A Feminist Perspective on “The Crucible”
• Integrity and Moral Courage in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
• Social Class and Inequality: The Struggle in “The Crucible”
• Manipulation and Control: Unveiling the Tactics in “The Crucible”
• The Power of Accusation in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
• Conflict and Resolution: Analyzing Dynamics in “The Crucible”
• Redemption and Forgiveness: Themes in “The Crucible”
• The Proctor Family: Examining the Role in “The Crucible”
• Symbolism and Allegory in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
• The Significance of the Salem Witch Trials in “The Crucible”
• The Destructive Power of Rumors in “The Crucible”

Literary Analysis Topics on Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”

• Censorship and Its Influence on Society in Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
• Symbolic Imagery in Ray Bradbury’s Novel “Fahrenheit 451”
• Character Development and Transformations in Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
• The Role of Technology in Bradbury’s Literary Work “Fahrenheit 451”
• Conflict Between Conformity and Individuality in “Fahrenheit 451”
• The Power of Literature in Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
• Social Criticism in Ray Bradbury’s Famous Novel “Fahrenheit 451”
• The Dystopian Society Portrayed in Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
• Loss of Human Connection and Relationships in “Fahrenheit 451”
• Rebellion and Its Significance in Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
• Fire as a Symbolic Element in Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
• Psychological Themes Explored in Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
• Intellectual Freedom and Its Importance in “Fahrenheit 451”
• Alienation and Isolation in Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
• The Role of Education in Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
• Memory and Identity Exploration in “Fahrenheit 451”
• The Importance of History in Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
• Gender Roles and Stereotypes Addressed in “Fahrenheit 451”
• The Influence of Mass Media in Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
• Dehumanization of Society in Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”

William Shakespeare’s “Othello” Literary Analysis Topics

• Identity and Self-Deception in Shakespeare’s “Othello”
• Manipulation and Envy in “Othello”
• The Power of Language in the Tragedy of Othello
• The Role of Women: Subversion and Agency in “Othello”
• Love and Treachery in Shakespeare’s “Othello”
• The Tragic Hero’s Downfall: Othello’s Demise
• Deception and Illusion in “Othello”
• The Destructive Nature of Revenge: Themes in “Othello”
• Racism and Prejudice in the Play “Othello”
• Influence of Social Hierarchies: Shakespeare’s “Othello”
• The Burden of Guilt and Conscience in “Othello”
• Friendship and Loyalty Explored in “Othello”
• Hubris: The Fatal Flaw in Othello’s Character
• The Consequences of Iago’s Machinations in Shakespeare’s “Othello”
• Loss of Innocence: Themes in “Othello”
• The Role of Fate and Destiny in Othello’s Tragedy
• Othello and Desdemona: A Tragic Love Affair
• Symbolism of the Handkerchief in Shakespeare’s “Othello”
• Honor and Reputation in the Play “Othello”
• Themes of Illusion and Reality in “Othello”
• Power Dynamics and Control in Shakespeare’s “Othello”

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

619 economics essay topics & ideas for research, 353 causal analysis essay topics & ideas.

beginner's guide to literary analysis

Understanding literature & how to write literary analysis.

Literary analysis is the foundation of every college and high school English class. Once you can comprehend written work and respond to it, the next step is to learn how to think critically and complexly about a work of literature in order to analyze its elements and establish ideas about its meaning.

If that sounds daunting, it shouldn’t. Literary analysis is really just a way of thinking creatively about what you read. The practice takes you beyond the storyline and into the motives behind it. 

While an author might have had a specific intention when they wrote their book, there’s still no right or wrong way to analyze a literary text—just your way. You can use literary theories, which act as “lenses” through which you can view a text. Or you can use your own creativity and critical thinking to identify a literary device or pattern in a text and weave that insight into your own argument about the text’s underlying meaning. 

Now, if that sounds fun, it should , because it is. Here, we’ll lay the groundwork for performing literary analysis, including when writing analytical essays, to help you read books like a critic. 

What Is Literary Analysis?

As the name suggests, literary analysis is an analysis of a work, whether that’s a novel, play, short story, or poem. Any analysis requires breaking the content into its component parts and then examining how those parts operate independently and as a whole. In literary analysis, those parts can be different devices and elements—such as plot, setting, themes, symbols, etcetera—as well as elements of style, like point of view or tone. 

When performing analysis, you consider some of these different elements of the text and then form an argument for why the author chose to use them. You can do so while reading and during class discussion, but it’s particularly important when writing essays. 

Literary analysis is notably distinct from summary. When you write a summary , you efficiently describe the work’s main ideas or plot points in order to establish an overview of the work. While you might use elements of summary when writing analysis, you should do so minimally. You can reference a plot line to make a point, but it should be done so quickly so you can focus on why that plot line matters . In summary (see what we did there?), a summary focuses on the “ what ” of a text, while analysis turns attention to the “ how ” and “ why .”

While literary analysis can be broad, covering themes across an entire work, it can also be very specific, and sometimes the best analysis is just that. Literary critics have written thousands of words about the meaning of an author’s single word choice; while you might not want to be quite that particular, there’s a lot to be said for digging deep in literary analysis, rather than wide. 

Although you’re forming your own argument about the work, it’s not your opinion . You should avoid passing judgment on the piece and instead objectively consider what the author intended, how they went about executing it, and whether or not they were successful in doing so. Literary criticism is similar to literary analysis, but it is different in that it does pass judgement on the work. Criticism can also consider literature more broadly, without focusing on a singular work. 

Once you understand what constitutes (and doesn’t constitute) literary analysis, it’s easy to identify it. Here are some examples of literary analysis and its oft-confused counterparts: 

Summary: In “The Fall of the House of Usher,” the narrator visits his friend Roderick Usher and witnesses his sister escape a horrible fate.  

Opinion: In “The Fall of the House of Usher,” Poe uses his great Gothic writing to establish a sense of spookiness that is enjoyable to read. 

Literary Analysis: “Throughout ‘The Fall of the House of Usher,’ Poe foreshadows the fate of Madeline by creating a sense of claustrophobia for the reader through symbols, such as in the narrator’s inability to leave and the labyrinthine nature of the house. 

In summary, literary analysis is:

• Breaking a work into its components
• Identifying what those components are and how they work in the text
• Developing an understanding of how they work together to achieve a goal 
• Not an opinion, but subjective 
• Not a summary, though summary can be used in passing 
• Best when it deeply, rather than broadly, analyzes a literary element

Literary Analysis and Other Works

As discussed above, literary analysis is often performed upon a single work—but it doesn’t have to be. It can also be performed across works to consider the interplay of two or more texts. Regardless of whether or not the works were written about the same thing, or even within the same time period, they can have an influence on one another or a connection that’s worth exploring. And reading two or more texts side by side can help you to develop insights through comparison and contrast.

For example, Paradise Lost is an epic poem written in the 17th century, based largely on biblical narratives written some 700 years before and which later influenced 19th century poet John Keats. The interplay of works can be obvious, as here, or entirely the inspiration of the analyst. As an example of the latter, you could compare and contrast the writing styles of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Edgar Allan Poe who, while contemporaries in terms of time, were vastly different in their content. 

Additionally, literary analysis can be performed between a work and its context. Authors are often speaking to the larger context of their times, be that social, political, religious, economic, or artistic. A valid and interesting form is to compare the author’s context to the work, which is done by identifying and analyzing elements that are used to make an argument about the writer’s time or experience. 

For example, you could write an essay about how Hemingway’s struggles with mental health and paranoia influenced his later work, or how his involvement in the Spanish Civil War influenced his early work. One approach focuses more on his personal experience, while the other turns to the context of his times—both are valid. 

Why Does Literary Analysis Matter? 

Sometimes an author wrote a work of literature strictly for entertainment’s sake, but more often than not, they meant something more. Whether that was a missive on world peace, commentary about femininity, or an allusion to their experience as an only child, the author probably wrote their work for a reason, and understanding that reason—or the many reasons—can actually make reading a lot more meaningful. 

Performing literary analysis as a form of study unquestionably makes you a better reader. It’s also likely that it will improve other skills, too, like critical thinking, creativity, debate, and reasoning. 

At its grandest and most idealistic, literary analysis even has the ability to make the world a better place. By reading and analyzing works of literature, you are able to more fully comprehend the perspectives of others. Cumulatively, you’ll broaden your own perspectives and contribute more effectively to the things that matter to you. 

Literary Terms to Know for Literary Analysis 

There are hundreds of literary devices you could consider during your literary analysis, but there are some key tools most writers utilize to achieve their purpose—and therefore you need to know in order to understand that purpose. These common devices include: 

• Characters: The people (or entities) who play roles in the work. The protagonist is the main character in the work. 
• Conflict: The conflict is the driving force behind the plot, the event that causes action in the narrative, usually on the part of the protagonist
• Context : The broader circumstances surrounding the work political and social climate in which it was written or the experience of the author. It can also refer to internal context, and the details presented by the narrator 
• Diction : The word choice used by the narrator or characters 
• Genre: A category of literature characterized by agreed upon similarities in the works, such as subject matter and tone
• Imagery : The descriptive or figurative language used to paint a picture in the reader’s mind so they can picture the story’s plot, characters, and setting 
• Metaphor: A figure of speech that uses comparison between two unlike objects for dramatic or poetic effect
• Narrator: The person who tells the story. Sometimes they are a character within the story, but sometimes they are omniscient and removed from the plot. 
• Plot : The storyline of the work
• Point of view: The perspective taken by the narrator, which skews the perspective of the reader 
• Setting : The time and place in which the story takes place. This can include elements like the time period, weather, time of year or day, and social or economic conditions 
• Symbol : An object, person, or place that represents an abstract idea that is greater than its literal meaning 
• Syntax : The structure of a sentence, either narration or dialogue, and the tone it implies
• Theme : A recurring subject or message within the work, often commentary on larger societal or cultural ideas
• Tone : The feeling, attitude, or mood the text presents

How to Perform Literary Analysis

Step 1: read the text thoroughly.

Literary analysis begins with the literature itself, which means performing a close reading of the text. As you read, you should focus on the work. That means putting away distractions (sorry, smartphone) and dedicating a period of time to the task at hand. 

It’s also important that you don’t skim or speed read. While those are helpful skills, they don’t apply to literary analysis—or at least not this stage. 

Step 2: Take Notes as You Read  

As you read the work, take notes about different literary elements and devices that stand out to you. Whether you highlight or underline in text, use sticky note tabs to mark pages and passages, or handwrite your thoughts in a notebook, you should capture your thoughts and the parts of the text to which they correspond. This—the act of noticing things about a literary work—is literary analysis. 

Step 3: Notice Patterns 

As you read the work, you’ll begin to notice patterns in the way the author deploys language, themes, and symbols to build their plot and characters. As you read and these patterns take shape, begin to consider what they could mean and how they might fit together. 

As you identify these patterns, as well as other elements that catch your interest, be sure to record them in your notes or text. Some examples include: 

• Circle or underline words or terms that you notice the author uses frequently, whether those are nouns (like “eyes” or “road”) or adjectives (like “yellow” or “lush”).
• Highlight phrases that give you the same kind of feeling. For example, if the narrator describes an “overcast sky,” a “dreary morning,” and a “dark, quiet room,” the words aren’t the same, but the feeling they impart and setting they develop are similar. 
• Underline quotes or prose that define a character’s personality or their role in the text.
• Use sticky tabs to color code different elements of the text, such as specific settings or a shift in the point of view. 

By noting these patterns, comprehensive symbols, metaphors, and ideas will begin to come into focus.  

Step 4: Consider the Work as a Whole, and Ask Questions

This is a step that you can do either as you read, or after you finish the text. The point is to begin to identify the aspects of the work that most interest you, and you could therefore analyze in writing or discussion. 

Questions you could ask yourself include: 

• What aspects of the text do I not understand?
• What parts of the narrative or writing struck me most?
• What patterns did I notice?
• What did the author accomplish really well?
• What did I find lacking?
• Did I notice any contradictions or anything that felt out of place?  
• What was the purpose of the minor characters?
• What tone did the author choose, and why? 

The answers to these and more questions will lead you to your arguments about the text. 

Step 5: Return to Your Notes and the Text for Evidence

As you identify the argument you want to make (especially if you’re preparing for an essay), return to your notes to see if you already have supporting evidence for your argument. That’s why it’s so important to take notes or mark passages as you read—you’ll thank yourself later!

If you’re preparing to write an essay, you’ll use these passages and ideas to bolster your argument—aka, your thesis. There will likely be multiple different passages you can use to strengthen multiple different aspects of your argument. Just be sure to cite the text correctly! 

If you’re preparing for class, your notes will also be invaluable. When your teacher or professor leads the conversation in the direction of your ideas or arguments, you’ll be able to not only proffer that idea but back it up with textual evidence. That’s an A+ in class participation. 

Step 6: Connect These Ideas Across the Narrative

Whether you’re in class or writing an essay, literary analysis isn’t complete until you’ve considered the way these ideas interact and contribute to the work as a whole. You can find and present evidence, but you still have to explain how those elements work together and make up your argument. 

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay

When conducting literary analysis while reading a text or discussing it in class, you can pivot easily from one argument to another (or even switch sides if a classmate or teacher makes a compelling enough argument). 

But when writing literary analysis, your objective is to propose a specific, arguable thesis and convincingly defend it. In order to do so, you need to fortify your argument with evidence from the text (and perhaps secondary sources) and an authoritative tone. 

A successful literary analysis essay depends equally on a thoughtful thesis, supportive analysis, and presenting these elements masterfully. We’ll review how to accomplish these objectives below. 

Step 1: Read the Text. Maybe Read It Again. 

Constructing an astute analytical essay requires a thorough knowledge of the text. As you read, be sure to note any passages, quotes, or ideas that stand out. These could serve as the future foundation of your thesis statement. Noting these sections now will help you when you need to gather evidence. 

The more familiar you become with the text, the better (and easier!) your essay will be. Familiarity with the text allows you to speak (or in this case, write) to it confidently. If you only skim the book, your lack of rich understanding will be evident in your essay. Alternatively, if you read the text closely—especially if you read it more than once, or at least carefully revisit important passages—your own writing will be filled with insight that goes beyond a basic understanding of the storyline. 

Step 2: Brainstorm Potential Topics 

Because you took detailed notes while reading the text, you should have a list of potential topics at the ready. Take time to review your notes, highlighting any ideas or questions you had that feel interesting. You should also return to the text and look for any passages that stand out to you. 

When considering potential topics, you should prioritize ideas that you find interesting. It won’t only make the whole process of writing an essay more fun, your enthusiasm for the topic will probably improve the quality of your argument, and maybe even your writing. Just like it’s obvious when a topic interests you in a conversation, it’s obvious when a topic interests the writer of an essay (and even more obvious when it doesn’t). 

Your topic ideas should also be specific, unique, and arguable. A good way to think of topics is that they’re the answer to fairly specific questions. As you begin to brainstorm, first think of questions you have about the text. Questions might focus on the plot, such as: Why did the author choose to deviate from the projected storyline? Or why did a character’s role in the narrative shift? Questions might also consider the use of a literary device, such as: Why does the narrator frequently repeat a phrase or comment on a symbol? Or why did the author choose to switch points of view each chapter? 

Once you have a thesis question , you can begin brainstorming answers—aka, potential thesis statements . At this point, your answers can be fairly broad. Once you land on a question-statement combination that feels right, you’ll then look for evidence in the text that supports your answer (and helps you define and narrow your thesis statement). 

For example, after reading “ The Fall of the House of Usher ,” you might be wondering, Why are Roderick and Madeline twins?, Or even: Why does their relationship feel so creepy?” Maybe you noticed (and noted) that the narrator was surprised to find out they were twins, or perhaps you found that the narrator’s tone tended to shift and become more anxious when discussing the interactions of the twins.

Once you come up with your thesis question, you can identify a broad answer, which will become the basis for your thesis statement. In response to the questions above, your answer might be, “Poe emphasizes the close relationship of Roderick and Madeline to foreshadow that their deaths will be close, too.” 

Step 3: Gather Evidence 

Once you have your topic (or you’ve narrowed it down to two or three), return to the text (yes, again) to see what evidence you can find to support it. If you’re thinking of writing about the relationship between Roderick and Madeline in “The Fall of the House of Usher,” look for instances where they engaged in the text. 

This is when your knowledge of literary devices comes in clutch. Carefully study the language around each event in the text that might be relevant to your topic. How does Poe’s diction or syntax change during the interactions of the siblings? How does the setting reflect or contribute to their relationship? What imagery or symbols appear when Roderick and Madeline are together? 

By finding and studying evidence within the text, you’ll strengthen your topic argument—or, just as valuably, discount the topics that aren’t strong enough for analysis. 

Step 4: Consider Secondary Sources 

In addition to returning to the literary work you’re studying for evidence, you can also consider secondary sources that reference or speak to the work. These can be articles from journals you find on JSTOR, books that consider the work or its context, or articles your teacher shared in class. 

While you can use these secondary sources to further support your idea, you should not overuse them. Make sure your topic remains entirely differentiated from that presented in the source. 

Step 5: Write a Working Thesis Statement

Once you’ve gathered evidence and narrowed down your topic, you’re ready to refine that topic into a thesis statement. As you continue to outline and write your paper, this thesis statement will likely change slightly, but this initial draft will serve as the foundation of your essay. It’s like your north star: Everything you write in your essay is leading you back to your thesis. 

Writing a great thesis statement requires some real finesse. A successful thesis statement is: 

• Debatable : You shouldn’t simply summarize or make an obvious statement about the work. Instead, your thesis statement should take a stand on an issue or make a claim that is open to argument. You’ll spend your essay debating—and proving—your argument. 
• Demonstrable : You need to be able to prove, through evidence, that your thesis statement is true. That means you have to have passages from the text and correlative analysis ready to convince the reader that you’re right. 
• Specific : In most cases, successfully addressing a theme that encompasses a work in its entirety would require a book-length essay. Instead, identify a thesis statement that addresses specific elements of the work, such as a relationship between characters, a repeating symbol, a key setting, or even something really specific like the speaking style of a character. 

Example: By depicting the relationship between Roderick and Madeline to be stifling and almost otherworldly in its closeness, Poe foreshadows both Madeline’s fate and Roderick’s inability to choose a different fate for himself. 

Step 6: Write an Outline 

You have your thesis, you have your evidence—but how do you put them together? A great thesis statement (and therefore a great essay) will have multiple arguments supporting it, presenting different kinds of evidence that all contribute to the singular, main idea presented in your thesis. 

Review your evidence and identify these different arguments, then organize the evidence into categories based on the argument they support. These ideas and evidence will become the body paragraphs of your essay. 

For example, if you were writing about Roderick and Madeline as in the example above, you would pull evidence from the text, such as the narrator’s realization of their relationship as twins; examples where the narrator’s tone of voice shifts when discussing their relationship; imagery, like the sounds Roderick hears as Madeline tries to escape; and Poe’s tendency to use doubles and twins in his other writings to create the same spooky effect. All of these are separate strains of the same argument, and can be clearly organized into sections of an outline. 

Step 7: Write Your Introduction

Your introduction serves a few very important purposes that essentially set the scene for the reader: 

• Establish context. Sure, your reader has probably read the work. But you still want to remind them of the scene, characters, or elements you’ll be discussing. 
• Present your thesis statement. Your thesis statement is the backbone of your analytical paper. You need to present it clearly at the outset so that the reader understands what every argument you make is aimed at. 
• Offer a mini-outline. While you don’t want to show all your cards just yet, you do want to preview some of the evidence you’ll be using to support your thesis so that the reader has a roadmap of where they’re going. 

Step 8: Write Your Body Paragraphs

Thanks to steps one through seven, you’ve already set yourself up for success. You have clearly outlined arguments and evidence to support them. Now it’s time to translate those into authoritative and confident prose. 

When presenting each idea, begin with a topic sentence that encapsulates the argument you’re about to make (sort of like a mini-thesis statement). Then present your evidence and explanations of that evidence that contribute to that argument. Present enough material to prove your point, but don’t feel like you necessarily have to point out every single instance in the text where this element takes place. For example, if you’re highlighting a symbol that repeats throughout the narrative, choose two or three passages where it is used most effectively, rather than trying to squeeze in all ten times it appears. 

While you should have clearly defined arguments, the essay should still move logically and fluidly from one argument to the next. Try to avoid choppy paragraphs that feel disjointed; every idea and argument should feel connected to the last, and, as a group, connected to your thesis. A great way to connect the ideas from one paragraph to the next is with transition words and phrases, such as: 

• Furthermore 
• In addition
• On the other hand
• Conversely 

Step 9: Write Your Conclusion 

Your conclusion is more than a summary of your essay's parts, but it’s also not a place to present brand new ideas not already discussed in your essay. Instead, your conclusion should return to your thesis (without repeating it verbatim) and point to why this all matters. If writing about the siblings in “The Fall of the House of Usher,” for example, you could point out that the utilization of twins and doubles is a common literary element of Poe’s work that contributes to the definitive eeriness of Gothic literature. 

While you might speak to larger ideas in your conclusion, be wary of getting too macro. Your conclusion should still be supported by all of the ideas that preceded it. 

Step 10: Revise, Revise, Revise

Of course you should proofread your literary analysis essay before you turn it in. But you should also edit the content to make sure every piece of evidence and every explanation directly supports your thesis as effectively and efficiently as possible. 

Sometimes, this might mean actually adapting your thesis a bit to the rest of your essay. At other times, it means removing redundant examples or paraphrasing quotations. Make sure every sentence is valuable, and remove those that aren’t. 

Other Resources for Literary Analysis 

With these skills and suggestions, you’re well on your way to practicing and writing literary analysis. But if you don’t have a firm grasp on the concepts discussed above—such as literary devices or even the content of the text you’re analyzing—it will still feel difficult to produce insightful analysis. 

If you’d like to sharpen the tools in your literature toolbox, there are plenty of other resources to help you do so: 

• Check out our expansive library of Literary Devices . These could provide you with a deeper understanding of the basic devices discussed above or introduce you to new concepts sure to impress your professors ( anagnorisis , anyone?). 
• This Academic Citation Resource Guide ensures you properly cite any work you reference in your analytical essay. 
• Our English Homework Help Guide will point you to dozens of resources that can help you perform analysis, from critical reading strategies to poetry helpers. 
• This Grammar Education Resource Guide will direct you to plenty of resources to refine your grammar and writing (definitely important for getting an A+ on that paper). 

Of course, you should know the text inside and out before you begin writing your analysis. In order to develop a true understanding of the work, read through its corresponding SuperSummary study guide . Doing so will help you truly comprehend the plot, as well as provide some inspirational ideas for your analysis.

Literary Analysis Essay

Literary Analysis Essay Writing

Last updated on: May 21, 2023

Literary Analysis Essay - Ultimate Guide By Professionals

By: Cordon J.

Reviewed By: Rylee W.

Published on: Dec 3, 2019

A literary analysis essay specifically examines and evaluates a piece of literature or a literary work. It also understands and explains the links between the small parts to their whole information.

It is important for students to understand the meaning and the true essence of literature to write a literary essay.

One of the most difficult assignments for students is writing a literary analysis essay. It can be hard to come up with an original idea or find enough material to write about. You might think you need years of experience in order to create a good paper, but that's not true.

This blog post will show you how easy it can be when you follow the steps given here.Writing such an essay involves the breakdown of a book into small parts and understanding each part separately. It seems easy, right?

Trust us, it is not as hard as good book reports but it may also not be extremely easy. You will have to take into account different approaches and explain them in relation with the chosen literary work.

It is a common high school and college assignment and you can learn everything in this blog.

Continue reading for some useful tips with an example to write a literary analysis essay that will be on point. You can also explore our detailed article on writing an analytical essay .

On this Page

What is a Literary Analysis Essay?

A literary analysis essay is an important kind of essay that focuses on the detailed analysis of the work of literature.

The purpose of a literary analysis essay is to explain why the author has used a specific theme for his work. Or examine the characters, themes, literary devices , figurative language, and settings in the story.

This type of essay encourages students to think about how the book or the short story has been written. And why the author has created this work.

The method used in the literary analysis essay differs from other types of essays. It primarily focuses on the type of work and literature that is being analyzed.

Mostly, you will be going to break down the work into various parts. In order to develop a better understanding of the idea being discussed, each part will be discussed separately.

The essay should explain the choices of the author and point of view along with your answers and personal analysis.

How To Write A Literary Analysis Essay

So how to start a literary analysis essay? The answer to this question is quite simple.

The following sections are required to write an effective literary analysis essay. By following the guidelines given in the following sections, you will be able to craft a winning literary analysis essay.

Introduction

The aim of the introduction is to establish a context for readers. You have to give a brief on the background of the selected topic.

It should contain the name of the author of the literary work along with its title. The introduction should be effective enough to grab the reader’s attention.

In the body section, you have to retell the story that the writer has narrated. It is a good idea to create a summary as it is one of the important tips of literary analysis.

Other than that, you are required to develop ideas and disclose the observed information related to the issue. The ideal length of the body section is around 1000 words.

To write the body section, your observation should be based on evidence and your own style of writing.

It would be great if the body of your essay is divided into three paragraphs. Make a strong argument with facts related to the thesis statement in all of the paragraphs in the body section.

Start writing each paragraph with a topic sentence and use transition words when moving to the next paragraph.

Summarize the important points of your literary analysis essay in this section. It is important to compose a short and strong conclusion to help you make a final impression of your essay.

Pay attention that this section does not contain any new information. It should provide a sense of completion by restating the main idea with a short description of your arguments. End the conclusion with your supporting details.

You have to explain why the book is important. Also, elaborate on the means that the authors used to convey her/his opinion regarding the issue.

For further understanding, here is a downloadable literary analysis essay outline. This outline will help you structure and format your essay properly and earn an A easily.

DOWNLOADABLE LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY OUTLINE (PDF)

Types of Literary Analysis Essay

• Close reading - This method involves attentive reading and detailed analysis. No need for a lot of knowledge and inspiration to write an essay that shows your creative skills.
• Theoretical - In this type, you will rely on theories related to the selected topic.
• Historical - This type of essay concerns the discipline of history. Sometimes historical analysis is required to explain events in detail.
• Applied - This type involves analysis of a specific issue from a practical perspective.
• Comparative - This type of writing is based on when two or more alternatives are compared

Examples of Literary Analysis Essay

Examples are great to understand any concept, especially if it is related to writing. Below are some great literary analysis essay examples that showcase how this type of essay is written.

A ROSE FOR EMILY LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

THE GREAT GATSBY LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

THE YELLOW WALLPAPER LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

If you do not have experience in writing essays, this will be a very chaotic process for you. In that case, it is very important for you to conduct good research on the topic before writing.

There are two important points that you should keep in mind when writing a literary analysis essay.

First, remember that it is very important to select a topic in which you are interested. Choose something that really inspires you. This will help you to catch the attention of a reader.

The selected topic should reflect the main idea of writing. In addition to that, it should also express your point of view as well.

Another important thing is to draft a good outline for your literary analysis essay. It will help you to define a central point and division of this into parts for further discussion.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics

Literary analysis essays are mostly based on artistic works like books, movies, paintings, and other forms of art. However, generally, students choose novels and books to write their literary essays.

Some cool, fresh, and good topics and ideas are listed below:

• Role of the Three Witches in flaming Macbeth’s ambition.
• Analyze the themes of the Play Antigone,
• Discuss Ajax as a tragic hero.
• The Judgement of Paris: Analyze the Reasons and their Consequences.
• Oedipus Rex: A Doomed Son or a Conqueror?
• Describe the Oedipus complex and Electra complex in relation to their respective myths.
• Betrayal is a common theme of Shakespearean tragedies. Discuss
• Identify and analyze the traits of history in T.S Eliot’s ‘Gerontion’.
• Analyze the theme of identity crisis in The Great Gatsby.
• Analyze the writing style of Emily Dickinson.

If you are still in doubt then there is nothing bad in getting professional writers’ help.

We at 5StarEssays.com can help you get a custom paper as per your specified requirements with our do essay for me service.

Our essay writers will help you write outstanding literary essays or any other type of essay. Such as compare and contrast essays, descriptive essays, rhetorical essays. We cover all of these.

So don’t waste your time browsing the internet and place your order now to get your well-written custom paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a literary analysis essay include.

A good literary analysis essay must include a proper and in-depth explanation of your ideas. They must be backed with examples and evidence from the text. Textual evidence includes summaries, paraphrased text, original work details, and direct quotes.

What are the 4 components of literary analysis?

Here are the 4 essential parts of a literary analysis essay;

No literary work is explained properly without discussing and explaining these 4 things.

How do you start a literary analysis essay?

Start your literary analysis essay with the name of the work and the title. Hook your readers by introducing the main ideas that you will discuss in your essay and engage them from the start.

How do you do a literary analysis?

In a literary analysis essay, you study the text closely, understand and interpret its meanings. And try to find out the reasons behind why the author has used certain symbols, themes, and objects in the work.

Why is literary analysis important?

It encourages the students to think beyond their existing knowledge, experiences, and belief and build empathy. This helps in improving the writing skills also.

What is the fundamental characteristic of a literary analysis essay?

Interpretation is the fundamental and important feature of a literary analysis essay. The essay is based on how well the writer explains and interprets the work.

Law, Finance Essay

Cordon. is a published author and writing specialist. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years, providing writing services and digital content. His own writing career began with a focus on literature and linguistics, which he continues to pursue. Cordon is an engaging and professional individual, always looking to help others achieve their goals.

Was This Blog Helpful?

Keep reading.

• Interesting Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Students

• Write a Perfect Literary Analysis Essay Outline

People Also Read

• essay writing service
• learn how to write descriptive essay
• narrative essay examples
• rhetorical analysis essay
• persuasive speech topics

Burdened With Assignments?

Advertisement

• Homework Services: Essay Topics Generator

© 2024 - All rights reserved

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Student Opinion

100-Plus Writing Prompts to Explore Common Themes in Literature and Life

By The Learning Network

• Jan. 31, 2019

Update, Feb. 15, 2019: Learn more about how to use our 1000s of writing prompts by watching our free on-demand webinar: “ Give Them Something to Write About: Teach Across the Curriculum With New York Times-Inspired Daily Prompts. ”

Every day since 2009 we’ve been asking students a question inspired by an article, essay, video or feature in The New York Times.

Periodically, we sort those questions into lists to make finding what you need easier, like these previous lists of prompts for personal or narrative writing and for argumentative writing , or like this monster list of more than 1,000 prompts , all categorized by subject.

This time, however, we’re making a list to help your students more easily connect the literature they’re reading to the world around them — and to help teachers find great works of nonfiction that can echo common literary themes.

Below, we’ve chosen the best prompts — those that ask the most relevant questions and link to the richest Times materials — from our Student Opinion collection that address every stage of life, from coming-of-age and wrestling with one’s identity to understanding one’s role in a family; making friends; getting an education; falling in love; working; and experiencing old age. We hope they can provide jumping-off points for discussion and writing, and inspiration for further reading.

Most teachers know that our Student Opinion questions are free and outside The Times’s digital subscription service, but what you may not realize is that if you access the Times articles we link to from those questions via our site, the articles are also free. So in this list we hope we’re not just suggesting 100-plus interesting questions, we hope we’ve also helped you find 100-plus great works of nonfiction that can speak to the literature your students are reading.

So whether you’re taking on classic works like “The Catcher in the Rye,” “Romeo and Juliet” or “1984,” or whether you’re teaching more contemporary literature like “The Poet X,” “Speak,” “Refugee” or “There There,” we hope there are more than a few items on this list that will resonate.

Please note: All our recent questions, from late 2016 on, are still open to comment on our site. While questions published on an older version of The Learning Network are no longer open to comment, both the questions and the related Times materials are still available via the link.

I. Coming-of-Age

1. What Rites of Passage Mark the Transition to Adulthood in Your Community? 2. When Have You Reinvented Yourself? 3. Is It Harder to Grow Up in the 21st Century Than It Was in the Past? 4. Have You Ever Felt Pressured by Family or Others in Making an Important Decision About Your Future? 5. What Do Older Generations Misunderstand About Teenagers Today? 6. Are You Too Hard on Yourself? 7. What Childhood Rules Did You Break? 8. What Have You Learned in Your Teens? 9. Do You Think Anxiety Is a Serious Problem Among Young People? 10. Does Suffering Make Us Stronger and Lead to Success? 11. Do We Give Children Too Many Trophies? 12. Do You Have ‘Emerging Adult’ Skills? 13. Is Childhood Today Too Risk-Free? 14. How Young Is Too Young to Use Social Media? 15. What Are Your Secret Survival Strategies? 16. What Have You Learned From a Younger Person — and What Have You Taught an Older Person? 17. Do You Think Teenagers Can Make a Difference in the World?

II. Identity

1. Are You the Same Person on Social Media as You Are in Real Life? 2. How Much Does Your Neighborhood Define Who You Are? 3. Have You Ever Taken a Stand That Isolated You From Your Peers? 4. What’s the Story Behind Your Name? 5. Are You Being Raised to Pursue Your Dreams? 6. Have You Ever Been Told You Couldn’t Do Something Because of Your Gender? 7. Do You Feel Constricted by Gender Norms? 8. What Messages About Gender Have You Gotten From Music? 9. Why Is Race So Hard to Talk About? 10. Is America ‘Backsliding’ on Race? 11. What Is the Role of Religion or Spirituality in Your Life? 12. How Often Do You Start Conversations About Faith or Spirituality? 13. What Is Your Earliest Memory? 14. How Resilient Are You? 15. Are You a Patient Person? 16. What Role Does Envy Play in Your Life? 17. How Do You Handle Fear? 18. How Much Control Do You Think You Have Over Your Fate? 19. What Are You Grateful For? 20. How Often Do You Leave Your ‘Comfort Zone’? 21. When Was the Last Time You Did Something That Scared or Challenged You? 22. Does What You Wear Say Anything About You as a Person?

III. Being Part of a Family

1. Who Is Your Family? 2. How Are You and Your Parents Alike and Different? 3. How Much Freedom Have Your Parents Given You? 4. Will You Follow in Your Parents’ Footsteps? 5. How Much Do You Know About Your Family’s History? 6. How Often Do You Fight With Your Parents? 7. Do You Have Helicopter Parents? 8. Do Your Parents Spy on You? 9. Should Parents Track Their Teenager’s Location? 10. How Do You Make Parenting Difficult for Your Parents? 11. What Good Can Come From Disagreements? 12. What Advice Would You Give to Your Mom, Dad or Guardian on How to Be a Better Parent? 13. How Do You Get What You Want From Your Parents? 14. Should Parents Bribe Their Children? 15. Do Your Parents Yell at You? 16. What’s the Best Way to Discipline Children? 17. How Should Parents Teach Their Children About Race and Racism? 18. Do the Adults in Your Life Follow You on Social Media? 19. What Advice Do You Have for Teenagers and Their Parents? 20. What Messages About Food and Eating Have You Learned From Your Family?

IV. Making Friends, IRL and Online

1. Do You Ever Feel Lonely? (video) 2. How Good a Friend Are You? 3. Do You Find It Easier to Make New Friends Online or in Person? 4. How Alike Are You and Your Friends? 5. Do You Have Any Unlikely Friendships? 6. What Does the World Need to Know About an Important Person in Your Life? 7. Does Technology Make Us More Alone? (video) 8. How Often Do You Spend One-on-One Time With Your Closest Friends? 9. Is Your Phone Love Hurting Your Relationships? (quiz) 10. Do You Spend Enough Time With Other People? 11. How Do You Feel About Introducing Friends From Different Parts of Your Life? 12. Do You Like Your Friends? 13. Do You Consider Your Siblings Friends? 14. How Have You Helped a Friend in a Time of Need? 15. Do You Take More Risks When You Are Around Your Friends? 16. Who Outside Your Family Has Made a Difference in Your Life? 17. Do You Ever Talk About Issues of Race and Class With Your Friends? 18. Is Your Online World Just a ‘Filter Bubble’ of People With the Same Opinions?

V. Getting an Education

1. What Do You Wish Your Teachers Knew About You? 2. Is School a Place for Self-Expression? 3. Are You Stressed About School? 4. Are Straight A’s Always a Good Thing? 5. How Well Do Rewards and Incentives Work to Motivate You? 6. Are High School Students Being Worked Too Hard? 7. When Has a Teacher Inspired You? (video) 8. Has a Teacher Ever Changed Your Mind-Set? 9. Does Your Teacher’s Identity Affect Your Learning? 10. Should Schools Teach You How to Be Happy? 11. Do You Feel Your School and Teachers Welcome Both Conservative and Liberal Points of View? 12. Have You Experienced Racism or Other Kinds of Discrimination in School? 13. Do Teachers Assign Too Much Homework? 14. How Should Schools Address Cyberbullying? (video) 15. Has a Novel Ever Helped You Understand Yourself or Your World Better? 16. Is Your School’s Dress Code Too Strict? 17. What Worries Do You Have About College? 18. Do Other People Care Too Much About Your Post-High School Plans? 19. Is the College Admissions Process Fair? 20. Should Everyone Go to College? 21. How Prepared Are You for College? How Well Do You Think You’ll Do? 22. How Well Do You Think Standardized Tests Measure Your Abilities? 23. Can Students at Your School Talk Openly About Their Mental Health Issues? 24. Is Live-Streaming Classrooms a Good Idea?

VI. Learning About Love (and Sex)

1. Have You Ever Been in Love? 2. Should Your Significant Other Be Your Best Friend? 3. What Are the Basic ‘Rules’ for Handling Breakups? 4. What’s the Best Way to Heal a Broken Heart? 5. How Important Do You Think It Is to Marry Someone With the Same Religion? 6. How Do You Think Technology Affects Dating? 7. Is Dating a Thing of the Past? 8. Is Hookup Culture Leaving Your Generation Unhappy and Unprepared for Love? 9. Could Following These Directions Make You Fall in Love With a Stranger? 10. What Constitutes Sexual Consent? 11. Do You Find It Hard to Say ‘I Love You’?

VII. Working and Finding Your Purpose

1. What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? 2. Do You Think You Will Have a Career That You Love? 3. Would You Pursue a Career If You Knew You Likely Would Not Make Much Money? 4. Does Achieving Success Always Include Being Happy? 5. How Do You Express Yourself Creatively? 6. What Are Your Thoughts on ‘Hustle Culture’? 7. Is Struggle Essential to Happiness? 8. Does Achieving Success Always Include Being Happy? 9. Do You Give Yourself Enough Credit for Your Own Successes? 10. How Important a Role Has Money, Work or Social Class Played in Your Life? 11. When Have You Failed? What Did You Learn From It? 12. What Challenges Have You Overcome? 13. What Are Your Expectations About Earning, Saving and Spending Money? 14. What Choices Do You Make About Money Every Day? 15. Do You Perform Better When You’re Competing or When You’re Collaborating? 16. What Activities Make You Feel Most Alive? 17. Where Do You Think You Will Live When You Are an Adult?

VIII. Experiencing Old Age and Confronting Death

1. Do You Look Forward to Old Age? 2. Would You Want to Live Forever? 3. What Do You Want to Be Known for After Your Death? 4. If the World Was Ending, What Would You Want to Say? 5. Would You Like to Be Cryogenically Preserved (Frozen!) Upon Your Death? 6. Do You Believe That Everything Happens for a Reason?

• Essay Guides
• Essay Topics
• 450+ Literary Analysis Topics Ideas & Title Examples for Inspiration
• Speech Topics
• Basics of Essay Writing
• Other Essays
• Main Academic Essays
• Research Paper Topics
• Basics of Research Paper Writing
• Miscellaneous
• Chicago/ Turabian
• Data & Statistics
• Methodology
• Admission Writing Tips
• Admission Advice
• Other Guides
• Student Life
• Studying Tips
• Understanding Plagiarism
• Academic Writing Tips
• Basics of Dissertation & Thesis Writing

• Research Paper Guides
• Formatting Guides
• Basics of Research Process
• Admission Guides
• Dissertation & Thesis Guides

450+ Literary Analysis Topics Ideas & Title Examples for Inspiration

Table of contents

Use our free Readability checker

Finding that ideal literary analysis topic can be as complex as the literature you're studying. But fear not! Backed by our experience, we’ve gathered some good literary analysis essay topics worth your attention. 

In this blog article, we will tell you how to choose a great title and drop inspirational ideas for your literature analysis. So, sit back, relax, and let us guide you through the best literary analysis topics.

What Are Literary Analysis Topics?

Literary analysis topics are the types of analytical essay topics that deal with examining any work of literature. It might be a novel, a short story, or even literary criticism. You can select any of these topics to write a literary analysis on. 

Topics for literary analysis might focus on various elements of the literature you are supposed to study. For instance, you may explore the following things:

• Literary devices
• Structure and style

Essentially, your task is to unleash the hidden meanings and interpret the messages conveyed in the literary works.

>> Learn more: How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay

Features of Good Literary Analysis Topics

Before we move on to the literature essay topics, let’s talk about what makes a title stand out. Good literary analysis topics should:

• Be related to the literature
• Provide an opportunity for further exploration of the work as a whole.
• Raise interesting questions and allow for different interpretations.
• Inspire readers to think about the topic in more detail.

Choosing the right topic is very important. If you need extra help from experts, rely on our team of academic professionals. Say ‘ do my essay for me ’ and get an authentic essay crafted in line with your needs.

How to Choose a Literary Analysis Topic?

Are you staring at a blank page and don’t even know what literary analysis essay topic to choose? We know that feeling. It can be as challenging as finding a perfect rhyme in a sonnet, but no worries! Below we've got some easy steps to help you select a great literary analysis topic:

• Read and reflect Start by immersing yourself in the text. As you read, keep an eye on themes, characters, and symbols that catch your attention.
• Ask questions This is where your inner Sherlock should come out! Question everything about the book. Why does a character behave a certain way? What's the significance of that recurring symbol? These queries are the seeds of your literary analysis.
• Find connections Look for links in the text – between characters, themes, or even the historical context. These connections often make for a compelling literary analysis essay title example.
• Keep it focused Remember, you're writing an essay , not a book! So, zoom in. Instead of tackling a broad topic like "Imagery in To Kill a Mockingbird," focus on something more specific, like "The use of bird imagery in To Kill a Mockingbird."
• Find a new angle If you're choosing a popular book, find a fresh angle. Instead of going with the crowd, create your own path. A unique perspective will make your analysis stand out.

Powered up by these guidelines, you are sure to find an excellent literary analysis essay idea. Now, let’s see what literary analysis titles and writing prompts we have prepared for you.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics List

If you are not sure how to get started, look at the list of essay titles below. Here, we’ve selected top literary essay topics and prompts to kickstart your journey into literature. Let’s begin with some basic themes and literary elements:

• Symbolism in Emily Dickinson's poetry.
• Women’s portrayal in Pride and Prejudice.
• Orwell's use of dystopia in 1984.
• Time in Slaughterhouse-Five.
• Death's representation in Edgar Allan Poe’s works.
• Mystery and suspense in Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series.
• Symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye.
• Portrayal of masculinity in Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea.
• Handling of grief in Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking.
• Solitude in Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude.
• Role of supernatural elements in Macbeth.
• American Dream in Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby.
• Postcolonial themes in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart.
• The role of setting in A Tale of Two Cities.
• Juxtaposition of civilization and savagery in Golding's Lord of the Flies.

Good Literary Analysis Essay Topics

If you're searching for that spark of inspiration, look no further. Choose a title idea from the collection of literary analysis essay prompts we added below:

• Jane Austen's social satire in Sense and Sensibility.
• Use of stream-of-consciousness in Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway.
• Survival in Yann Martel's Life of Pi.
• Love in Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary.
• Illusion versus reality in Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire.
• Ambition's consequences in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
• Power in George Orwell's Animal Farm.
• Role of nature in Jack London's Call of the Wild.
• Innocence in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.
• J.D. Salinger's use of first-person narrative in Catcher in the Rye.
• Conflict of individual versus society in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.
• Isolation in Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis.
• Friendship in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.
• Social class in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations.
• Gender roles in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.

Interesting Literary Analysis Topics

Are you looking for something more mind-blowing? Consider these interesting literary analysis essay topics ideas to shake things up a bit:

• Irony in Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
• Satire in Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels.
• Perspective shifts in William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying.
• Justice in Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman .
• Power dynamics in Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men.
• Fear in Stephen King's The Shining.
• Identity crisis in Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar.
• Spiritual growth in Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha.
• Betrayal in Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go.
• Symbolism in Toni Morrison's Beloved.
• Freedom in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
• Class struggle in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
• Portrayal of war in Joseph Heller's Catch-22.
• Obsession in Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray .
• Romanticism in J.M Barrie's Peter Pan.

Unique Literary Analysis Essay Topics

When it comes to a literary analysis paper, standing out from the crowd can make all the difference. If you're looking to bring a touch of uniqueness to your writing, consider one of these these distinctive literary analysis prompts:

• Magical realism in Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude.
• Portrayal of rebellion in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 .
• Maternal relationships in Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club.
• Existentialism in Albert Camus' The Stranger.
• Deceit in Arthur Miller's The Crucible.
• Quest for identity in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man.
• Treatment of time in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five.
• Pride in Sophocles' Antigone.
• Role of memory in Toni Morrison's Beloved.
• Perspective and truth in Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner.
• Portrayal of destiny in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
• Madness in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Courage and survival in Markus Zusak's The Book Thief.
• Role of society in George Orwell's 1984 .
• Youth and age in J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye .

Best Literature Essay Topics

Are you ready to take your analysis to the next level? Take a look at these top-notch literary topics for essays, each one carefully crafted for an A+ analysis essay :

• Challenging societal norms in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House.
• Portrayal of love in Pablo Neruda's poetry.
• Loss and grief in Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking.
• Paradox in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.
• Representation of animals in Jack London's The Call of the Wild.
• Disillusionment in F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night.
• Trauma and healing in Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns.
• Use of language in James Joyce's Ulysses.
• Quest for identity in Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God.
• Portrayal of family in August Wilson's Fences.
• Loyalty in Homer's Iliad .
• Portrayal of survival in Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
• Duality in Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
• Isolation in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot.
• Influence of society in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park.

Easy Literary Analysis Title Examples

If you are a novice or prefer simple literary analysis essay ideas, this list is for you.

• Uncovering themes in To Kill a Mockingbird.
• The symbolism in Lord of the Flies.
• Understanding character development in Great Expectations.
• Love and relationships in Pride and Prejudice.
• The role of setting in Wuthering Heights.
• Morality in Moby Dick.
• Exploring imagery in The Great Gatsby .
• Power dynamics in Animal Farm.
• Social critique in Brave New World.
• Conflict in Romeo and Juliet .
• Identity and culture in The Namesake.
• Supernatural elements in Macbeth .
• The quest for freedom in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
• Aging and time in The Old Man and the Sea.
• Survival in Life of Pi.

Topics for Literary Analysis in Different Genre

Exploring different genres can add a whole new dimension to your literary analysis. Whether it's the captivating world-building of fantasy or the futuristic visions of science fiction, each genre offers a bunch of literary analysis ideas for any taste. Check out the following literary analysis essay topics sorted by genre:

• Utopian ideals in H.G. Wells' The Time Machine.
• Symbols and motifs in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
• Suspense in Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.
• Love in Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook.
• Representation of war in Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth.
• Humanity in Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
• Courage in C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
• Justice in Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series.
• Conflict in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
• Time in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.
• Portrayal of technology in William Gibson's Neuromancer.
• Good versus evil in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.
• Clues in Edgar Allan Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue.
• Portrayal of passion in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights.
• Use of historical detail in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall.

American Literature Essay Topics

American literature has produced some of the most iconic works in history. Take a glance at these essay topics for American literature analysis essay topics to get motivated:

• Racial tensions in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin.
• Transcendentalism in Walden.
• Role of women in The Scarlet Letter .
• Slavery and freedom in Beloved.
• The meaning of home in Langston Hughes' poetry.
• Masculinity and honor in Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises.
• Individualism in On the Road.
• Illusion versus reality in Death of a Salesman.
• Navigating adolescence in The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
• Tragic hero in A Streetcar Named Desire.
• Consequences of power in The Crucible .
• Love and loss in The Fault in Our Stars.
• Identity in Invisible Man.
• Nature and the self in Leaves of Grass.
• Religion and faith in The Poisonwood Bible.

English Literature Essay Topics

If you are a British literature enthusiast, don’t skip this list. Below, we have collected the most trending literary analysis title examples in English literature:

• Class struggle in Dickens' Oliver Twist.
• Mysticism in Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.
• Misogyny in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles.
• Role of weather in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights.
• Satire of Victorian Era in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.
• Subversion of romance in Jane Austen's Emma.
• Landscape and memory in Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd.
• War and its effects in Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front.
• Power and corruption in George Orwell's Animal Farm.
• Maturation in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre .
• Religious doubt in Graham Greene's The End of the Affair.
• Time and consciousness in Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse.
• Subconscious in D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers.
• Rebellion against society in Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange.

Literary Analysis Topics for Students

We've carefully curated literary analysis essay topics suitable for students at different levels of education. From high school to college, there's something for everyone. We've categorized these topics for a literary analysis essay according to academic level to help you find what fits your needs best. Are you ready to dive in? Get prepared to discover literary analysis title ideas that will make your writing process an absolute pleasure.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Middle School Students 

• Understanding friendship in The Outsiders.
• Lessons about tolerance in Wonder.
• Courage and bravery in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
• The importance of individuality in A Wrinkle in Time.
• Family and identity in The Giver.
• The theme of adventure in Treasure Island.
• Life lessons in Charlotte’s Web.
• Overcoming obstacles in Bridge to Terabithia.
• The impact of rumors in The Watsons Go to Birmingham.
• Symbolism in Tuck Everlasting.
• The significance of heritage in Esperanza Rising.
• Power of persistence in Hatchet.
• Examining the hero's journey in Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief.
• Struggles with fairness in The Westing Game.
• The role of honesty in The Secret Garden.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for High School Students

• Tragic love in Romeo and Juliet.
• Prejudice and racism in To Kill a Mockingbird.
• The dangers of ambition in Macbeth.
• The importance of friendship in The Outsiders.
• Symbolism in The Great Gatsby.
• Coming of age in The Catcher in the Rye.
• Man versus nature in Moby Dick.
• Power and corruption in Animal Farm.
• Morality in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
• The impact of war in All Quiet on the Western Front.
• Human nature in Lord of the Flies.
• The role of the American dream in Death of a Salesman.
• Heroism in Beowulf.
• Innocence and experience in Catch-22.
• Dystopian society in Fahrenheit 451.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for College Students

• Irony and satire in Pride and Prejudice.
• Freedom in A Doll's House.
• Role of madness in Hamlet.
• Colonialism and its impacts in Heart of Darkness.
• Alienation and isolation in The Metamorphosis.
• Tragedy and fate in Oedipus Rex.
• Exploring human consciousness in Mrs. Dalloway.
• Modernism in Ulysses.
• Language and power in 1984.
• Identity and society in Invisible Man.
• Existentialism in Waiting for Godot.
• Feminism and gender roles in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Justice and judgment in Crime and Punishment.
• The influence of society on individuals in A Streetcar Named Desire.
• Role of memory in Remembrance of Things Past.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics in Poetry

Poetry has a unique way of touching our hearts and minds. Poem analysis can reveal hidden meanings behind the verses. If you're searching for literary analysis essay topics with a focus on poetry, check out some pointers in the sections below.

Romeo and Juliet Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Fate and destiny in Romeo and Juliet.
• Masculinity and its influence on the characters' actions.
• The impact of family feuds on individual choices in Romeo and Juliet.
• Concept of time in Romeo and Juliet.
• Understanding love at first sight through Romeo and Juliet.
• The juxtaposition of love and violence in the play.
• Secret identities and deception in Romeo and Juliet.
• The influence of peer pressure on the events of Romeo and Juliet.
• Contrasting views of love: Exploring the perspectives of Romeo, Juliet, and other characters.
• Dreams and omens in Romeo and Juliet.

Hamlet Literary Analysis Essay Topics Ideas

• Hamlet's madness: Genuine condition or clever ruse?
• Revenge and its destructive consequences.
• Role of women: Analyzing the characters of Gertrude and Ophelia.
• Appearance versus reality: The dichotomy of disguise and deceit.
• Hamlet's soliloquies: A window into his psyche and moral dilemmas.
• The tragic flaw of Hamlet.
• The ghost of King Hamlet: Its role and significance.
• Corruption and decay in Hamlet's kingdom.
• Father-son relationships in Hamlet.
• Morality and ethical decision-making in Hamlet.

Macbeth Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Supernatural elements in Macbeth.
• Moral decline of Macbeth throughout the play.
• Lady Macbeth's role in Macbeth's ambition and actions.
• Guilt and its consequences in Macbeth.
• The power of prophecy and its impact on Macbeth's decisions.
• Role of sleep and sleeplessness in the play.
• The symbolism of blood in Macbeth.
• Disorder and chaos in Macbeth.
• The transformation of Lady Macbeth's character over the course of the play.
• The portrayal of kingship and tyranny in Macbeth.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics Ideas & Prompts

Still can’t find a topic? Scroll down to spot more fantastic literary analysis writing prompts and ideas, categorized by popular works. Whether you're analyzing character development, theme, or narrative style, you will definitely recognize some good literary analysis topics ideas.

Frankenstein Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Role of nature in shaping the characters of Frankenstein.
• Dangers of unchecked ambition in Frankenstein.
• Impact of isolation on Victor Frankenstein and his creature.
• Women in Frankenstein's world.
• Creator and creation in Frankenstein.
• Creature’s desire for companionship.
• Frankenstein as a critique of enlightenment ideals.
• Concept of 'otherness' in Frankenstein.
• Knowledge and ignorance in Frankenstein.
• Comparing Victor Frankenstein and his creature.

Beowulf Literary Analysis Essay Prompts

• Christian and pagan elements in Beowulf.
• Lineage and ancestry in Beowulf.
• The symbolism of monsters in Beowulf.
• The representation of kingship in Beowulf.
• Fame and reputation.
• Treasure and gift-giving in Beowulf.
• Loyalty in the world of Beowulf.
• Good versus evil in Beowulf.
• Beowulf's three battles: A comparative analysis.

The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis Topics

• Destructive power of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby.
• Social classes in The Great Gatsby.
• Motif of the 'green light' in The Great Gatsby.
• Illusion versus reality in The Great Gatsby.
• Time and the past in The Great Gatsby.
• The role of geography and setting.
• The portrayal of love and desire.
• Significance of Gatsby's parties in the novel.
• Symbolism of the 'Valley of Ashes' in The Great Gatsby.
• Nick Carraway as an unreliable narrator.

Fahrenheit 451 Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Censorship and its impact on society in Fahrenheit 451.
• Technology in Fahrenheit 451's dystopian society.
• Symbolism of fire.
• Motif of mirrors in Fahrenheit 451.
• Individuality versus conformity in Fahrenheit 451.
• Portrayal of reading and books in Fahrenheit 451.
• Mechanical hound and its role.
• The impact of isolation and disconnection in Fahrenheit 451.
• Happiness and fulfillment represented in the book.
• Symbolism of the phoenix in Fahrenheit 451.

Othello Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• The impact of jealousy on the characters of Othello.
• Race and racism in Othello.
• Manipulation and its role in this play.
• Representation of women in Othello.
• Appearance versus reality in Othello.
• Reputation and honor in this play.
• Impact of insecurities on the character of Othello.
• Role Desdemona's handkerchief plays.
• Motif of animals in Othello.
• Friendship and betrayal as represented in this play.

The Catcher In The Rye Literary Analysis Topics

• How does Salinger represent teen angst in Catcher in the Rye?
• Role of Phoebe in Holden Caulfield's life.
• Analysis of Holden's perception of adulthood.
• Symbolic meaning of the Museum of Natural History.
• Red hunting hat as a symbol of isolation.
• Salinger's portrayal of mental illness through Holden.
• Relevance of the carrousel scene at the end of this novel.
• Language and narrative style in Catcher in the Rye.
• Understanding Holden's relationships with other characters.
• How does this title relate to Holden's personality and actions?

The Crucible Literary Analysis Topics

• Fear and hysteria as represented in The Crucible.
• Power dynamics in Salem's society.
• John Proctor's character development throughout this play.
• Abigail Williams' motivations.
• Analysis of Arthur Miller's use of historical events.
• Symbolism of the witch trials.
• Religion and how it is represented in The Crucible.
• Comparing the characters: Elizabeth Proctor vs. Abigail Williams.
• Suspicion and paranoia in this play.
• Relevance of The Crucible in today's society.

1984 Literary Essay Topics

• George Orwell's depiction of totalitarianism.
• Concept of Newspeak.
• Surveillance and control in 1984.
• Winston's rebellion against the Party.
• Symbolism of the glass paperweight.
• Analysis of the Party's manipulation of history.
• Role of Big Brother in this novel.
• ulia's character and her contrast to Winston.
• Significance of Room 101.
• Doublethink and its influence on citizens' mentality.

The Story of an Hour Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Mrs. Mallard's freedom and confinement.
• Irony in The Story of an Hour.
• Theme of time in this short story.
• Heart and it symbolism.
• Portrayal of marriage in The Story of an Hour.
• Significance of the open window.
• Railroad and its role in this story.
• How does Mrs. Mallard's reaction reflect societal norms?
• Analysis of Louise's transformation.
• Representation of life and death.

The Cask of Amontillado Literary Analysis Ideas

• Revenge in The Cask of Amontillado.
• Significance of setting in this story.
• Symbolism of the cask.
• Montresor as an unreliable narrator.
• Concept of pride in this story.
• Foreshadowing in The Cask of Amontillado.
• Contrast between Montresor and Fortunato.
• Motif of disguise and deception.
• Exploring the concept of madness.
• How does the catacomb setting contribute to the story's tone?

Pride and Prejudice Literary Analysis Prompts

• First impressions in Pride and Prejudice.
• Jane Austen's portrayal of marriage and social status.
• The theme of pride in this novel.
• Understanding the character of Mr. Darcy.
• Significance of the title in understanding this novel.
• Contrasting characters of Elizabeth and Jane.
• Letters and their role in Pride and Prejudice.
• Social hierarchy and class in this novel.
• Theme of family in Pride and Prejudice.
• Lydia and her impact on the plot.

Kafka’s Metamorphosis Literary Analysis Title Examples

• Exploring Gregor Samsa's transformation.
• Kafka’s portrayal of family relationships.
• Symbolism of the apple in Metamorphosis.
• How does Kafka depict the human condition?
• Understanding Grete's role in this story.
• Kafka's commentary on work and responsibility.
• Gregor's room as a symbol of his inner state.
• Role of dehumanization in Metamorphosis.
• Kafka's style in conveying existentialist themes.
• Understanding the character of Mr. Samsa.

Topics for Literary Analysis of The Odyssey

• Role of hospitality in ancient Greek society.
• Examination of Odysseus as a hero.
• Vengeance in The Odyssey.
• Significance of the Underworld.
• Role of gods and goddesses in the plot.
• Women characters in The Odyssey.
• Understanding Telemachus' character arc.
• Significance of Ithaca in Odysseus’ journey.
• Analysis of deception.
• Circe: Character analysis .

The Old Man and the Sea Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Perseverance in Hemingway's novel.
• Analyzing Santiago's relationship with the sea.
• Significance of Santiago's dreams about lions.
• Hemingway's portrayal of friendship and camaraderie.
• Symbolism of the marlin.
• The sea and its significance in Santiago's journey.
• Heroism as depicted in this novel.
• Role of nature and its depiction.
• Santiago's hand injury and its symbolic meaning.
• Defeat and its role in shaping Santiago’s character.

Jane Eyre Literary Analysis Topics

• Gothic elements in Jane Eyre.
• Concept of the madwoman in the attic.
• Religion in Jane's life and development.
• Portrayal of women's independence in the novel.
• Significance of Thornfield Hall.
• Motif of fire and ice in Jane Eyre.
• Examining the character of Mr. Rochester.
• Understanding the role of Adele in this novel.
• Analyzing forgiveness.
• Jane’s quest for self-identity and belonging.

The Scarlet Letter Literary Topics for Essays

• Sin and guilt and how they are depicted.
• Symbolism of the scarlet letter 'A'.
• Understanding Hester Prynne's character development.
• Role of Pearl as a symbol.
• Exploration of hypocrisy.
• Examination of the Puritan society.
• Roger Chillingworth as a character.
• Role of secrets and hidden identities.
• Significance of the forest and the town.
• Portrayal of women in The Scarlet Letter.

Of Mice and Men Literary Analysis Essay Ideas

• Lennie's dream and its impact on this story.
• How does Steinbeck present George and Lennie's friendship?
• Decoding symbolism in Of Mice and Men.
• Loneliness in this novel.
• Analyzing Steinbeck's portrayal of the American Dream.
• Unraveling Curley's wife's character.
• A critical look at attitudes towards women.
• Analysis of power dynamics in Of Mice and Men.
• Steinbeck’s depiction of life during the Great Depression.
• Understanding the tragic end: Was there an alternative?

Lord of the Flies Literary Analysis Titles

• Loss of innocence in Lord of the Flies.
• Power struggle: Analyzing leadership styles of Jack and Ralph.
• Deconstructing the symbol of 'beast' in the novel.
• Golding’s portrayal of the thin veneer of civilization.
• Survival instincts in Lord of the Flies.
• Motif of the conch shell in this novel.
• Exploring fear and its implications.
• Golding's view on human nature.
• A critical look at the novel's ending.
• Understanding the novel’s allegorical elements.

To Kill a Mockingbird Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Racial injustice in this novel.
• How does Scout's perspective shape the narrative?
• Harper Lee's portrayal of small-town life in the South.
• Moral education in To Kill a Mockingbird.
• Understanding Boo Radley's impact on this story.
• Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird.
• Analysis of Atticus Finch's parenting style.
• Class structure in Maycomb County.
• Gender roles in To Kill a Mockingbird.
• Bravery in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics & Title Ideas by Themes

Are you interested in how the good is represented in literature. Or, want to explore the dark side of human nature? No matter what theme you’re analyzing, these literary analysis topics will surely help you get your gears turning.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on Education

• Exploring education's impact in To Kill a Mockingbird.
• Jane Eyre's education and its effects on her life.
• Learning and wisdom in J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.
• Views on education in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
• Education’s role in the development of Huck Finn.
• Value of practical knowledge in Moby-Dick.
• Understanding Malvolio’s wisdom in Twelfth Night.
• How The Great Gatsby criticizes education in the 1920s.
• Education as liberation in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
• Women's education in Pride and Prejudice.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on Religion 

• Understanding religious allegory in Lord of the Flies.
• Christian symbolism in The Chronicles of Narnia.
• Religion’s impact on communities in The Poisonwood Bible.
• Religious imagery in William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience.
• Criticism of the church in The Canterbury Tales.
• Dystopian views of religion in Brave New World.
• How The Scarlet Letter deals with religion and sin.
• Portrayal of religious hypocrisy in Huckleberry Finn.
• Religious aspects in Paradise Lost.
• Comparing religious symbolism in Moby Dick and Billy Budd.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on Race

• Discussing racial prejudices in To Kill a Mockingbird.
• Understanding racial disparities in The Color Purple.
• Representation of race in Othello.
• Racial discrimination in Nella Larsen's Passing.
• Concept of race in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
• Racial dynamics in Go Set a Watchman.
• Racial identity in The Bluest Eye.
• Race and identity in Invisible Man.
• Racial politics in James Baldwin's Go Tell It On The Mountain.
• Racial tensions in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun.

War and Peace Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Understanding war's impact in All Quiet on the Western Front.
• Depiction of warfare in War and Peace.
• Post-war society in The Sun Also Rises.
• Effects of war on Mrs. Dalloway.
• Concept of peace in A Separate Peace.
• Interpreting war in Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls.
• Post-war life in The Catcher in the Rye.
• Pacifist messages in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five.
• Consequences of war in A Farewell to Arms.
• Portrayal of war in The Red Badge of Courage.

Literary Analysis Topics on Justice and Judgment

• Concept of justice in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
• Justice and injustice in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations.
• Judgment in Jane Austen’s Emma.
• Analyzing justice in George Orwell's 1984.
• Exploring judgment in Pride and Prejudice.
• Justice in A Tale of Two Cities.
• Critique of justice in William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure.
• Judgment in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.
• Justice in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables.
• Portrayal of justice in The Merchant of Venice.

Literary Analysis Ideas About Good and Evil

• Good and evil in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
• Good vs evil in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
• Struggle between good and evil in Moby-Dick.
• Dichotomy of good and evil in To Kill a Mockingbird.
• Conflict of good and evil in The Lord of the Rings.
• Good and evil in Golding's Lord of the Flies.
• Representation of good and evil in Heart of Darkness.
• Exploration of good and evil in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• How Bram Stoker’s Dracula deals with good and evil.
• Examining the balance of good and evil in Macbeth.

Bottom Line on Literary Analysis Essay Topics

When you're dealing with a literary analysis paper, it can be overwhelming to come up with unique topics. The trick is finding the perfect topic that you will be excited to work with. These literary analysis ideas should help get you started in the right direction. From time-tested classics to more modern works, we focused on different themes so you can pick the one you like.

Remember, in academics, there's always room for some expert advice and help. Why not lean on seasoned professionals to guide your way? Our team at StudyCrumb is here to assist you, providing expert-level guidance for your writing.

Our proficient writers can provide a unique, high-quality essay tailored just for you. Don't let the ticking clock stress you out! Buy college essay now and receive an original writing piece that surpasses your expectations.

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

You may also like

435 Literary Analysis Essay Topics and Prompts [2024 Upd]

Literature courses are about two things: reading and writing about what you’ve read. For most students, it’s hard enough to understand great pieces of literature, never mind analyzing them. And with so many books and stories out there, choosing one to write about can be a chore.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

But you’re in luck!

This article by our Custom Writing service experts presents a list of the most interesting and creative literary analysis topics. Additionally, you will find here:

• helpful essay prompts;
• a writing guide with simple tips;
• a literary analysis example.

This comprehensive article can be helpful not only for university or college students but also to students of high and middle school.

• 🔝 Top 10 Literature Topics for High School
• 🔮 Top 10 Literary Topics for College
• 📜 Topics from Different Eras
• 🖋️ Poetry Analysis Topics
• 🎭 Shakespeare Essay Topics
• 📚 English Literature Topics: Different Authors
• 💡 Non-Fiction Literature Topics
• ⭐ Other Ideas
• 🖊️ Literary Analysis Prompts
• ✍️ Writing Guide
• 📃 Essay Example

🔗 References

🔝 top 10 literature essay topics for high school.

• The role of religion in King Lear  
• Milk symbolism in Beloved  
• Is there gender inequality in Iliad ? 
• Social issues of The Little Match Girl  
• Gender roles in The Great Gatsby  
• Frankenstein : historical background 
• How is loyalty presented in Beowulf ?
• Flower symbolism in A Rose for Emily
• Politics in Titus Andronicus  
• The presentation of power in Ozymandias   

🔮 Top 10 Literary Analysis Essay Topics for College

• Nature symbolism in Young Goodman Brown  
• Childhood trauma in God Help the Child  
• The consequences of Macbeth’s ambition 
• The historical context of The Scarlet Letter  
• Presentation of misery in The Chimney Sweeper
• The supernatural in The Fall of the House of Usher  
• What does Dorian Gray’s portrait represent? 
• How is the true inner self discovered in Demian ? 
• Natural beauty in I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud  
• Endurance as a theme of The Old Man and the Sea  

📜 Literary Analysis Essay Topics: Different Eras

Topics in ancient greek & roman literature.

Works of literature from Ancient Greece have a timeless quality. This is why they are still taught in schools centuries later. After thousands of years, there is little that hasn’t already been written about these works. That’s why we’ve gathered the only most outstanding topics that you will definitely find interesting:

• Justice in Plato’s The Republic . Plato is perhaps the most influential thinker in the Western World. Accordingly, writing about his powerful philosophical dialogs is a challenging task. Most teachers will assign only portions of The Republic . We suggest you write about the theme of justice, but you can choose to focus on any other aspect of the dialog.
• Determination in Sophocles’ Antigone . Antigone is one of the masterworks of the Greek playwright Sophocles. In this tale of royal succession, key themes include civil disobedience, natural and human law, and faithfulness.
• Odysseus as an atypical hero in The Odyssey . The Odyssey by Homer is considered one of the most important poems in Classic literature. Odysseus is a unique epic hero facing an unusual challenge: his goal is not to win battles but to reconnect with his family. He has to rely on his wit rather than sheer power to achieve it. In your essay, explain how Odysseus differs from other heroes in Greek mythology .
• Ethical principles in Aesop’s Fables . Aesop’s Fables represent a unique example of Ancient Greek literature. The stories written by a slave have become a cultural phenomenon centuries later. Even today, the morals of his works stay relevant.
• The influence of Greek tragedy on modern theater. Sophocles’ and Aeschylus ‘ plays can still be found in the repertoire of many theaters. Moreover, their works often serve as inspiration for contemporary playwrights.
• The tragedy of Oedipus in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex . Oedipus is one of the best-known classic tragic heroes. In killing his father and marrying his mother, he fulfilled the prophecy of the Oracle. Through this play, Sophocles explores the themes of destiny and human flaws.
• The variety of genres in the Metamorphoses. Millennia after Ovid’s Metamorphoses were written, scholars still argue about the genre of this work. Ovid blended historical events with fiction and experimented with the tone and themes of the poem.
• The role of gods in Homer’s epic poems. In Homer’s Iliad and The Odyssey , gods often determine the outcomes of major events and change heroes’ destinies. They can become powerful allies or dangerous enemies of humans. Explore how divine interventions change the course of the story in both poems. Focus on Athene, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hera, and Poseidon.
• Cicero’s legacy in Western politics and philosophy. Cicero’s letters are widely recognized as some of the most influential works of Latin literature. John Locke , Voltaire, and Martin Luther are among the figures inspired by him. Cicero’s philosophy teaching also influenced revolutionary movements in France and America in the 17 th century.

Literary Essay Topics: 19th and 20th Century

Many great literary works in the English language were written in the golden era of the 19 th and 20 th centuries. These works, ranging from epic novels to short poems, provide insight into the themes that define the Anglophone world’s spirit.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

• The conflict between good and evil in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes . Sherlock Holmes—a character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—is considered the most famous fictional detective of all time. The Adventure of the Speckled Band is the favorite Holmes story of both the author and readers. Accordingly, many students choose to analyze this short story, which explores the themes of chaos.
• Lord of the Flies as an allegory of modern society. Students of all ages have read Lord of the Flies , the classic novella by William Golding that explores the dangers of groupthink, the conflicts between rationality and irrationality, and morality and immorality., the classic novella by William Golding that explores the dangers of groupthink, the conflicts between rationality and irrationality, and morality and immorality.
• The arbitrary nature of time and history in The Princess Bride . William Goldman’s The Princess Bride is such an entertaining story that it was adapted into an even more popular film. The key theme explored in this book is the power of love to conquer all.
• The theme of money and greed in The Rocking Horse Winner . D. H. Lawrence is one of the masters of 20 th -century English literature, and his short story The Rocking Horse Winner clearly demonstrates his skill. In this tale of a struggling family, the themes of money and greed are thoroughly explored as a young boy uses clairvoyance gained on a rocking horse to predict race outcomes.
• Is Of Mice and Men a classic tale of struggle? The American writer John Steinbeck captured the hardships faced by ordinary people during the Great Depression . The main recurring theme among Of Mice and Men characters is striving after dreams, often futilely, as demonstrated by them all: from George and Lennie to Candy and Curley’s wife.
• The themes of reality and fantasy in A Streetcar Named Desire . Tennessee Williams’s masterpiece A Streetcar Named Desire is perhaps the most famous American dramatic play of all time. The central theme explored in this provocative play is the contemporary dependence of women on men.
• Comparison of Ivan and Alexei in The Brothers Karamazov. The conflict between faith and doubt is arguably the central topic of Dostoevsky’s work, and The Brothers Karamazov is a perfect example of it. Alexei is a devout Orthodox Christian who believes in miracles. His brother, Ivan, rejects the concept of divine transcendence and embraces atheism.
• Charles Dickens’ ambivalent attitude towards the poor. Dickens is widely considered an advocate of the poor’s rights and social change. Indeed, many of his impoverished characters are likable. However, Dickens also believes that the poor can be dangerous to society. Some of the works you can discuss are Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities , and Barnaby Rudge .
• Magic realism in One Hundred Years of Solitude . Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s masterpiece, One Hundred Years of Solitude, is written in the genre of magical realism. Marquez tells a fictional story of the Buendia family, blending daily routine with extraordinary events, effectively blurring the line between reality and fiction.
• The differences between dystopian worlds in 1984 and A Brave New World . George Orwell and Aldous Huxley wrote the two most famous dystopian novels of the 20 th century. In both of them, the government has complete control over society, which is obtained through different strategies. In your essay, you may compare the policies in 1984 and A Brave New World .
• On the Road as the landmark novel of the Beat Generation. Jack Kerouac and other members of the Beat movement challenged the typical American middle-class lifestyle in their works. On the Road embodies the main principles of their philosophy. Some of the topics to explore are freedom, spontaneity, and nonconformity.
• The role of the changing narrative in Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury . The Sound and the Fury is often praised for its experimental form. Four narrators tell the story from different perspectives and in contrasting tones. Explore how the changing narrative affects the overall perception of the novel.
• Folklore, religion, and myth in Toni Morrison’s works. Toni Morrison is widely recognized as one of the most influential contemporary Black American writers. Her works are inspired mainly by her African heritage and Western mythology. Some of the novels to explore are Beloved and Song of Solo mon .
• Expression of war experiences in American fiction. Wars in the 20 th century had a significant impact on American literature. Many writers participated in armed conflicts. Hemingway , Vonnegut, Salinger, and O’Brien are some of the authors who reflect on their war experiences in semi-autobiographic novels and short stories.

Contemporary Literature Essay Topics

Excellent books are still being written! Once in a while, your instructor may ask you to analyze a more recent work. Here are a few great books to consider for your next essay.

• The theme of overcoming obstacles and poverty in Reservation Blues . Sherman Alexie’s novel Reservation Blues tells the story of a group of young men from the Spokane Indian reservation. They obtain the enchanted guitar of a legendary bluesman. Aside from overcoming obstacles, this book explores many other themes of Native American life.
• Family obligations in Montana 1948 by Larry Watson . This novella is set in the Western American state of Montana, where a young man’s family struggles to survive. You may explore the theme of family obligations in conjunction with loyalty and justice.
• The presentation of grief in The Lovely Bones . In Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones , the protagonist Susie dies violently. And then, her spirit proceeds to watch over the investigation of her disappearance and her family members’ lives.
• Self-sacrifice as one of the central themes of Harry Potter . You may also want to write about any other theme of the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. But remember: when you write about a book that was turned into a movie, make sure to actually read the book!
• Cultural and religious references in Saunders’ Lincoln in the Bardo. One of the most acclaimed novels in recent years, Lincoln in the Bardo deals with the themes of death and the afterlife. A Tibetan concept of bardo inspires Saunders’ work, but the author also borrows ideas from other cultures and religions.
• The theme of cultural assimilation in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah. In her third novel, Adichie draws upon her personal experiences to tackle the issues African immigrants face when they move to the US. Explore the effects of immigration on the protagonist’s personality, views, and behavior.
• Hypocrisy as the central theme of Ian McEwan’s Amsterdam. In Amsterdam , McEwan explores the contrast between public figures’ statements and their personal lives. None of the major characters in the novel act in accordance with their ethical standards. We suggest you focus on the figures of Clive, Vernon, and Julian.
• Paul Beatty’s The Sellout : Satire on racial stereotypes. Beatty employs satire and irony to tackle some of the most pressing current issues in American society. The Sellout can be used as an encyclopedia of stereotypes associated with African Americans. Explore how the author uses literary devices to highlight their absurdity.
• Cloning ethics in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go . In the dystopian world of Never Let Me Go , cloning is a common practice. However, clones are used only as organ donors; they are not perceived as human beings. Explain how Ishiguro uses the narrative to challenge this social norm. For example, his characters can make art and fall in love.
• Comparison of the New and Old Gods in Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. In American Gods , the narrative is based on the idea that humans created deities. The Old Gods in mythology represent the forces of nature, and The New Gods represent technologies that shape modern society. Discuss the similarities and differences between these two groups.

🖋️ Literary Analysis Essay Topics: Poetry

Many of the great works of literature are poems. Writing about them requires a special approach. Here’s a tip: don’t be afraid to quote the poem heavily and give several alternative interpretations. But first, check out this list of excellent topics:

• A real-life war experience in Crane’s War is Kind . An American poet and writer Stephen Crane wrote the acclaimed American Civil War novel The Red Badge of Courage . But not everyone knows that he also wrote a collection of poems entitled War is Kind . Through these poems, he delved deep into the themes of war and violence based on his experience in the Spanish–American and Greco–Turkish Wars.
• The theme of religion in John Donne’s sonnets. At the opposite end of the poetry spectrum, you can find the Elizabethan-era Englishman, John Donne . His works were written mainly in the form of sonnets focused on the themes of love, social criticism, death, and religion.
• Mysticism in William Butler Yeats’s poetry . The occult, spiritualism, and Irish mythology profoundly influenced Yeats’ work. Many of his poems are preoccupied with the Apocalypse, immortality of the human soul, and the spirit world. Start your research with The Second Coming and Sailing to Byzantium.
• Allusions in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven . The Raven is widely recognized as one of the most famous poems of all time. It contains numerous references and allusions to the Bible, folklore, and other literary works. Examine and quote Poe’s sources of inspiration.
• The meaning of The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost . Robert Frost’s poetry is often praised for his rich metaphorical language. The Road Not Taken is a quintessential piece that’s often misunderstood. In your essay, you may explore its alternative interpretations.
• The evolution of blank verse in English poetry. Blank verse emerged in English poetry in the 16 th century and has been used by some of the most influential poets since then. While its main features have remained largely unchanged, many prominent authors experimented with its form. For example, you can analyze the use of blank verse in the poetry of Shakespeare , Milton, and Wordsworth.
• Main themes and features of Beat poetry. The Beat movement played a pivotal role in the cultural processes in the post-war US. Beat poetry is characterized by rebellion, transgression, and experiments with form. Some of the authors to check out are Allen Ginsberg , Gregory Corso, Lawrence Ferlinghetti , and Gary Snyder.
• The narrator in Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself . Unlike many poets of his time, Whitman rejected the dichotomy of body and soul. In Song of Myself , the narrator represents the union of the “temporary” human body with the immortal soul. Consider exploring Whitman’s philosophy behind the notion of “self” in the poem.
• William Blake’s influence on British and American poetry and culture. Blake’s contemporaries largely disregarded his poetry. However, his influence on the later generations is hard to overestimate. His values and ideas inspired the Pre-Raphaelites, the Beat Generation, and some of the prominent figures of the American music scene, including Bob Dylan and Jim Morrison. and Jim Morrison.

🎭 Literary Analysis: Shakespeare Essay Topics

Romeo and juliet essay topics.

How many Romeo and Juliet personal responses and analysis essays have already been written? There are too many of them to count, but there’s still room for more. Romeo and Juliet essay examples can help you find a unique topic for an essay about the play. Another option is to check out top Romeo and Juliet themes below:

• How does fate affect the love plot in Romeo and Juliet ?
• Concept of contrasts in the language of the play.
• The significance of time in Romeo and Juliet
• The tragic love theme of Romeo and Juliet as a cliché for romantic fatalism
• Mercutio as a representation of loyalty
• Montagues and Capulets: the conflict between generations
• How is irony used in the play?
• The role of the family in Romeo and Juliet
• The social and historical context of the play
• Nurse’s role in the death of Romeo and Juliet

Hamlet Essay Topics

Shakespeare’s Hamlet may be the most widely assigned play in the English courses. Here are the top Hamlet essay topics worth exploring.

• The theme of disillusionment in Hamlet
• Mistreatment of women in Hamlet as a representation of misogyny in Shakespeare’s times
• How has the tragedy’s theme of madness affected modern literature?
• What role does melancholy play in Hamlet ?
• The connection between friendship and betrayal in the character of Laertes
• Comedic elements in Hamlet
• The impact of Gertrude and Claudius’ marriage on Hamlet’s revenge
• What is the symbolism of The Mousetrap play?
• The impact of introspection on Hamlet’s revenge
• Analysis of the Denmark setting in Hamlet

Macbeth Essay Topics

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the last (and shortest) of the three big Shakespearean plays every high school student reads before graduation. Like the rest of William Shakespeare’s tragedies, it is full of meaningful themes that can serve as topics for literary analysis essays.

Receive a plagiarism-free paper tailored to your instructions. Cut 20% off your first order!

• The corrupting influence of ambition in Macbeth
• Supernatural elements in Macbeth
• The impact of loyalty and betrayal on the plot
• What does sleep symbolize in the play?
• Why is Macbeth a victim of fate?
• The role of darkness as a setting in Macbeth
• Is blood a symbol of guilt in Macbeth ?
• The causes of Macbeth’s mental deterioration
• The impact of Macbeth’s hallucinations on his character development
• Minor characters’ contributions to the play’s action

Shakespeare wrote many more plays beyond the big three listed above. Here are a few more topics and works that show the range of the Bard.

• The theme of madness in King Lear . Shakespeare’s King Lear is one of the longest works by the Bard. Many actors feel that the title role is one of the most challenging available for an actor because of the character’s gradual descent into madness. Accordingly, “madness” is perhaps the best topic related to this play.
• The presentation of love and adoration in Sonnet 18 . Shakespeare’s sonnets make excellent essay topics because they are so concise but rich in meaning. Love and devotion, which are expressed in Sonnet 18 and throughout his other sonnets, serve as great critical analysis essay topics.
• The theme of the crown in Shakespeare’s Henry IV
• Sexuality, sensuality, and spirituality in William Shakespeare’s sonnets
• Ambition in Hamlet and Macbeth : choices of men and women characters
• The use of disguise in The Twelfth Night
• Different faces of love in Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays
• Appearance as the most potent disguise in Shakespeare’s plays
• The use of satire in William Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies
• The line between acting and real life in Hamlet
• Parallels between Shakespeare’s King Lear and Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex
• The use of allusion in The Tempest
• The complexity of the female character in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra
• Archetypal female characters in Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets
• William Shakespeare’s authorship: style, vocabulary, themes, and dates
• The role of Shakespeare in the world of literature
• How does William Shakespeare use the meter in his plays?
• The depiction of the supernatural in Macbeth , The Tempest , and A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• The theme of race and ethnicity in Othello
• Personal identity in Hamlet and Henry IV

By the way, you can find all of Shakespeare’s works on our website for free.

📚 English Literature Essay Topics: Different Authors

Some can find it easier to focus on particular authors and their works. Are you one of them? Here are possible topics for those who like traditional approaches.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics: Geoffrey Chaucer

• Chaucer’s works of the French and Italian periods
• Primary themes and motifs in Troilus and Criseyde
• Women’s virtues, as seen by Chaucer and his contemporaries
• Gender: conventions and innovations in Geoffrey Chaucer’s works
• Chaucer’s role in the development of a heroic couplet
• Chaucer’s use of the vernacular language: nobility and nation
• Religious morals in The Canterbury Tales
• The roots of class conflict in The Canterbury Tales
• Chaucer’s influence on modern English dialects
• The critique of clergy in The Canterbury Tales
• The influence of medieval Italian poetry on Chaucer’s work
• Central themes in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Book of the Duchess
• The comparison of Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde and Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida
• Elements of comedy in The Canterbury Tales
• Chaucer as a pioneer of rhyme royal in English poetry
• Chaucer’s primary sources of inspiration in Roman poetry: Ovid and Virgil
• The depiction of the middle class in The Canterbury Tales

Literary Essay Topics on John Keats

• Different shapes of death in John Keats’s works
• What was wrong with Keats’s Otho the Great ?
• Byron’s influence on Keats’s style and themes
• The uniqueness of John Keats’ imagery
• Keats’s letters and their influence on the English literature
• Greek classics as a source of inspiration for Keats
• Keats’ stance on social and political issues of his time
• The importance of nature in Keats’ odes
• The themes of melancholy and isolation in Keats’ poetry
• Keats’ perception of art and its role in Ode on a Grecian Urn
• The polemics on Keats’ statement “Beauty is truth”
• The values of Romanticism in Keats’ poetry
• Keats’ concept of negative capability and its examples in his poetry
• The differences between the Romantic poetry of Keats and Coleridge
• Keats’ attitude towards Christianity and pagan mythology

Literature Essay Topics on Oscar Wilde

• A perfect wife as depicted in An Ideal Husband
• The Picture of Dorian Gray as the aesthete’s manifesto
• Wilde’s essential inspirations and the development of his views
• The Picture of Dorian Gray : will beauty save the world?
• Oscar Wilde’s personal traits in his characters
• The Picture of Dorian Gray : Lord Henry’s morality or immorality
• Irony, sarcasm, and satire in Oscar Wilde’s works
• The use of metaphors in The Ballad of Reading Gaol
• The Picture of Dorian Gray : was the young man innocent?
• Conventions and innovations in Oscar Wilde’s fairy stories
• Oscar Wilde as the most celebrated master of paradox
• Play on words in Oscar Wilde’s major works
• Christian theme in De Profundis
• The Importance of Being Earnest as the critique of Victorian society
• The role of the Dance of the Seven Veils in Wilde’s Salome
• Wilde’s aesthetic philosophy in his essay The Critic as Artist
• The Soul of Man under Socialism : an expression of Wilde’s political views
• Wilde as one of the key figures of the Decadent movement
• Women characters in Oscar Wilde’s comedies
• The theme of sacrifice in Wilde’s short stories
• The dichotomy of body and soul in The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Fisherman and His Soul
• The recurring motifs in Oscar Wilde’s comedies

George Orwell Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Orwell’s imagery in the depiction of totalitarian regimes
• George Orwell’s background: inspirations for themes and symbols
• Orwell’s views on the English language and literature
• The historical context of 1984 and Animal Farm
• The role of the media in Orwell’s characters’ lives
• The character of the Big Brother in 1984
• Naturalism and imagery in The Road to Wigan Pier
• Why was Animal Farm regarded as controversial in the 1950s?
• Orwell’s religious views in Lear, Tolstoy, and the Fool
• Winston Smith’s journey to freedom in 1984

💡 Literary Analysis Topics in Non-Fiction

The world of literature goes far beyond William Shakespeare and fiction in general. Here is a bunch of more literary analysis paper topics for other great works of literature that deal with real-life events.

• Religious faith and dehumanization in Night . Elie Wiesel’s classic memoir of the Holocaust is a difficult book for many students to read. And yet, you may need to write a Night by Elie Wiesel essay at some point. Religion and dehumanization are prominent themes that can serve as great topics.
• The power of nature in Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild . The story chronicles the journey of 22-year-old Christopher McCandless from modern society into a 2-year trip in the wilderness of the western United States. This work of non-fiction explores the themes of escape, community, and the power of nature. (Warning: things do not end well for McCandless along the Stampede Trail of Alaska.)
• Why We Can’t Wait by Martin Luther King as a source of inspiration for modern politicians and activists. Based on his Letter from Birmingham Jail , MLK’s Why We Can’t Wait is a study of the origins of the civil rights movement in the US. Analyze how activists and politicians can use ideas from this book in the 21 st century.
• The themes of religion and technological progress in The Education of Henry Adams. In his autobiography, Henry Adams explores the influence of religion and technological progress on society. In the industrial world, technology has become a new religion. You may contrast and compare technological and religious societies in Adams’ work.
• The banality of evil in Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem. Hannah Arendt offers an original perspective on the nature of war crimes. According to her, ordinary people are capable of the most terrible deeds under specific circumstances. In your essay, explore Arendt’s concept of “the banality of evil.”
• The role of photography in modern society, according to Susan Sontag. In her book On Photography , Susan Sontag explores how the role of this medium has been changing throughout the 20 th century. Analyze her arguments to establish the relationship between photography and political and social processes.
• A Room of One’s Own as a manifesto of women’s literature. A Room of One’s Own reflects the women’s position in the literary scene. Woolf concludes that women’s writing capabilities match those of men. However, they often fail to reach their full potential because of the flawed structure of a male-dominated society.
• Haruki Murakami’s Underground: a study of Japanese society. For Underground , Murakami conducted a series of interviews after the terrorist attack on the Tokyo subway. Rather than focusing on the act itself, the author uses this opportunity to explore the social issues that plague Japanese society.
• T. S. Eliot’s literary criticism and views on poetry. T. S. Eliot is one of the most important literary critics and theorists of the early 20 th century. His theories and arguments have largely shaped the New Criticism movement in literature. Analyze the ideas expressed in Tradition and the Individual Talent and Hamlet and His Problems .

⭐ Literary Analysis Topics: Other Ideas

Literary essays don’t have to be devoted to analyzing a particular work. They may also include textual analysis essays, literary interpretations, critical response essays, and topic analyses. Here are some excellent options for you to consider:

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

• Character development of various protagonists. You may write an analytical essay describing and interpreting changes in the central characters of different novels. Try to be precise, provide examples, and prove the significance of these changes. You can consider the development of Soames in The Forsyte Saga or the title character in David Copperfield .
• Context analysis of a historical period. Your analysis paper can be devoted to the settings of the short story, play, poem, or novel. Make emphasis on the role of the context in explaining the characters and the key ideas. For example, you can explore the wartime setting in Gone with the Wind .
• Analysis of genre conventions. Another good choice is to dwell upon the practices used by various authors belonging to the same literary genre. You can write a critical essay about a realistic, romantic, gothic , or any other kind of novel and the author’s ability to meet or challenge genre expectations.
• The impact of an author’s life on their legacy. The background of a novelist, short-story writer, poet, or playwright may also be of great interest to the reader. However, it is not enough to narrate the author’s life: you must be able to connect it with their style and themes. The most demonstrative analysis examples may include Henry Miller, Ernest Hemingway , and Lord Byron.
• Comparative analysis of two authors . It is also a good idea to compare several authors. A critical evaluation essay may estimate their impact on the development of their genre. If these authors come from different backgrounds, it is also possible to evaluate how the culture they belonged to made a difference. For example, write about Dickens vs. Thackeray or Joyce vs. Woolf.
• Comparative analysis of two texts . If you don’t want to compare authors, you may try comparing two literary works on the same topic or belonging to the same epoch or genre. For example, try analyzing the similarities and differences between Canterbury Tales and Decameron .
• Analysis of a literary work’s structure. Analysis topics may include the stream-of-consciousness technique, theater of the absurd, etc. The idea is to show how new expressive means transformed the traditional approach to plot building and character development.
• The role of irony in short stories. If you are to analyze a short story, you may describe how the author uses irony to communicate their message. Show how it creates meaning and what underlies it. Numerous authors employ irony as the major tool in their short stories, including Jerome K. Jerome and Salinger.
• Analyzing the climax in a novel. Describing how the author builds the plot to reach the culmination is a good option for a novel critical analysis essay. Track how the tension is created and how it is released when the climax is reached. For example, you can try analyzing the climax in To Kill a Mockingbird .
• Mood expression in a novel of your choice. Your essay may investigate how the vocabulary and grammar chosen by an author contribute to the text’s atmosphere. You can consider analyzing Lolita or Sons and Lovers .
• The role of dialogue in plays. Your critical paper may highlight what means the playwright uses to make the characters’ speech expressive. For example, examine Oscar Wilde’s plays or Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot .
• Stage directions in plays. You may also want to pay attention to the importance of the author’s notes and scene directions in a play. They are particularly crucial in modern drama. Consider analyzing Beckett’s Waiting for Godot or Shaw’s Heartbreak House.
• The use of allegory in poems. It’s an excellent topic for poem analysis. You can suggest your own literary interpretation of an allegory or consider why the author opted for this device. For example, consider analyzing the allegories in Vision of Judgement .
• An open ending in a novel. Suppose the work under analysis doesn’t have a conflict resolution. In that case, your critical evaluation essay can give arguments for the author’s choice and interpret its meaning and possible continuation scenarios. For example, you may analyze an open ending in Joyce’s Finnegans Wake.
• Comparison of critical opinions on a novel. If the piece you have read ranks among the best-known works in the world, it would be a good idea to compare literary criticism examples related to this work. You may select two different critics and juxtapose their views. For example, try comparing critical opinions on Mrs. Dalloway .
• Analyzing side characters in literary works. If your task is to analyze a character, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should write about a protagonist. A more creative approach would be to pick a static character that doesn’t go through any transformations throughout the book and suggest why the author made them this way. One option is to write about side characters in Vanity Fair .
• The narrative voice in novels. It can be challenging yet enjoyable to describe the narrative voice and focalization techniques that help the reader see the events in a certain way. It is especially complicated when a text has several points of view. For example, you may choose to analyze the narrative voice in Faulkner’s Absalom! Absalom! or As I Lay Dying .
• The narrators in literature. The previous topic can be narrowed: you can take a work written from a first-person point of view and draw parallels between the author and the main character. For example, you can consider writing about the narrator in Moby Dick .
• The cultural background of Dumas’ novels. In the case of historical novels, an analytical paragraph may be devoted to the historical and cultural background. Any of Alexandre Dumas’ novels, such as The Three Musketeers , may serve as perfect literature examples to write about.
• Imagery used by various poets. You can analyze specific images that poets use in their works. For example, try analyzing how Walt Whitman uses industrial imagery in his works.

Profound Literary Analysis Topics in Women’s Literature

Literary analysis on the topics of gender and women in society is critical to understanding the modern world. Here are a few powerful essay topics in this area.

• The disruption of traditional gender roles in The Color Purple . According to New Republic, this National Book Award-winning work is considered a cultural touchstone for African American women . It features many heavy themes, such as sexism and racism. Keep in mind that this book is not for the faint of heart.
• The themes of family and generational differences in Alice Walker’s short story Everyday Use . The short story is about heirloom possessions passed down from one generation of women to another.
• Social standing and wealth as the two key themes in Pride and Prejudice . The protagonist of this book, Elizabeth Bennet, must choose between two suitors. One is an amiable man. The other is better established in society but has a colder personality.
• Marriage and social status in Emma . Emma is the tale of a young woman less interested in securing her own marriage than her sisters. You can analyze the constraints placed upon women in 17 th -century society as reflected in this book.
• Women’s role in society and gender roles according to The Great Lawsuit . The Great Lawsuit is often considered one of the most important early feminist works. The author, Margaret Fuller, argues that gender equality is a crucial aspect of a progressive society. She describes an ideal relationship between a man and a woman as an intellectual companionship.
• Dystopia and feminism in A Handmaid’s Tale . In A Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood describes a world where women’s societal role is reduced to producing children. This work largely follows the traditions of classic dystopian novels written by Orwell and Huxley. Explore how the presence of the feminist discourse makes Atwood’s work stand out.
• Gertrude Stein’s experiments with form and style. Gertrude Stein’s work is notable for her distinctive avant-garde style. Stein was an avid art collector, and trends in visual arts influenced her writings. Her narratives are characterized by the original use of tenses, repetitions, and archaisms.
• The stream of consciousness in Virginia Woolf’s work . Virginia Woolf was one of the first writers to systematically use the stream of consciousness in her works. The narratives of her novels, such as Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse, are rooted in the descriptions of characters’ emotions and thoughts.
• Political writings of Mercy Otis Warren. Mercy Otis Warren is famous for her political poems and plays written during the American Revolution. Explain how she used political satire to criticize the British rule. Start your research with the plays The Adulateur, The Defeat, and The Group .
• Gender inequality in Jane Eyre . Widely recognized as one of the most successful works of women’s literature, Jane Eyre was a revolutionary novel for its time. It depicts the struggles of women in their fight for independence and equality in patriarchal Victorian society .
• The blend of fiction and reality in The Yellow Wallpaper. Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote The Yellow Wallpaper to document the trauma and stress she had experienced due to “rest therapy” prescribed to her by a psychiatrist. Back then, women suffering from depression were discouraged from any intellectual activity, as it was thought that “domestic life” would benefit them. In Gilman’s story, this treatment ultimately drives the protagonist to insanity.
• Cleopatra in literature: from Geoffrey Chaucer to Margaret George
• The depiction of Eve in Milton’s Paradise Lost
• Archetypical female and male characters in Beowulf
• Emmy’s submissiveness and Rebecca’s quick-wittedness in Vanity Fair
• William Makepeace Thackeray’s Becky Sharp as an antihero
• Becky Sharp as seen by Thackeray’s contemporaries and modern readers
• Women empowerment and independence in Jane Austen’s novels
• Women’s love and death: Shakespeare’s Ophelia and Wilde’s Sibyl
• A Room of One’s Own : a woman’s manifesto still relevant now
• First female voices in the Middle Ages: Aelia Eudocia Augusta
• The Brontë sisters: Lady writers who broke the rules
• Gender roles as depicted by Maugham in Theatre
• This is the woman’s world: feminist utopias and dystopias
• Female writers: themes explored in the 1910s vs. 2010s
• Women characters’ virtues and vices in the 19th century
• Women of color: themes of violence, discrimination, and empowerment
• A Doll’s House as seen by Ibsen’s contemporaries
• Is Ibsen’s A Doll’s House still relevant today?
• Beauty standards as women’s oppression in The Bluest Eye
• The complexity of the mother-daughter relationship in Tony Morrison’s Beloved
• The evolvement of masculinity from medieval to postmodern literature
• Masculinity in The Garden of Eden by Ernest Hemingway
• Masculinity, identity, and queerness in Tennessee Williams’s works
• Gender roles in utopias and dystopias: More and Huxley
• Sexuality and gender stereotypes in Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire
• Charles Dickens’s depiction of aging men and women
• Fairy tales as sources of gender stereotypes

Powerful Literary Analysis Topics within the Subject of Race

• Colonialism in J. M. Coetzee’s Waiting for the Barbarians . A short Waiting for the Barbarians summary should capture the narrative of the escalation of tensions between a fictional colonial town and its surrounding indigenous population. When the protagonist helps a native woman, he begins to doubt the humanity of colonialism.
• The portrayal of racism in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness . Heart of Darkness is the chilling tale of young Marlow’s voyage up the Congo River. There he meets the wicked ivory trader Kurtz. The book explores the themes of imperialism and racism. It also questions the civility of Western society over supposedly “savage” indigenous people.
• The conflict between man and nature in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . Mark Twain is one of the greatest American writers and satirists. But his masterpiece The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn delved into themes that would make some of the most serious literary analysis essay topics, such as the theme of freedom vs. slavery.
• The theme of prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird . Harper Lee’s novel was an instant classic upon release. To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the American South, and, like many books by Southern authors, it explores the themes of race and justice.
• Anti-slavery narrative and racist stereotypes in Uncle Tom’s Cabin . Uncle Tom’s Cabin was one of the first universally acclaimed novels to tackle slavery. However, it is often criticized for its stereotypical portrayal of Black characters. Hence, it remains one of the most controversial pieces of American literature.
• De Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk as the precursor of the Civil Rights movement. De Bois’ essays have largely laid the groundwork for the campaigns for racial equality in the 20 th century. He argued that African Americans deserved fundamental rights the White population had: voting, getting a higher education, and being treated fairly according to the law.
• The notion of Black pride in A Raisin in the Sun . Lorraine Hansberry’s famous play touches upon topics of racial identity and pride inspired by real events. A Black family wants to purchase a house in a White neighborhood, but they are dissuaded from buying it. Eventually, they refuse to accept the buyout offer and move to their new place as planned.
• Jefferson as a folk hero in A Lesson Before Dying . In A Lesson Before Dying , Ernest J. Gaines tells a story of a young Black man wrongfully accused of murder. Treated by White people as a sub-human, Jefferson completely loses his self-esteem at some point. However, with the help of a local Black teacher, he regains his pride and meets death with dignity. Explain how Jefferson’s transformation makes him a folk hero.
• The impact of discriminatory laws on the life of African Americans in Fences. August Wilson’s Fences explores how discriminatory laws and attitudes defined the life of African Americans before the Civil Rights Movement. The protagonist, Troy Maxson, is a talented baseball player whose life is ruined because he didn’t get a chance to play in the professional league due to racial restrictions.
• Internalized racism in Morrison’s Song of Solomon . In her book Song of Solomon , Toni Morrison explores the issue of internalized racism. Hagar and Macon Dead are the characters to study. Macon Dead, a Black entrepreneur, hates people of color and wants to leave his community. Hagar envies women with a lighter skin tone, as she sees them as superior to her.
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings : A story of hatred and trauma. Maya Angelou is renowned for her autobiographical novels dealing with challenging topics like racism, trauma, and violence. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings addresses the issues she faced growing up as a Black child in a White neighborhood.

Death-Related Literature Essay Topics

• Death in works of dying writers: Keats and Blake
• Death in Milton’s poetry: imagery and symbols
• Emily Dickinson’s fascination with decay, degradation, and death
• John Keats’s and William Shakespeare’s depictions of death
• Views on death in the Renaissance literature
• Murder and suicide in Shakespeare’s tragedies Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet
• Depictions of death in Postmodernist literature
• Aging as seen in medieval , Renaissance, and Postmodernist literature
• Death and decay in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray
• Love, life, and death in Huxley’s dystopian society
• Murder in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men
• Herman Melville’s Moby Dick : The concepts of life and death
• Simon’s death in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies
• Kate Chopin’s ironic take on death in The Story of an Hour
• Seneca’s life and philosophy: Death as liberation
• The role of death in existentialism
• The theme of death in Ernest Hemingway’s works
• The depiction of heaven and hell in Richard Matheson’s What Dreams May Come
• The concept of free death in Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy
• Gothic writers’ fascination with death
• Hades : The realm of the dead in Greek mythology

Literary Analysis Essay Topics: Man and Nature

• Dehumanizing nature: Robinson Crusoe and Lord of the Flies
• Struggles with nature: Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe and Paulsen’s Hatchet
• Nature’s wonders and dangers in Emily Dickenson’s works
• Natural forces: from Homer to H. G. Wells
• Power of natural forces in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest
• The depiction of nature in Fears in Solitude by Coleridge
• William Wordsworth’s poetic language and symbols used to describe nature
• Nature in Brave New World : urban and rural settings
• Nature in post-apocalyptic novels: decay and revival
• The role of nature in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings
• The conflict between man and nature in Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea
• Post-apocalyptic fiction as the critique of industrial society
• Environmentalism in Ursula Le Guin’s works
• Personal life and climate change in Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior
• The role of nature in John Steinbeck’s East of Eden
• The emergence of eco-fiction—a new genre in world literature
• Nature in Romanticism: Comparison of Shelley’s, Wordsworth’s, and Keats’ poetry
• Natty Bumppo’s and Judge Temple’s conflicting views on nature in James Fenimore Cooper’s The Pioneers
• The impact of country life on the character development in Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses

Literary Essay Topics on Religion

• Religious influences: biblical themes and allusions in Beowulf
• Religion as another burden in The Bluest Eye
• Views on religious conventions in Milton’s Paradise Lost
• Jonathan Swift’s satirical view of religions in Gulliver’s Travels
• The role of religion in Charles Dickens’s works
• The evolvement of religious beliefs in John Dryden’s works
• Religious controversies as depicted in John Milton’s Paradise Lost
• A spiritual journey in Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure
• Biblical references in Herman Melville’s Moby Dick
• Alternative narrative of the Biblical events in Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita
• The meaning of Friedrich Nietzsche’s statement “God is Dead”
• Billy’s Christian values in Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five
• The figure of Moses in Biblical and Quranic narratives
• Influence of The Pilgrim’s Progress on British and American literature
• Buddhist and Hindu motives in Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha
• Immanuel Kant’s critique of the arguments for the existence of God and his discussion of morality
• Søren Kierkegaard’s critique of Christianity
• Christian narratives and metaphors in C.S. Lewis’ works

Literary Analysis Topics: Justice and Judgment

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame : who was the monster?
• Justice and judgment in To Kill a Mockingbird
• The role of judgment in Jane Austen’s novels
• Judgment in Toni Morrison’s God Help the Child
• A view of justice in John Milton’s Paradise Lost
• Justice in dystopian novels: works of Orwell and Huxley
• Judgment and guilt in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter
• The difference between justice and revenge in Aeschylus Oresteia
• The genre of legal thriller in American literature
• The themes of guilt, responsibility, and punishment in Bernhard Schlink’s The Reader
• Justice and judgment in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment
• Courtroom drama in American and British literature
• Behavior modification experiment as an alternative to a prison sentence in Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange
• Jeremy Bentham’s concept of panopticon prison and its critique in the works of other authors
• Michel Foucault’s critique of the Western penal system
• The role of the judgment of Paris in the Trojan War according to Greek mythology
• Depiction of racial injustice in the works of African American authors

Literature Essay Topics on Good & Evil

• A dichotomy of good and evil in the Middle Ages
• Monsters and heroes in Beowulf : Beowulf, Hrothgar, Grendel
• Wilde’s aesthetics: ugly is worse than evil
• John Milton’s Satan : the good, the bad, and the beautiful
• Victorian literary tradition: societal norms and personal happiness
• Villains in the 19 th – and 20 th -century literary works
• The good and the bad: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
• Evil forces of death in The Fall of the House of Usher
• Presentation of good and evil in The Tempest characters
• The contrast between Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights
• Young Goodman Brown : a conflict between morality and temptation
• The Creature and the humans in Frankenstein

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on War & Peace

• Depiction of war in Shakespeare’s plays
• The war between archangels and demons in Paradise Lost
• War in Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children
• War and peace in George Orwell’s 1984
• Margaret Mitchell’s and Toni Morrison’s views on the Civil War
• War as a part of human nature in Faulkner’s A Fable
• Steinbeck’s exploration of injustice in The Grapes of Wrath
• Wrongs of the modern society in Palahniuk’s Fight Club
• The themes of war and nationality in Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient
• The Civil War as the background for Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women
• Main themes in Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front
• Depiction of war in Alexandre Dumas’ historical novels
• The Cold War in John Le Carre’s novels
• The political context of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible : The Cold War and McCarthyism
• Depiction of war in children’s fiction
• Leo Tolstoy’s views on history in War and Peace
• Anti-militarism in Ernest Hemingway’s Farewell to Arms
• Literature as a tool of cultural influence during the Cold War: The case of Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago

Literary Essay Topics on Vices on the Society

• Thackeray: the culture of the 19th century as Vanity Fair
• Dickens’s perspectives concerning social injustice in Oliver Twist
• Ethnicity, discrimination, and identity in Orwell’s Burmese Days
• Vices of totalitarian societies in George Orwell’s 1984
• Injustice, torture, and dehumanization in Elie Wiesel’s Night
• Vices of society in Francis Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby
• J’Accuse: Emile Zola’s letter as critique of antisemitism and corruption
• The emergence of transgressive fiction as a protest against conventional society
• Critique of consumer society in Aldous Huxley’s A Brave New World
• Social satire and political commentary in Harold Pinter’s later plays
• Ray Bradbury’s science fiction as a means of social criticism
• The emergence of dystopia: Evgeny Zamyatin’s We
• Arthur Koestler’s Darkness at Noon as a critique of the totalitarian society
• Claudius as an embodiment of human vices in Robert Graves’ I, Claudius
• Geoffrey Chaucer’s critique of the wrongs of society in The Canterbury Tales

Interesting Literature Topics to Analyze: Literary Influences

• Percy Bysshe Shelley’s interpretation of the Prometheus myth
• William Shakespeare’s borrowings from ancient Greek writings and myths
• Myths as a source of inspiration for Byron and Keats
• Virginia Wolf’s fascination with Greek literature and Hellenism
• James Joyce’s interpretation and use of Homer’s The Odyssey
• Salome : Oscar Wilde’s retelling of a biblical story
• John Milton’s exploration and interpretation of a biblical story
• The influence of Keats’ Ode to a Nightingale on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s works
• Biblical motifs in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
• Don Quixote as an inspiration for Dostoyevsky’s The Idiot
• Beowulf ’s impact on J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit
• Shakespearean myths in Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Literature Essay Topics: Various Genres

• The evolution of horror fiction: from Mary Shelley to Stephen King
• The place of fantasy in the modern literature
• Why have fantasy novels gained such popularity today?
• Fantasy novels by Tolkien and Martin: styles, imagery, themes
• Major elements of modern fantasy novels and stories
• The origins of fantasy fiction: the earliest works
• The evolution of adventure fiction: from Homer to Fleming
• Horror fiction: Stoker’s Dracula vs. Shelley’s Frankenstein
• Theologus Autodidactus as an example of science fiction
• Merging scientific and poetic elements in science fiction poetry
• Comparing tragicomedies of Ancient Greece and 20th-century Europe
• Significant features of a tragicomedy in postmodernist and metamodernist writings
• Primary components of a coming-of-age novel: female and male perspectives
• Elements of the coming-of-age novel in London’s Martin Eden
• Satire in contemporary British and American literature
• Satire or cynical humor: exploring Bierce’s The Devil’s Dictionary
• Literary devices in naturalistic writing: Emile Zola’s approach
• Elements of an antinovel in Laurence Sterne’s Tristram Shandy
• Early examples of short stories: Charles Dickens’s style
• Timeframes and symbols in Jonathan Nolan’s Memento Mori
• Dystopian fiction in the 20th and 21st centuries
• Coming-of-age novel or American dream novel: The Great Gatsby
• The role of education and the media in dystopias
• Crime fiction: is it pulp reading or high literature?
• The suspense in Agatha Christies’ and Arthur Conan Doyle’s writings
• The vampire in the 19th-century and 21st-century literature

Literary Topics: Uncommon Themes in Literature

• Allegory and choice of animals in Orwell’s Animal Farm
• Allegories in Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily
• Multiculturalism and allusions in Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon
• Faulkner’s metaphors in The Sound and the Fury
• Imagery in Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem The Raven
• Music and enigma in The Raven
• The role of personification in William Blake’s poetry
• Comparing Ancient Greek and William Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter
• The function of trochaic meter in Shakespeare’s works
• Symbolism and imagery in William Blake’s poem Ah Sunflower
• Symbols and metaphors in The Picture of Dorian Gray
• Flower symbolism in D.H. Lawrence Odour of Chrysanthemums
• Color as a symbol of Morrison’s God Help the Child
• Symbolism in Le Guin’s The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
• Satire in Absalom and Achitophel by John Dryden
• Jane Austen’s personal traits in the narrator of Persuasion
• Early forms of the stream of consciousness: Jane Austen’s style
• Epistolary novels: works of Bram Stocker and Mary Shelley
• Slave’s narrative in Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon
• Peculiarities of addressing the reader in Shakespeare’s sonnets
• Virginia Wolf’s stream of consciousness: narration or confession?
• The narrator in Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage
• Authorial intrusion as a way to entice readers

🖊️ Literary Analysis Prompts: Top 21

We’ve gathered a total of 21 excellent literary analysis prompts for you. They cover a wide variety of genres and epochs, so you’ll surely find something that suits your needs. Check them out to gain inspiration for your assignment or project!

The Cask of Amontillado Literary Analysis Prompt

• The central theme of The Cask of Amontillado is revenge. In your essay, you can analyze how suspense contributes to the revenge plot.
• You may also explore the story’s tone and how it helps to build tension.
• Alternatively, you can focus on the Gothic elements and their impact on the story’s atmosphere.

A Rose for Emily Literary Analysis Prompt

• There are several important symbols in A Rose for Emily , such as a strand of hair, Emily’s house, or the ticking watch. You can dive deeper into their meaning and significance.
• You may also focus on the story’s themes. They include death and conflict between generations.
• Try analyzing literary devices Faulkner uses, including metaphors, irony, and personification. How do they contribute to the story’s mood?

The Story of an Hour Literary Analysis Prompt

• One of the central themes featured in The Story of an Hour is freedom. Analyze what kind of freedom is discussed and how free the main character really is.
• You may also explore Kate Chopin’s writing style. For example, focus on how irony complements the story’s plot and tone.
• Another aspect that you can focus on is symbolism . Notable examples include time, death, and heart trouble.

Tell-Tale Heart Literary Analysis Prompt

• Analyze why Edgar Allan Poe chose to tell the story in the first person. How does it contribute to the gloomy tone?
• Or, you may focus on the story’s themes : guilt, confinement, and mental health. How are they represented?
• Finally, you can examine the symbols in Tell-Tale Heart , such as the house, the bed, the bedroom, and the eye. Try to find out the meaning behind them.

Fahrenheit 451 Literary Analysis Prompt

• Explore the use of animal imagery and the lack of nature descriptions in the novel.
• You can also focus on the harmful effect of technology and its contribution to the dystopian world of Fahrenheit 451 .
• The story’s central theme is censorship vs. freedom of speech. You may explore this conflict in your essay.

Prompt for a Literary Analysis of The Canterbury Tales

• Analyze the themes of The Canterbury Tales . These include deceit, the church’s corruption, and the importance of company.
• Focus on examining the writing style. Try to find out how it contributes to the tales’ tone and atmosphere.
• You may also explore the symbols, such as clothing, appearance, and spring. If you’re curious about this literary work, check out our article on the symbols in The Canterbury Tales .

Prompt for a Literary Analysis of Barn Burning

• Consider examining the conflict between loyalty to one’s family and obedience to the law.
• Focus on analyzing the symbols of Barn Burning , such as the soiled egg and fire.
• You can also explore the role of darkness in the story. Dive deeper into its contribution to the tone of Barn Burning .

Make sure to check out our Barn Burning study guide to learn more facts about the story.

Death of a Salesman Literary Analysis Prompt

• Examine how the author covers the American dream theme in Death of a Salesman . What is the characters’ interpretation of the American dream?
• You can also try analyzing the symbols in the play, such as diamonds, seeds, the rubber hose, and Linda’s stockings.
• You may also focus on exploring the mythological figures connected with the story. Dive deeper into the comparisons to the Greek gods, such as Hercules and Adonis.

Want to know more? Check out our Death of a Salesman study guide .

Frankenstein Literary Analysis Essay Prompt

• In your essay, you can focus on the symbols of Frankenstein , such as darkness and fire. Why are they important?
• Another aspect you can concentrate on is the point of view. Mary Shelley writes from the perspective of 3 different characters. What does it help to achieve?
• You can also explore the novel’s themes: sublime nature, family, creation, and dangerous knowledge. Check out our article on the themes in Frankenstein to learn more about them.

Hamlet Literary Analysis Essay Prompt

• There are numerous themes in Hamlet that you can examine in your essay, including revenge, the supernatural, death, corruption, and politics.
• You can also focus on the symbols of the story and their significance. They include Hamlet’s dark clothes, the skull , and the weather.
• One of the motifs in Hamlet is misogyny. You can analyze its representation in the play.

To understand the play better, check out our Hamlet study guide .

Prompt for a Literary Analysis of Night by Elie Wiesel

• One of the themes of Night is silence. You can explore why it is important and what it represents.
• You can also focus on the symbolism of night and fire . Try to find out the meaning behind them.
• Consider analyzing the characters in the novel and their actions in dramatic situations. Check out our article on characters in Night to learn more.

Othello Literary Analysis Prompt

• One of the central themes of Othello is isolation and its dangers. Examine how it is portrayed.
• Another theme you can analyze is that of justice. Try focusing on how the characters are driven by the desire to do always the right thing.
• Consider exploring the famous metaphors from the play, such as jealousy being a “green-eyed monster.”

If you want to understand this literary work better, make sure to check out our Othello study guide .

Pride and Prejudice Literary Analysis Prompt

• When it comes to the themes in Pride and Prejudice , you can focus on integrity, love, family, gender, class, and reputation.
• Another central theme of the novel is marriage. Discuss the importance of marriage and its connection to social status and money.
• In your essay, you can elaborate on the symbolism of dancing and its significance.

Don’t forget to check out our study guide on Pride and Prejudice to learn more about the novel’s elements.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Literary Analysis Prompt

• Consider analyzing the motifs of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight : games, the color green, and the seasons.
• Apart from the motifs, you can also examine the themes of nature, chivalry, Christianity, courtesy, and truth. To learn more about them, check out our article on the themes of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight .
• Finally, you may explore the symbolism of the green girdle. It’s an essential element of the poem and deserves special attention.

The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis Essay Prompt

• One of the most popular symbols of The Great Gatsby is the green light. You can focus on exploring its iconic status in world literature.
• One of the central themes of The Great Gatsby is the American dream . Analyze how it is portrayed and the author’s attitude to it.
• Another idea for an essay is to write about the novel’s characters: Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, the Buchanans, and others. Make sure to read our article on The Great Gatsby characters to understand them better.

The Lottery Literary Analysis Prompt

• What role do family ties play in The Lottery ? You can dive deeper into this motif and analyze its meaning and importance.
• Another central theme of The Lottery is tradition. Your essay can focus on how dangerous it is to follow conventional practices blindly.
• There are several symbols in the story, but the lottery itself is the key one. You can explore what it represents. And don’t forget to check out our analysis of The Lottery to learn more.

Kafka’s Metamorphosis Literary Analysis Prompt

• One of the major themes of Metamorphosis is psychological distance. You can analyze how the main character’s transformation leads to his alienation.
• Explore the story’s recurring symbols, such as food, the father’s uniform , and the portrait of a woman wearing furs.
• Another point that you can focus on is the motifs of the story. They include transformation and sleep.

You’re welcome to read our The Metamorphosis study guide to learn more about the story.

The Necklace Literary Analysis Prompt

• Consider analyzing the story’s themes. Some examples are greed, the deceptiveness of appearances, and vanity. Check out our article on The Necklace’s themes to learn all about them.
• You can also focus on exploring the symbolism of the necklace . Try to dive deeper into how a piece of jewelry is connected to high status and wealth.
• Explore how the class conflict is presented in The Necklace . You can also analyze the author’s attitude to it.

The Odyssey Literary Analysis Prompt

• In your essay, focus on the epic’s main themes: vengeance, hospitality, and loyalty.
• Homer uses many epithets in The Odyssey to describe the sea, such as “wine-dark.” Look into what they may represent.
• Another good point for discussion is the symbolism. Consider discussing the significance of the wedding bed, the sea, eagles, and food.

To understand the poem better, check out our The Odyssey study guide .

The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis Essay Prompt

• The wallpaper is the central symbol of the story. In your essay, try to uncover its significance and how it affects the main character.
• You can also analyze how Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses different types of irony in the story. Examples include dramatic, verbal, and situational irony.
• You can also focus on The Yellow Wallpaper’s themes. Some of them are self-expression, mental illness, gender roles, miscommunication, and the role of women in marriage.

Don’t forget to check out our study guide if you want to know more.

Wuthering Heights Literary Analysis Prompt

• Explore the symbolism of moors, nature, and ghosts. Emily Bronte uses these symbols to represent not only abstract ideas but also characters’ personalities.
• You can also examine the central themes of Wuthering Heights. Some of them are love and passion, class conflict, revenge, and the supernatural.
• Another point worth writing about is nature imagery and how the author uses it to represent the characters’ personalities. To learn about it, make sure to check out our Wuthering Heights analysis .

✍️ Writing a Literary Analysis: Step by Step

Now, after you’ve decided on your topic, it is time to write your analysis.

Don’t know where to start? Well, we got your back! Here are some steps for you to write a great literary essay.

If you wish to learn more, you can check out our guide on how to write a literary analysis.

Best Tips for Writing a Literary Analysis

There are many things to keep in mind when writing about literature. But there’s no need to worry: we are here to help you. Here are the four components that will help to make sure you get an excellent grade on your essay:

• Make sure you refer to the literature you write about in the proper format. For example, the titles of plays and full-length books should be italicized, while poems and short stories should be in quotation marks. You may consult Purdue University’s excellent citation guides to be on the safe side.
• Ensure that the quotes are properly attributed with the correct page numbers.
• Avoid directly quoting or borrowing arguments from previously published literary analysis samples. Using the same forms of argument and language is a form of plagiarism.
• Remember that you need a brief introduction with a clear thesis statement, distinct body paragraphs, and a cohesive conclusion. If you find it hard to write concisely, feel free to use our essay shortener to save time.

📃 Literary Analysis Example for Free

Looking for a fully-formatted literary analysis example? Look no further! Download our excellent sample in PDF format below.

The Little Match Girl is a short story by Hans Christian Andersen. It’s a touching tale about a poor girl who spends New Year’s Eve working on the streets, dreaming of a better life, and warming herself by lighting matches she failed to sell. Some of the main themes include loneliness, struggle, and cruelty.

We hope that you found some inspiration to take your essay on the next level. Let us know what literary studies topic you like the most and other literary analysis ideas you have!

❓ Literary Analysis Essay FAQs

If you’re writing a literary analysis, make sure you don’t summarize the text you are analyzing. Instead, focus on your thesis and the supporting evidence. You should also avoid using phrases such as “in my opinion.”

A literary analysis should always include information on the text’s components. They include plot, setting, themes, motifs, imagery, tone, and character analysis. Don’t forget to write about the way the author uses these elements and how they contribute to the overall work.

The introductory part of your literary analysis should include a thesis statement that conveys the structure of your essay. Don’t forget to mention the author and provide background information about the text. Remember to start your body paragraphs with a topic sentence.

A literary analysis is usually 5-paragraphs long. The introduction and conclusion consist of one paragraph each, while the main body has three.

A literary analysis is a type of writing assignment containing an analysis of a literary piece. In a literary analysis, you should evaluate and interpret the work by analyzing its plot, setting, motifs, themes, characters, and style.

Further reading:

• Case Study Analysis Example + How-to Guide
• How to Write a Film Analysis Essay
• Short Story Analysis: Step by Step How-to Guide
• How to Write a 5-Paragraph Essay: Outline, Examples, & Writing Steps
• Literature Review Outline: Examples, Approaches, & Templates
• Find a Topic Idea: Questia
• A CS Research Topic Generator: Purdue University
• 50 Critical Analysis Paper Topics: Owlcation
• Variations on a Theme: Common Types of Literary Analysis Papers: UVM Writing Center
• How do I find literary analysis essay topics? Baker Library
• Literary Terms: Purdue O.W.L.
• Literary Terms: Stanford University
• How To Write A Literary Analysis Essay: Bucks College
• Writing Critical Essays about Literature: Gallaudet University
• Literature (Fiction): UNC Writing Center
• Literary criticism: Britannica
• Fiction vs Non-Fiction – English Literature’s Made-Up Divide: The Guardian
• Feminist Literary Criticism: ThoughtCo
• Feminist Criticism: Washington State University
• A Short Guide to Close Reading for Literary Analysis: UW Madison
• William Shakespeare Biography: Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
• William Shakespeare: Poets.org
• Hamlet Topic Overview: Gale
• Macbeth – Themes: BBC
• From Plato to Platonism: Cornell University Press
• Sophocles: World History Encyclopedia
• Charles Dickens, 1812-1870: University Of California
• Heroes and the Homeric Iliad: University of Houston
• Historical Context of Song of Solomon: Columbia College
• The Red Badge of Courage: University of South Florida
• William Blake: University of Delaware
• William Butler Yeats: Yale University
• Chaucer’s Influences: University of Glasgow
• John Keats: King’s College London
• UVA Commemoration Looks at King’s ‘Why We Can’t Wait’ in Light of Today’s Issues: University of Virginia
• Alice Walker: National Museum of African American History & Culture
• Virginia Woolf: University of London
• Harper Lee: Encyclopedia of Alabama
• A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner: Baruch College
• Death of a Salesman and Death of a Salesman: The Swollen Legacy of Arthur Miller: Columbia University
• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: The Ohio State University
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Boston College
• Themes In Wuthering Heights: Brooklyn College
• The Metamorphosis: Grossman School of Medicine
• Gothic and the Female Voice: Examining Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute
• The Literature Review: University of Southern California
• Cicero (106—43 BCE): Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Analyzing Novels & Short Stories: TAMU Writing Center
• Literature Analysis: PLU Writing Center
• What Is Analysis?: Austin Community College
• Writing Your Literary Analysis: University of Hawaii
• Literary Analysis Paper: Western Michigan University
• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

In school and college, you will be required to write research papers. Yes — papers in the plural. And that’s the first reason you may want to turn to Custom Writing and seek help with research projects. When assigned a paper, the very first undertaking is to choose from a...

The success of any college essay depends on the topic choice. If you want to impress your instructors, your essay needs to be interesting and unique. Don’t know what to write about? We are here to help you! In this article by our Custom-Writing.org team, you will find 335 interesting...

Social studies is an integrated research field. It includes a range of topics on social science and humanities, such as history, culture, geography, sociology, education, etc. A social studies essay might be assigned to any middle school, high school, or college student. It might seem like a daunting task, but...

If you are about to go into the world of graduate school, then one of the first things you need to do is choose from all the possible dissertation topics available to you. This is no small task. You are likely to spend many years researching your Master’s or Ph.D....

Looking for a good argumentative essay topic? In need of a persuasive idea for a research paper? You’ve found the right page! Academic writing is never easy, whether it is for middle school or college. That’s why there are numerous educational materials on composing an argumentative and persuasive essay, for...

Persuasive speech is the art of convincing the audience to understand and trust your opinion. Are you ready to persuade someone in your view? Our list of sports persuasive speech topics will help you find a position to take and defend. If you need more options quick, apart from contents...

When you look for a good research paper topic, you can easily become the severest critic of any proposed idea. Some topics do not interest you at the very least, while others might shock your teachers. Where is the golden mean? Check out this list of top 100 research paper...

Can there possibly be anything fun about academic writing? It seems there is – what are all those fun persuasive speech topics then for, after all? However, creating a bunch of good topics might seem hard the first time around. No need to worry though – there’s always plenty of...

A persuasive speech on any topic is a performance designed to convince people about something and prove your point. Choosing a suitable topic is crucial for your speech’s success. Do you need some help with finding easy topics for a persuasive speech? Then check these fantastic and easy ideas from...

Do you know the secret place where people go to get their good informative speech topics? Looking for an interesting topic for speech? Congratulations, because you’ve just found it! So, if you’re ready to get some really good topics for an informative speech, all you need to do is to...

A proposal argument is an essay in which you describe a specific issue that needs fixing. It focuses on problem solutions. Are you interested in writing high-quality proposal essays? Or maybe you’re wondering what can make your writing truly outstanding? Here you will find answers to these questions as well...

Sometimes you just wish there was a marketplace with vendors shouting, “Topics for argument essays! Who wants inspirational topics to write about?” Well, you are lucky enough: you’ll find plenty of inspiring things here! Coming up with some argument essay topics is quite easy! In this article, you’ll find some...

Thank you so much! That gave me a great start!

Glad to help!

Literary Analysis Essay

Literary Analysis Essay Topics

Interesting Literary Analysis Essay Topics & Ideas

13 min read

Published on: Aug 28, 2020

Last updated on: Jan 29, 2024

People also read

Literary Analysis Essay - Step by Step Guide

Literary Analysis Essay Outline Guide with Examples

Share this article

Many students struggle to find interesting and engaging literary analysis essay topics. This hinders their ability to excel in literary analysis and interpretation.

Frustrated with the lack of compelling topics, students often feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start their analytical journey. 

But there’s no need to worry because we’ve got you covered!

Our blog provides a diverse selection of thought-provoking literary analysis essay topics. 

With our comprehensive guide, you can unlock their potential and approach literature with newfound excitement and confidence.

So let’s dive into it! 

On This Page On This Page -->

Literary Analysis Essay Topics For Students

In a literary analysis essay, you need to explore the power of words in shaping meaning and conveying emotions. Here are some literary analysis essay topic examples.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Middle School Students 

• Satire in Absalom and Achitophel by John Dryden
• Discuss the main character of ‘The Crucible.’
• Analyzing the message in the Life of Pi
• Importance of the theme of hope in literature
• Focus on what the novel reveals about the 1920s.
• The class conflict in Barn Burning
• Romeo and Juliet are the true rebels- what do you think?
• The use of allegory in Animal Farm.
• Describe the struggle for good and evil in Shakespeare’s Macbeth
• How to deal with a rude teen?

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for College Students 

Check out our list of literature essay topics for college students here:

• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
• The reasons why youngsters are becoming criminals
• The depiction of Eve in Milton’s Paradise Lost
• Children’s vaccination: why it is important.
• Examine the portrayal of women in ‘Othello.’
• The Hunger Games vs. The Lottery
• What does the ending of “The Great Gatsby” mean?
• What role does money play in Fitzgerald’s novel?
• Literary analysis of a streetcar named desire
• The irony in Jerome’s stories

Good Literary Analysis Essay Topics   

An essay topic is considered good if it is understandable for the audience and easy for you to explain. 

We can help you if you are a high school student looking for some good topics for a literary analysis essay. Below, you will find many different yet attractive topics for your literary analysis paper. 

Literary Analysis Topics for Othello

• Analyze the role of Bianca in the play “Othello” and also analyze how her class influences the ways people treated her.
• Analyze the behavior of men toward Emilia in the play “Othello”?
• Analyze the idea of jealousy and love in the play “Othello.”
• Analyze the type of relationship does Othello have with Cassio?
• Analyze how women are portrayed in “Othello”?
• To what extent are males dominant in “Othello”? Analyze.
• To what extent are women depicted differently in “Othello” than they are today?
• To what extent do women show their empowerment throughout the theme of the “Othello”?
• What message did “Othello” have for society?
• Try to analyze the purpose of the play.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Catcher in the Rye

• Analyze the character of Holden, as seen in the “Catcher in the Rye.”
• Analyze and explain why Catcher in the Rye is considered one of the American classics.
• Describe phoniness and innocence, as displayed in the novel.
• Analyze the scenarios that show hypocrisy in the play “Catcher in the Rye.”
• Analyze the theme of self-discovery from the novel.
• Analyze the most influential element of the novel.
• Describe the theme of loneliness in the story.
• Analyze the aspects of human nature exposed by the novel.
• Identify some of the aspects that show that Holden contradicts himself.
• Try to analyze whether Holden is considered a dynamic or a static character.

1984 Literary Analysis Paper Topics

• How can the book “1984” be compared with the books of today?
• Analyze the theme, setting, and characters of the novel.
• Analyze the turning point in the novel.
• Analyze the novel “1984” in the context of racial discrimination.
• Analyze the concept of “party” in the novel “1984”.
• Analyze how “dystopia” has been highlighted in the book “1984” By George Orwell.
• Analyze how oppression and fear became the reason for rebellion in “1984”.
• Analyze “1984” in the context of Carl Jung’s analytical psychology.
• What do you think about the purpose of the book?
• Analyze the book from the “Sci-Fi” aspect.

“Hamlet” Literary Analysis Essay Topic Ideas

• Analyze how Shakespeare uses the imagery in act three of “Hamlet”?
• Analyze how Hamlet’s speech moved from active to passive.
• List the names of Hamlet’s various foils. What role do they play, and how much are they important?
• Analyze how Hamlet’s character and the plot of the play develop along with his ideas of sin and salvation.
• Analyze how Hamlet perceives death. Support your analysis with at least three quotes from credible sources.
• Analyze how Hamlet relates to King Lear.
• Analyze the mood swings of Hamlet throughout the play. What influences his mood?
• Analyze the character of Hamlet from the perspective of a hero and a villain.
• Analyze the relationship between hamlet and Ophelia.
• How “suicide” is the main theme of hamlet?

Macbeth Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Analyze which among Banquo, Macduff, and Macbeth was the real villain?
• What does the blood symbolize in the play “Macbeth”?
• Talk about Macbeth’s hallucinations and visions. Also, analyze its effects on the overall character?
• Analyze King Duncan’s personality and state his contributions to the play.
• Discuss Macbeth’s insanity as a result of greedy and dishonest nature.
• Analyze how figurative language is used in “Macbeth.”
• Analyze how imagery will help in understanding “Macbeth” easily.
• Discuss what would happen if the gender roles of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth were switched.
• The supernatural plays an important role in Macbeth. Analyze.
• Analyze the minor characters of the play.

“The Crucible” Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Analyze the roles of Elizabeth Proctor and Abigail Williams.
• What role did sex, and sexual repression, play in The Crucible?
• Why are Danforth, Hathorne, and the others did not believe that Abigail and the other girls were liars?
• Analyze the type of government Salem was running.
• Analyze Reverend Parris and his motivations in support of the witch trials.
• Discuss the way Miller has presented the ideas about freedom in The Crucible?
• How would you analyze Miller’s presentation of Abigail in The Crucible?
• How do Miller present ideas about witch-hunts in The Crucible?
• Discuss the changes that Reverend Hale undergoes in the course of the play.
• What kind of governmental rule is shown in the play?

Romeo and Juliet Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Discuss the character of Romeo and his passion for Rosaline. Does this weaken the intensity of the love he feels for Juliet?
• Examine and analyze the dramatic role Friar Laurence serves in the play “Romeo and Juliet.”
• Analyze what makes Mercutio so memorable a character in the story of Romeo and Juliet?
• Examine the role of women that William Shakespeare describes.
• Why are Romeo and Juliet referred to as "star-crossed lovers.” Discuss the concept of the destiny that has been predetermined for them.
• Discuss Act 3, Scene 2 of the play, and pay particular attention to its poetic merits.
• Discuss the passage of time throughout Romeo and Juliet.
• Examine carefully the similarities and differences between the two young men who love Juliet.
• Why is this play a favorite of all?
• Why is the story of Romeo and Juliet still remembered?

The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Analyze the metaphorical meaning of color that the writer has tried to present in the novel?
• Analyze the modernism depicted in The Great Gatsby.
• Conduct analysis in the symbolic meaning of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
• What is the metaphorical meaning of the Valley of Ashes?
• What is the meaning of time in the novel?
• Analyze the mindset of Fitzgerald in “the great Gatsby” and Mark Twain in “A Tramp Abroad.”
• How do secondary characters add up to the storyline?
• What are the central themes in The Great Gatsby?
• Analyze the end of the play.
• What message does society get from “The Great Gatsby”.

“Fahrenheit 451” Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Analyze the steps that make Montag decide to preserve books instead of destroying them.
• Consider the idea of conformity instead of individuality presented in this novel.
• Analyze the main title of the novel.
• Explain the messages or ideas the author is trying to share with his readers. Analyze the aspects of society that he has targeted.
• Conduct a literary analysis of the book and the movie “Fahrenheit 451”. Keep into consideration the bibliography.
• Analyze the significant ideological problems involved in censorship.
• Concentrate on the dual image that the fire has in this novel. What is it indicating?
• Evaluate the psychological complexity of your favorite character from the novel.
• Discuss the use of quotations from literature in Fahrenheit 451.
• Discuss the theme of the book.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on “To Kill a Mockingbird”

• Analyze the childhood world of Jem, Scout, and Dill.
• Analyze the relationship of Jem with Boo Radley.
• Analyze the role Jem and Scout played throughout the novel.
• What is Atticus’s relationship to the rest of Maycomb?
• Analyze the role of Maycomb in the community shown in the novel.
• Discuss the role of family in To Kill a Mockingbird.
• What vibes did you get from the character of Aunt Alexandra.
• Examine Miss Maudie’s relationship to the Finches.
• Discuss the way the author has described Maycomb.
• Analyze the author’s intention towards Boo Radley.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for The Animal Farm

• Discuss the most important theme of the novel.
• Analyze the main characters of the novel.
• The novel, Animal Farm is a symbolism for human civilization. How?
• Analyze the use of persuasive language in the novel.
• Examine the Orwellian tone. How did it contribute to making the novel humorous?
• What is the symbolism of the windmill in the novel?
• Discuss the plot of the novel “The Animal Farm".
• How is a farm house the main setting of the novel?
• What is the inherent irony in “The Animal Farm”.
• Discuss the use of fables in the novel.

Beowulf Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Role of Women in the Poem Beowulf
• What is the main idea of the story?
• The Meaning of Rings in Beowulf
• Literary analysis on Burton Raffels’ translation of “Beowulf.”
• Who are the most developed characters in this story?
• The women in Beowulf
• Analyze the essence of one symbol in Beowulf
• Christian and Pagan Elements in “Beowulf”
• What is Grendel’s claw?
• Beowulf’s opinions on the story

Frankenstein Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• Who is the real monster in Frankenstein?
• Frankenstein and the Human Mind
• Analyze what fire is trying to symbolize.
• An Analysis of Grendel and Frankenstein
• Evil is created, not born, in Frankenstein
• Frankenstein: Romantic or Tragic Hero?
• Analyze philosophy in “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
• Shelley Mary‘s Frankenstein rejection
• The main role of society in the novel.
• Why Is Frankenstein a Gothic novel?

Interesting Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Movies 

• Analyze the theme of ‘Pursuit of Happiness.’
• Enslavement in the “Moby Dick”
• Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter film analysis
• "Bridget Jones’s Diary" movie review
• How did the story develop in ‘Midway’?
• Sense of sin in The Scarlet Letter
• Red Tails by George Lucas film analysis
• Analysis of The Film Beasts of No Nation
• Music of modern non-fiction films.
• Male pride and Jealousy in The Dead

Social Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• The role of Shakespeare in world literature
• The impact of technology on kids' minds
• The main causes behind rapid climate change.
• How does bullying affects schooling children?
• Does alcohol always create problems?
• How is our society dealing with poverty?
• Migration of polar bears: the reasons.
• How to stop the sale of drugs?
• The cultural impact of literature
• How to prevent cybercrime?

Literary Review Essay Topics

• The Works of William Shakespeare: A Review of his Plays and Sonnets
• Feminist Themes in Jane Austen's Novels: A Critical Analysis
• The Role of Magical Realism in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Works
• The Modernist Movement in Literature: A Review of Key Authors and Works
• The Influence of the Harlem Renaissance on African American Literature
• The Gothic Genre in Literature: A Review of Classic and Contemporary Works
• Postcolonial Literature: A Review of the Works of Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• The Use of Satire in Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels"
• The Works of Edgar Allan Poe: A Review of his Short Stories and Poetry
• Contemporary American Literature: A Review of the Works of Toni Morrison, Philip Roth, and Cormac McCarthy

How to Choose a Literary Analysis Essay Topic?    

Choosing a topic may not be as simple as it looks. One must have sufficient time to search for the topic, analyze it, and see if it fits the requirements. 

While you are searching for the topic, make sure to look for something interesting and eye-catching. To grab the reader’s attention , you must ensure that you write your essay on an interesting and unique topic. 

You can also look for different literary analysis title examples to get an idea.

No matter what type of essay you are writing, you must come up with a strong and interesting topic. It will help you attain the reader’s attention and allow you to write in detail. 

While looking for good analytical essay topics for a literary work, you must keep the following things in mind. 

• Thoroughly read the literary work. 
• Try to identify the main objectives of the work. 
• Identify and understand the purpose of the work. 
• Choose a topic that is directly related to your chosen work. 
• Analyze the topic in detail with different literary devices before you start writing on it.
• Focus on your target audience and write according to their caliper.
• Stick to the theme of the literary work while writing your essay. 

Check out this video for detailed information about how to choose a literary analysis topic.

Tips to Write an Effective Literary Analysis Essay

Being a student, you must be ready all the time to write any type of essay. Remember that essay writing is not as difficult as it may seem to many students. There are some very simple things that you need to ensure.

Some quick tips for writing a literary analysis essay easily are as follows.

• Focus on the topic you have selected and collected sufficient data related to it.
• Collect relevant evidence from authentic sources.
• Create a strong  literary analysis essay outline  for your essay.
• Develop your main thesis statement in such a way that it supports your essay.
• Once you are done with the writing process, make sure that you revise it at least once. This will help you write a high-quality and error-free essay.

You can also check out our literary analysis essay guide to learn how to write your analysis!

Despite having a good topic, all the guidance, and the required information, many students can still not write an essay themself. The reason may not be the incompetence of a student. Sometimes students lack time as they have many other assignments to take care of.

If you are also in this situation, opting for a professional essay writing service is the best option. At CollegeEssay.org , we provide the custom essay writing service. Our team of professional writers is just a message away from assisting you.

Get in touch with our customer service at any time of the day and let us know all your queries. Moreover, you can give our AI essay generator a try and let all your stress of assignment completion go away.

Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)

Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Keep reading

Legal & Policies

• Privacy Policy
• Cookies Policy
• Terms of Use
• Refunds & Cancellations
• Our Writers
• Success Stories
• Our Guarantees
• Affiliate Program
• Referral Program
• AI Essay Writer

Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.

• 120 Literary Essay Topics

Students may be assigned a literary analysis essay when taking an English, literature, or writing class. This essay aims to analyze a particular work or body of work within the context of literature.

Students giving this type of writing assignment often find that while they can understand the texts being studied, they have difficulty putting their thoughts about them into words. This can be frustrating because literary analysis requires both interpretation and evaluation, two skills that can be challenging to put on paper.

Fortunately, we’ve created an expert guide to help students write the best literary analysis essay possible. Additionally, we’ve included 120 literary analysis essay topics that offer a wide range of interesting options for students to choose from.

What Does Analysis Mean?

While students may have written essays with different purposes in the past, a literary analysis essay asks them to take a different approach. When students engage in literary analysis, they explore the text deeply and in detail. They are not simply summarizing the plot or retelling the story. Instead, they are looking at the how and why of the text, delving into its deeper meaning.

Students must learn how to go beyond simple surface-level analysis and move towards a more complex understanding of the text. This can be achieved by asking the right questions, such as:

• How does the author use literary devices?
• What is the author’s purpose in writing this text?
• What are the underlying themes in the text?
• What does the text reveal about the author’s point of view?

Answering these questions can help students move beyond simply understanding a text to being able to analyze it effectively.

Types of Literary Analysis Essays

There are three common types of literary analysis essays that students may be asked to write. Each has its own unique purpose and focus.

Character Analysis

In a character analysis, students are asked to analyze a character from a literary work. This could be a protagonist, an antagonist, or a minor character. This type of essay aims to help students understand the role that characters play in a work of literature. To do this effectively, students must pay close attention to how the author develops the character throughout the text.

For example, if a student were asked to write a character analysis of Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, they would need to consider how Gatsby is developed throughout the novel. This might involve looking at how Fitzgerald uses symbolism, narration, and dialogue to reveal things about Gatsby’s character.

Theme Analysis

A theme analysis essay focuses on a work of literature’s central theme. The purpose of this type of essay is to help students understand the theme’s role in the work as a whole. To do this effectively, students need to identify the work’s major themes and understand how they are developed throughout the course of the text.

For example, if students were asked to write a theme analysis of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, they might identify the book’s central themes of teenage angst and rebellion. They would then need to examine how these themes are developed throughout the course of the novel.

Symbolism Analysis

A symbolism analysis essay focuses on how a work of literature uses symbols to represent ideas or themes. The purpose of this type of essay is to help students understand how symbols are used to convey ideas and messages in a work of literature. To do this effectively, students need to be able to identify the work’s major symbols and understand their significance.

For example, suppose a student was asked to write a symbolism analysis of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. In that case, they might examine the ways in which the green light, the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg, and the valley of ashes function as symbols in the novel.

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay

When writing a literary analysis essay, it is important to be sure that you are clear about your thesis statement. Your thesis statement is the main point of your essay and should be concise and easy to understand. Some good examples of thesis statements for literary analysis essays include:

“In The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger uses symbols to represent the teenage experience.”

“Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism in The Great Gatsby reveals the theme of the corruption of the American dream.”

Once you have your thesis statement, you will need to support it with evidence from the text. This could be done through the use of quotes, examples, or other types of evidence. Be sure that you are clear on what your evidence is and how it supports your thesis.

Another important aspect of writing a literary analysis essay is organization. Your essay should be well-organized and flow smoothly from point to point. Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence that states the main point of the paragraph and supporting evidence to back it up. Be sure to transition smoothly between paragraphs to make your essay easy to follow.

Finally, the conclusion of your essay should sum up the main points of your argument and leave the reader with a clear understanding of your position. A good conclusion will also restate your thesis in different words than how it was stated in your introduction.

120 Literary Analysis Essay Topics

Students stuck on a topic for their essay can use any of these 120 literary analysis essay topics to get inspired.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About Symbolism

• How does the author use symbols to represent ideas in the text?
• What is the significance of the book’s title?
• How do the book’s characters embody the themes of the text?
• What objects or images appear throughout the book, and what do they symbolize?
• How does the author use color to convey ideas in the text?
• What is the significance of the book’s setting?
• What does the narrator’s point of view reveal about the characters and events in the text?
• How does the author use foreshadowing to build suspense in the story?
• What motifs appear in the text, and what do they symbolize?
• How does the author’s use of irony contribute to the text’s overall theme?

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About Theme

• What is the book’s central theme? Why?
• How does the author explore the book’s main theme?
• What messages does the author convey about the book’s main theme?
• How does the author develop the book’s secondary themes?
• What messages does the author convey about the book’s secondary themes?
• How does the author’s choice of words contribute to the development of the theme in the text?
• What characters embody the book’s central themes, and how do they represent them?
• How does the author’s use of figurative language contribute to developing a theme in the text?
• What events in the book support the main theme, and how do they contribute to its development?
• How does the author’s use of symbolism contribute to the development of the theme in the text?

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About Character

• How do the book’s characters develop throughout the story?
• How do the book’s characters contribute to the development of the plot?
• How does the author use dialogue to reveal information about the book’s characters?
• What physical traits do the book’s characters possess, and how do they contribute to the story?
• What psychological traits do the book’s characters possess, and how do they contribute to the story?
• How do the book’s characters interact with each other, and what does this reveal about them?
• What motivates the book’s characters, and how does this contribute to the development of the plot?
• How does the author’s use of point of view contribute to the development of the book’s characters?
• What conflicts do the book’s characters face, and how do they resolve them?
• How do the book’s characters change by the end of the story, and what does this reveal about them?

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About Plot

• What is the book’s main plot?
• How does the author develop the book’s main plot?
• What messages does the author convey about the book’s main plot?
• How does the author develop the book’s secondary plots?
• What messages does the author convey about the book’s secondary plots?
• How does the author’s choice of words contribute to the development of the book’s plot?
• What events in the book support the main plot, and how do they contribute to its development?
• How does the author’s use of symbolism contribute to the development of the book’s plot?
• How does the author’s use of figurative language contribute to the development of the book’s plot?
• What characters embody the book’s main plot, and how do they represent it?

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About Setting

• How would a different setting affect the book’s plot?
• How does the book’s setting contribute to the development of its characters?
• What messages does the author convey about the book’s setting?
• How does the author use the book’s setting to develop the book’s mood?
• How do events in the book make the setting more or less real?
• How does the author’s use of description contribute to the development of the book’s setting?
• What physical traits does the book’s setting possess, and how do they contribute to the story?
• What psychological traits does the book’s setting possess, and how do they contribute to the story?
• How does the author use the book’s setting to develop the book’s theme?
• What symbols are present in the book’s setting, and what do they represent?

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About American Classic Literature

• Compare and contrast the American Dream as it is portrayed in The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman.
• How does F. Scott Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism contribute to the development of the theme in The Great Gatsby?
• What similarities and differences exist between the characters in The Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird?
• In what ways does Harper Lee’s use of first-person point of view contribute to the development of Atticus Finch’s character?
• How does J.D. Salinger’s use of figurative language contribute to the development of Holden Caulfield’s character?
• What messages about society does Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman convey?
• How does the author’s use of symbolism contribute to the development of the theme in All My Sons?
• What messages about family does Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie convey?
• What messages about love and relationships does Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf convey?

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About British Literature

• How does Shakespeare’s use of symbolism contribute to the development of the theme in Romeo and Juliet?
• What messages about family does William Golding’s Lord of the Flies convey?
• What messages about love and relationships does D.H. Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers convey?
• How does the author’s use of symbolism contribute to the development of the theme in Women in Love?
• What messages about society does George Orwell’s Animal Farm convey?

Literary Analysis Topics About Poetry

• How does the author’s choice of words contribute to the development of the theme in a particular poem?
• What messages about society does the poem convey?
• How does the author’s use of symbolism contribute to the development of the theme in the poem?
• What clues in the poem suggest the poet had a troubled life?
• What physical traits does the poem’s speaker possess, and how do they contribute to the poem’s development?
• What psychological traits does the poem’s speaker possess, and how do they contribute to the development of the poem?
• How would a different choice of words contribute to the development of the poem’s theme?
• What different images does the author use in the poem, and how do they contribute to its development?
• Compare and contrast the author’s use of imagery in two different poems.
• How does the author’s use of sound contribute to the development of the poem?

Literary Analysis Topics About Theater

• Examine how the playwright’s use of stage directions contributes to character development in the play.
• How does the playwright’s use of dialogue contribute to the development of the theme in the play?
• What messages about love and relationships does the play convey?
• How does the author’s use of symbolism contribute to the development of the theme in the play?
• What messages about family does the playwright’s use of figurative language convey?
• How does the author’s use of point of view contribute to the development of the play’s characters?
• In what ways does the playwright’s use of setting contribute to the development of the play’s plot?
• What messages about society does the play convey?
• How would a change in the play’s setting contribute to its development?

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About YA Novels

• Explore the main differences between the book and its film adaptation.
• What messages about love and relationships does the novel convey?
• Examine the use of adolescent slang in the novel and its effects on the development of theme.
• Argue for or against including a particular novel in high school curriculums.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About Speeches

• Compare and contrast Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech with Malcolm X’s “The Ballot or the Bullet
• Explore the symbolism in Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.”
• Analyze the rhetoric in JFK’s “Moon Speech.”
• What messages about society does Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I A Woman?” speech convey?
• How does Frederick Douglass’s “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” speech contribute to his character development?
• What physical traits does the speaker possess, and how do they contribute to the development of the speech?
• What psychological traits does the speaker possess, and how do they contribute to the development of the speech?
• How would a different choice of words contribute to the development of the speech’s theme?
• What different images does the author use in the speech, and how do they contribute to its development?
• Compare and contrast the author’s use of imagery in two different speeches.
• Does the intensity of the rhetoric in the speech contribute to its effectiveness?
• How does the author’s use of sound contribute to the development of the speech?

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About Books Turned into Movies

• Explore the themes of capitalism in Fight Club.
• Discuss how The Catcher in the Rye is an autobiographical novel.
• Analyze the character of Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye.
• Compare and contrast the book and film versions of The Great Gatsby.
• Examine the use of color in The Great Gatsby.
• Explore the theme of betrayal in The Great Gatsby.
• Analyze the character of Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby.
• Compare and contrast the book and film versions of To Kill a Mockingbird.
• Examine the use of point of view in To Kill a Mockingbird.
• Analyze the character of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics About Non-Fiction Books

• Compare and contrast two biographies of the same person.
• Analyze a section of the US Constitution.
• Compare and contrast two religious texts.
• Analyze the historical effects of the writings of Niccolo Machiavelli.
• Compare and contrast the ideas of Karl Marx and Adam Smith.
• Analyze the thoughts of Rousseau on education.
• Evaluate the methods used in a self-help book.
• Review a political science text.
• Compare and contrast the autobiographies of two different philosophers.
• Compare and contrast the claims made in two history books.

With any of these 120 literary essay topics, you’ll be able to deep-dive into the world of literature and create an impressive essay on any text you’ve read.

Related Posts

• 220 Psychology Essay Topics
• 120 Exploratory Essay Topics
• 140 Sociology Essay Topics
• 160 Evaluation Essay Topics
• 130 Proposal Essay Topics

Categories:

• Essay Samples
• Essay Topics
• Essay Writing Guides

Recent posts:

• 170 Ethics Essay Topics
• 160 Satire Essay Topics
• 160 Rhetorical Essay Topics
• 155 Criminal Justice Essay Topics
• 150 Political Essay Topics
• 145 Classification Essay Topics
• 140 Opinion Essay Topics
• 140 Environmental Essay Topics
• 135 Controversial Essay Topics
• 125 Classification and Division Essay Topics
• 100 Profile Essay Topics
• 90 Heart of Darkness Essay Topics
• 80 Holocaust Essay Topics

Testimonials

Literary Analysis: Essay Prompts, Outline, & American Literature Topics

• 📚 Literary Analysis Definition

🧩 Elements of a Literary Analysis

• 📝 Literary Analysis Outline
• 💡 Literary Analysis Prompts
• 🤔 Topics for Literary Analysis
• 🗽 American Literature Topics
• ☘️ British & Irish Literature Topics

🌐 Classic European Literature Topics

🗺️ world literature essay topics.

It’s high time to discuss everything about literary analysis in detail!

📚 What Is Literary Analysis?

Literary analysis (literary criticism) is the process of interpreting a piece of literature. It implies a critical look at a text to understand the author’s message.

In this assignment, you trace tiny symbols and puzzles left by the author. As a reward, you get to the main idea. It is essential to differentiate a literary analysis from a summary where you just restate ideas from a text. Here, you need to dig into them and interpret them. Here are the main steps of a literary criticism process:

• Interpretation

What Is the Purpose of a Literary Analysis Essay?

Literary analysis has several purposes. Here are some of them:

• Understanding and interpreting the author’s point of view.
• Looking deeper into the literary work canvas and finding new meanings in it.
• Making up an opinion about the book.
• Estimating a book in general, its strong and weak sides.

The proper literary analysis includes many details. You should provide not a summary but an interpretation . In the end, it can be considered a separate work.

Brainstorming and observing the following aspects makes writing more manageable.

📝 Literary Analysis Essay Outline – 3 Parts

We want to present you with a complete literary analysis outline. The parts from the section below will navigate you through writing your work.

Introduction of a Literary Analysis Essay

When writing a literary analysis, you examine the whole text and its components. So we recommend starting from the primary constituents. Here’s what you can include in your literary analysis essay intro :

• In many cases, there’s already a lot said in the title – look at it more precisely.
• Don’t forget to mention the author and give a piece of information about them.
• Get the reader’s attention with a good hook . It will make the audience interested in your writing.
• Give some background information about the book. For example, you can mention the context of when and where it was created.

Body of a Literary Analysis Essay

The body is the “fleshiest” part of your paper. Let’s see how to make it complete and exciting.

• Introduce the contents of the section in a topic sentence .
• Provide the reader with the evidence you’ve collected. It can be quotations, specific details from the book, or summarized sentences . Mind that you have to give your interpretations.
• Smoothen the transition to the next paragraph with a closing sentence .

Conclusion of a Literary Analysis Essay

To wrap up your analysis, you will need a proper conclusion . Let’s look at its components:

• A paraphrased thesis statement – reformulate your thesis preserving its main idea.
• A summary of your work – give a quick review of the most significant points.
• Only the information you already gave – don’t introduce any new facts.

💡5 Literary Analysis Prompts

The section below gives you clues on building an excellent literary analysis. You can choose any of them to focus your work on something specific.

1. Analyze a Character’s Behavior, Choices, and Motifs

First, you have to choose a character who resonates with you. In that case, your analysis will be more profound. You will enjoy writing it. Use the following or similar questions to perform it:

2. Compare Internal Conflict Vs. External Conflict

There is often a conflict or several in a literary work. It is something that makes a story engaging. Try to find it and put it to the test. For example, answer these questions:

3. Focus on a Specific Sentence

An author can put a lot of significance even into one sentence. If you manage to find it, you’ll get the key to understanding the whole point of the work. Try to find a sentence or several that got your attention and made you reflect on them.

4. Evaluate the Role of Setting

The setting often plays a significant role in a storyline. Look for the descriptions that may resonate with the characters’ state and the atmosphere.

5. Research the Background and Its Meaning

The majority of literary pieces resonate with historical or cultural contexts. You can use it for the analysis.

🤔 307 Literary Analysis Essay Topics

Consider the topics below for deep analysis. You’ll find titles to any taste, including American, British, and European literature.

Try our remarkable research title generator if these 300+ topics are not enough. It’s free and easy to use!

🗽 American Literature Essay Topics

• The language and narrative in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald .
• Analyze themes of the American Revolutionary period in literature.
• Devil’s presence in “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
• Reunion of Daisy and Gatsby in The Great Gatsby novel by Francis Scott Fitzgerald .
• Is “The Power of Sympathy” the first American Novel?
• “A Ghetto Takes Shape: Black Cleveland” by Kusmer .
• Vietnam War in The Things They Carried novel by Tim O’Brien .
• The moral education of early America in “The Power of Sympathy.”
• A disease of Marriage in “The Story of an Hour” by Chopin.
• Religion and public life in American Grace by Putnam .
• The friendship in Moby Dick: should it be an example for others?
• “A Rose for Emily”: Analysis of a short story by William Faulkner .
• The language and themes in the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost .
• Elaborate on race and enslavement topics pictured in Moby Dick.
• Kate Chopin’s background in “Story of an Hour.”
• Racism experiences in the Black Like Me book by John Griffin .
• Research the anti-slavery narratives in early American literature.
• Gender struggles in To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf .
• Composition of “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien .
• Moby Dick: How did the sermon that Ishmael heard affect him?
• Marriage in “The Awakening” Novel by Kate Chopin.
• Behind a Convict’s Eyes by K. C. Carceral: Book review .
• How does Walter Whitman use symbols in “Leaves of Grass”?
• American Grace : A book by Robert Putnam and David Campbell .
• Walt Whitman poetry: how to read and understand it?
• Civil War history: “A Year in the South” by Ash .
• Symbolism in “A Wall of Fire Rising” by Edwidge Danticat .
• Walter Whitman: what are the controversial themes in “Leaves of Grass”?
• Plot analysis of “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway.
• What is the deistic influence in Walter Whitman’s poetry?
• Religion in American Grace by Putnam and Campbell .
• Harlem Renaissance in “The New Negro” by Alain Locke .
• What does “athletic friendship” mean in Walter Whitman’s poetry?
• An Eye For An I: Critical Analysis of Poe’s “Tell-Tale Heart.”
• Grief in the novel The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold .
• Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain: a racist or anti-racist novel?
• Cultural heritage in “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker .
• Lessons learned from “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” short story by Flannery O’Connor .
• Compare and contrast two characters of Mark Twain: Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.
• How to describe the American society in Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?”
• The concepts of good and evil in Young Lions by Irwin Shaw.
• Black women in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs .
• Female characters in Death of a Salesman by A. Miller .
• Compare and contrast three main characters of Irwin Shaw’s “Young Lions.”
• “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” vs. “Smooth Talk”: Connie’s character.
• How do Holden’s relationships with people differ in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger?
• Analysis of different works by Edgar Allan Poe .
• The Crucible by Arthur Miller: Parallels with McCarthyism .
• Analyze the imagery, structure, and syntax in Emily Dickinson’s poetry.
• Chinese and American Women in Joy Luck Club novel and film.
• The American decadence themes in Grapes of Wrath by J. Steinbeck.
• Time in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner .
• The theme of consequences in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe .
• Crime and punishment in Theodor Dreiser’s “American Tragedy.”
• How is the process of growing up reflected in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger?
• Can we see James Joyce’s influence in William Faulkner’s novels?
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain: Injustice of slavery and racism .
• Hidden symbols in “The Storm” by Kate Chopin .
• To Kill a Mockingbird: the metamorphoses of Jem and Scout in the novel.
• “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams character review.
• All the Colors We Are : Children’s anti-bias book by Kissinger .
• What do Clyde Griffiths and Frank Cowperwood of Theodor Dreiser’s novels have in common?
• Rhetoric in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor .
• The Financier: can Frank Cowperwood be a role model for young and ambitious people?
• “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Steve Covey: book concepts.
• The Sound and the Fury: how do four different perspectives of narrative help understand the novel?
• Analysis of the play Fences by August Wilson .
• Fate in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by F. O’Connor .
• To Kill a Mockingbird: is Atticus a role model of a parent and a decent person?
• “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller: Willy Loman Character Analysis.
• Elaborate on the wide range of racist issues in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
• Women’s struggles in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin .
• How is American Dream depicted in “American Tragedy”?
• Symbolism in Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie.”
• Signs of feminism in “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
• Comparison of “The Storm” and “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin .
• American ideology in Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense.”
• The American dream in the play “Death of a Salesman.”
• How does Margaret Mitchell show the war tragedy in Gone with the Wind?
• Blindness in “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver .
• Gender roles in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin .
• Vanity Fair by William Thackeray: does the book’s structure allow us to call it “a novel”?
• The importance of “The Making of a Quagmire” by David Halberstam.
• Explore transcendentalism topic in James Fenimore Cooper’s “The Last of the Mohicans.”
• “We Wear the Mask” and “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” analysis .
• The importance of learning in “Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” by Frederick Douglass .
• Does The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow have one main idea?
• “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath: Review .
• The Song of Hiawatha: the struggle between vice and virtue.
• Gender relations on the example of “Trifle” by Glaspell.
• Real life in “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer .
• The Song of Hiawatha: the gap between reality and the ideal.
• Cabico’s “Check One” poem: Motif-based analysis .
• Moral ambiguity in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.”
• “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost: The poem as a metaphor .
• Innocence vs. guilt in “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe .
• The horrors of war in Ernest Hemingway’s novel “Farewell to Arms.”
• Dave’s character in “The Man Who Was Almost a Man” by Richard Wright.
• The oppression of women in “Woman Hollering Creek” by Sandra Cisneros .
• How does Harriette Stowe show the slavery horrors in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”?
• “A Rose for Emily” literary analysis .
• Fallacies in “Boxing, Doctors – Round Two” by Cohn .
• What are the symbols and settings that make Poe’s works recognizable?
• Analysis of «Cod» by Mark Kurlansky .
• The hypocrisy of the civilized society in “ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn .”
• “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair: the dark alleys of capitalism.
• Analysis of “Roman Fever” by Edith Wharton .
• Autobiographical motives in Jack London’s “Martin Eden.”
• Analysis of “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker .
• Nietzschean individualism versus socialism in Jack London’s “Martin Eden.”
• Comparison of “The Cask of Amontillado” and “Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe .
• Illusory of the distorted American ideals in Theodor Dreiser’s “Sister Carrie.”
• “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker: plot analysis.
• “American Tragedy” – a story about urbanization, modernization, and alienation.
• “Daddy Issues” by Sandra Tsing Loh: The rhetorical analysis .
• What is the idea of the “average” American way of life depicted in Sinclair Lewis’ “Babbitt”?
• Dreams and hopes in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry .
• Comparison of “Barn Burning” and “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner .
• How does Sinclair Lewis accomplish to create drama with the details?
• The life of black people in Nella Larsen’s ‘Passing.’
• What is the devastating cost of success in “The Great Gatsby” by F. S. Fitzgerald?
• “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin: Review .
• Religiousness in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by O’Connor .
• Southern families issues in “The Sound and The Fury” by W. Faulkner.
• “Who Moved My Cheese” by Spencer Johnson: description of the book and its relation to business.
• “Light in August”: Complex and violent relations between men and women.
• The Lottery by Shirley Jackson: Literary analysis .
• Imagery and symbolism in “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane .
• “The Sound and the Fury: are there innocent characters in the Compson family?
• Analysis of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain .
• The rise and decline of the Southern aristocracy in “The Snopes trilogy.”
• “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner: the role of point of view.
• Symbolism in the short story “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway .
• How are the themes of struggle, pride, and death revealed in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• Emily Grierson in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner .
• “In Cold Blood”: the context for the crime created in society.
• Gender roles in the play The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams .
• The theme of mental health in “The Yellow Wallpaper” story by Charlotte Gilman .
• What Southern Gothic signs can we find in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”?
• The Boy Who Would Be a Helicopter analysis .
• “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” poem by Emily Dickinson .
• Explore the unique style of Kurt Vonnegut in “Slaughter House Five.”
• Cultural identity in “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker .
• The influence of “The Cask of Amontillado” on Bierce’s work .
• Lieutenant Jimmy Cross in “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien.
• Ethical problems in John Updike’s novel “The Centaur.”
• Rubber hose in Death of a Salesman by Miller .

☘️ British & Irish Literature Essay Topics

• What makes “Canterbury tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer a great piece of literature?
• Analysis of the Hamlet play by William Shakespeare .
• What figures of speech does G. Chaucer use to create a humorous narrative in “Canterbury Tales”?
• The image of clergy in “Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer.
• Satire by Jonathan Swift in “A Modest Proposal” essay.
• If the “Faerie Queene” is a great “national” epic, what idea of the English nation does the poem create?
• The idea of dreaming in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare .
• Beowulf: is it a “perfect” hero from the Christian perspective ?
• A separate individual and societal system in Dickens’ novel “Little Dorrit.”
• The Character of Leggatt in “The Secret Sharer” by Joseph Conrad.
• Why did Edmund Spencer invent a poetic diction for his poem, and does that language work?
• The play Hamlet as a tragedy .
• Are Romeo and Juliet a play about revenge? Why?
• What racism issues are presented in “Othello”?
• Describe Othello as a tragic hero in Shakespeare’s play.
• Explore the imagery in John Milton’s “Paradise Lost.”
• Feminism in “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” by M. Wollstonecraft .
• Female characters in the novel “David Copperfield” by C. Dickens.
• Is the poem “Paradise Lost” morally conflicted? Why?
• Themes in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”
• The images of fairies and elves in Shakespeare’s comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
• A system of moral standards in Robin Hood’s cycle of stories.
• Victor in “Frankenstein,” the novel by Mary Shelley.
• The hero and author images in P. Sidney’s “Astrophil and Stella.”
• Explore the imagery in John Milton’s “Paradise Lost.”
• Themes in Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad .
• Thomas Heywood “A Woman Killed with Kindness”: family drama genre.
• Romeo and Juliet: the problem of love and freedom.
• Impact of gender in Shakespeare’s Othello.
• The image of the villain in Shakespeare’s “Othello.”
• Society criticism in “Careless Lovers” by Edward Ravenscroft .
• What functions do the supernatural powers perform in “Macbeth”?
• The Merchant of Venice: the topics of justice and mercy in the play.
• Review of “The Victorian Internet,” the book by Tom Standage.
• The peculiarities of the author’s irony in John Donne’s “Songs and sonnets.”
• The character of Victor in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley .
• The symbolic images of dreams and thunderstorms in John Donne’s poetry.
• Arcadian motives in Andrew Marvel’s lyrics.
• “Othello” by William Shakespeare: racism problem.
• How is the image of Satan presented in J. Milton’s poetry?
• Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelly .
• Compare the image of the lost innocence in Milton’s and Dante’s poetry.
• “The Alchemist” by Ben Jonson: the problems of style.
• Ophelia’s Character in Shakespeare’s Play “Hamlet.”
• The genre and method in the play “Volpone” by Ben Johnson.
• Analysis of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Coleridge .
• What unique features of the composition does the play “The Changeling” by T. Middleton include?
• “Perkin Warbeck” by John Ford: theatrical satire genre uniqueness.
• How is madness portrayed in William Shakespeare’s “Play King Lear”?
• The traveling theme in D. Defoe’s “The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.”
• The message in the poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by D. Thomas .
• J. Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”: utopia and dystopia in the novel.
• The satire in J. Swift’s pamphlet “A Tale of a Tub.”
• Different nations in “Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift.
• A. Pope’s “Windsor-Forest”: specifics of the arcadian motives and plot.
• Satan, Adam, and Eve in “Paradise Lost” Poem by John Milton .
• The primary functions of the “Don Quixote mask” in G. Fielding’s “Don Quixote in England.”
• “Middlemarch” by G. Eliot: the problem of cognition in the novel.
• Women in Shakespeare’s and Chaucer’s works.
• Ideals and symbols in “The Corsair” by Byron.
• Gender in “The Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare .
• The themes of literature and writing in the novel “The Black Prince” by I. Murdoch.
• Symbols in the novel “David Copperfield” by C. Dickens.
• Shakespearean Hamlet’s character analysis.
• “The Quiet American” by G. Greene: love and duty motives.
• Costumes, mood, and tone in the play “Macbeth” by Shakespeare .
• The specifics of the sentimentalism in R. Burn’s poetry.
• English romanticism traditions in “The Wuthering Heights.”
• Romeo from “Romeo and Juliet” by Shakespeare.
• The themes of unity and alienation in “The Wuthering Heights” by E. Bronte.
• The inner and outer beauty in Ch. Bronte’s “Jane Air.”
• “To Be or Not to Be”: Prominent Phrase Analysis.
• Egoism and altruism in “Oliver Twist” by C. Dickens.
• Themes in “Goodbye to Berlin” by Christopher Isherwood .
• Social problematics in the novel “Bleak House” by C. Dickens.
• The themes of the ambitions and happiness in the novel “Big Expectations” by Charles Dickens.
• “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens: characters, themes, and stylistic choices.
• Gender issues in the novel “Big Expectations” by Charles Dickens.
• The issues of female emancipation in the novel “The Mill on the Floss” by G. Eliot.
• The role of the Bible in “Paradise Lost” by John Milton .
• The narrator’s role in the novel “The Code of the Woosters” by P. Woodhouse.
• The role of the detective storyline in G. Greene’s “Brighton Rock.”
• Gender and Sexuality in William Shakespeare’s plays.
• Tradition and personality in the novel “1984” by G. Orwell.
• H. Hesse “Steppenwolf”: the spiritual quest of the characters.
• Existential searching in the novel “The Glass Bead Game” by H. Hesse.
• Candide and Pangloss characters and relationship analysis .
• Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose” as a historical novel of a peculiar style.
• The meaning of laughter in Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose.”
• Is Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose” a detective novel?
• The problematics of the book “Foucault’s Pendulum” by U. Eco.
• The image of Beatrice in Dante’s “Divine Comedy.”
• Oedipus: Sophocles’ character.
• Dante’s “Divine Comedy”: the system of characters and level of perception.
• The specifics of narrative style in M. Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time.”
• The problematic characters in the novel “The End of the Night” by F. Mauriac.
• Therese Desqueyroux by François Mauriac: the image of family as a cage.
• “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles: fate versus character.
• The rebel against injustice in Albert Camus’ “The Myth of Sisyphus.”
• The theme of alienation in Albert Camus’ “The Stranger.”
• The motives of doom of time and man in Gottfried Benn’s poetry.
• How does Thomas Mann show the decay of the burgher’s social class in “Buddenbrooks”?
• The genre of a family saga in Thomas Mann’s “Buddenbrooks.”
• Prophecy and fate. “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles.
• The creativity collapse in “Doctor Faustus” by T. Mann.
• The tragedy of the genius in B. Brecht’s “The Life of Galileo.”
• B. Brecht’s “The Life of Galileo”: the moral dilemma between genius and villainy.
• The theme of metamorphosis in the novel “The Trial” by F. Kafka.
• Autobiographical family drama in the novel “Metamorphosis” by F. Kafka.
• The themes of alienation and loneliness in Franz Kafka’s novel “Metamorphosis.”
• An individual in the society in the novel “A Man without qualities” by Robert Musil.
• Jaroslav Hashek’s “The Fate of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War”: the denial of war and perception of it as madness.
• The symbol of the sick people in The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka .
• The corruptive influence of the army in Jaroslav Hashek’s “The Fate of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War.”
• Pacifistic motives in Karel Chapek’s work “Salamander War.”
• The prophecy of historical events in Karel Capek’s novel “Salamander War.”
• The theme of history in the poetry of Antonio Machado: Fields of Castile.
• Federico Lorca’s Poet in New York: the problematics and style.
• Federico Lorca’s Poet in New York: the image of New York and American reality.
• The Thousand & One Nights: folk collection overview.
• “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Becket: autobiographical experience of occupied France.
• “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Becket: the peculiarities of language, speech, and dialogues .
• Allegorical presentation of society in the play “Rhinoceros” by E. Ionesco.
• “In the Labyrinth” by Alain Robbe-Grillet: what meaning does the detailed description of things have?
• The features of anti-novel in the “Golden Fruits” by Natali Sarot.
• “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles .
• Patrick Suskind’s “Perfume” as a perfect example of a postmodernist novel.
• The levels of the novel “Perfume” by Patrick Suskind.
• Reflections on friendship and love in the novel “Hello Sadness” by Françoise Sagan.
• The tragedy of disunity and loneliness in “The Time of Indifference” by Alberto Moravia.
• Analysis of important quotations from A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen .
• “The Time of Indifference” by Alberto Moravia: why do the characters remain static?
• The image of Rome in the story cycle “Roman Tales” by A. Moravia.
• Magic realism in the novel “100 Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
• “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Servantes: the “insanity” of the main character.
• “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy: the concepts of love and duty.
• The peculiarities of women characters in “The Trial” by Franz Kafka .
• The theme of love in “Madame Bovary” by Gustave Flaubert.
• “The Dog in the Manger” by Lope De Vega: the specifics of Italian comedy.
• Voltaire’s “Candid” : forming of individual personality .
• The concept of the Enlightenment person in Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s “Emile, or On Education.”
• Goethe’s “Faust”: biblical references.
• The peculiarities and imagery of F. Schiller’s poetry.
• The ideological and artistic uniqueness of H. Heine’s poetry .
• The genuineness of historical figures in “Danton’s Death” by George Buchner.
• The theme of love in “All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque.
• The lost generation theme in “All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque.
• Identity formation in “Persepolis” by Satrapi .
• Analysis of Things Fall Apart , a novel by Chinua Achebe .
• Comfort Woman by Nora Okja Keller: Summary & themes .
• Cultural clash in “Dead Men’s Path” by Chinua Achebe .
• Igbo society in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe .
• The theme of virtue in “The Tale of Kieu” by Nguyen Du .
• Women’s struggles in “Three Daughters of China” by Jung Chang .
• The character of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe .
• The Ramayana of Valmiki , translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith .
• Personal mythology based on “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe .
• The theme of love in the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini .
• Vietnam War in Last Night I Dreamed of Peace by Dang Thuy Tram .
• “The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro .

🔗 References

• How to write a literary analysis essay | Bucks County Community College
• A short guide to close reading for literary analysis; The Writing Center; UW – Madison
• University Writing Center – Literary Analysis
• How to write literary analysis – Sparknotes
• University Writing Center (UWC) – Analyzing Novels & Short Stories
• Writing Prompts for Analyzing Fiction // Purdue Writing Lab
• Summary vs. Analysis | UAGC Writing Center
• Teaching Literary Analysis | Edutopia
• Writing a Literary Analysis – English Resources – Resources by Subject at C. G. O’Kelly Library

414 Proposal Essay Topics for Projects, Research, & Proposal Arguments

725 research proposal topics & title ideas in education, psychology, business, & more.

• Craft and Criticism
• Fiction and Poetry
• News and Culture
• Lit Hub Radio
• Reading Lists

• Literary Criticism
• Craft and Advice
• In Conversation
• On Translation
• Short Story
• From the Novel
• Bookstores and Libraries
• Film and TV
• Art and Photography
• Freeman’s
• The Virtual Book Channel
• Behind the Mic
• Beyond the Page
• The Cosmic Library
• The Critic and Her Publics
• Emergence Magazine
• Fiction/Non/Fiction
• First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing
• Future Fables
• The History of Literature
• I’m a Writer But
• Just the Right Book
• Lit Century
• The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan
• New Books Network
• Tor Presents: Voyage Into Genre
• Windham-Campbell Prizes Podcast
• Write-minded
• The Best of the Decade
• Best Reviewed Books
• BookMarks Daily Giveaway
• The Daily Thrill
• CrimeReads Daily Giveaway

The 10 Best Essay Collections of the Decade

Ever tried. ever failed. no matter..

Friends, it’s true: the end of the decade approaches. It’s been a difficult, anxiety-provoking, morally compromised decade, but at least it’s been populated by some damn fine literature. We’ll take our silver linings where we can.

So, as is our hallowed duty as a literary and culture website—though with full awareness of the potentially fruitless and endlessly contestable nature of the task—in the coming weeks, we’ll be taking a look at the best and most important (these being not always the same) books of the decade that was. We will do this, of course, by means of a variety of lists. We began with the best debut novels , the best short story collections , the best poetry collections , and the best memoirs of the decade , and we have now reached the fifth list in our series: the best essay collections published in English between 2010 and 2019.

The following books were chosen after much debate (and several rounds of voting) by the Literary Hub staff. Tears were spilled, feelings were hurt, books were re-read. And as you’ll shortly see, we had a hard time choosing just ten—so we’ve also included a list of dissenting opinions, and an even longer list of also-rans. As ever, free to add any of your own favorites that we’ve missed in the comments below.

The Top Ten

Oliver sacks, the mind’s eye (2010).

Toward the end of his life, maybe suspecting or sensing that it was coming to a close, Dr. Oliver Sacks tended to focus his efforts on sweeping intellectual projects like On the Move (a memoir), The River of Consciousness (a hybrid intellectual history), and Hallucinations (a book-length meditation on, what else, hallucinations). But in 2010, he gave us one more classic in the style that first made him famous, a form he revolutionized and brought into the contemporary literary canon: the medical case study as essay. In The Mind’s Eye , Sacks focuses on vision, expanding the notion to embrace not only how we see the world, but also how we map that world onto our brains when our eyes are closed and we’re communing with the deeper recesses of consciousness. Relaying histories of patients and public figures, as well as his own history of ocular cancer (the condition that would eventually spread and contribute to his death), Sacks uses vision as a lens through which to see all of what makes us human, what binds us together, and what keeps us painfully apart. The essays that make up this collection are quintessential Sacks: sensitive, searching, with an expertise that conveys scientific information and experimentation in terms we can not only comprehend, but which also expand how we see life carrying on around us. The case studies of “Stereo Sue,” of the concert pianist Lillian Kalir, and of Howard, the mystery novelist who can no longer read, are highlights of the collection, but each essay is a kind of gem, mined and polished by one of the great storytellers of our era.  –Dwyer Murphy, CrimeReads Managing Editor

John Jeremiah Sullivan, Pulphead (2011)

The American essay was having a moment at the beginning of the decade, and Pulphead was smack in the middle. Without any hard data, I can tell you that this collection of John Jeremiah Sullivan’s magazine features—published primarily in GQ , but also in The Paris Review , and Harper’s —was the only full book of essays most of my literary friends had read since Slouching Towards Bethlehem , and probably one of the only full books of essays they had even heard of.

Well, we all picked a good one. Every essay in Pulphead is brilliant and entertaining, and illuminates some small corner of the American experience—even if it’s just one house, with Sullivan and an aging writer inside (“Mr. Lytle” is in fact a standout in a collection with no filler; fittingly, it won a National Magazine Award and a Pushcart Prize). But what are they about? Oh, Axl Rose, Christian Rock festivals, living around the filming of One Tree Hill , the Tea Party movement, Michael Jackson, Bunny Wailer, the influence of animals, and by god, the Miz (of Real World/Road Rules Challenge fame).

But as Dan Kois has pointed out , what connects these essays, apart from their general tone and excellence, is “their author’s essential curiosity about the world, his eye for the perfect detail, and his great good humor in revealing both his subjects’ and his own foibles.” They are also extremely well written, drawing much from fictional techniques and sentence craft, their literary pleasures so acute and remarkable that James Wood began his review of the collection in The New Yorker with a quiz: “Are the following sentences the beginnings of essays or of short stories?” (It was not a hard quiz, considering the context.)

It’s hard not to feel, reading this collection, like someone reached into your brain, took out the half-baked stuff you talk about with your friends, researched it, lived it, and represented it to you smarter and better and more thoroughly than you ever could. So read it in awe if you must, but read it.  –Emily Temple, Senior Editor

Aleksandar Hemon, The Book of My Lives (2013)

Such is the sentence-level virtuosity of Aleksandar Hemon—the Bosnian-American writer, essayist, and critic—that throughout his career he has frequently been compared to the granddaddy of borrowed language prose stylists: Vladimir Nabokov. While it is, of course, objectively remarkable that anyone could write so beautifully in a language they learned in their twenties, what I admire most about Hemon’s work is the way in which he infuses every essay and story and novel with both a deep humanity and a controlled (but never subdued) fury. He can also be damn funny. Hemon grew up in Sarajevo and left in 1992 to study in Chicago, where he almost immediately found himself stranded, forced to watch from afar as his beloved home city was subjected to a relentless four-year bombardment, the longest siege of a capital in the history of modern warfare. This extraordinary memoir-in-essays is many things: it’s a love letter to both the family that raised him and the family he built in exile; it’s a rich, joyous, and complex portrait of a place the 90s made synonymous with war and devastation; and it’s an elegy for the wrenching loss of precious things. There’s an essay about coming of age in Sarajevo and another about why he can’t bring himself to leave Chicago. There are stories about relationships forged and maintained on the soccer pitch or over the chessboard, and stories about neighbors and mentors turned monstrous by ethnic prejudice. As a chorus they sing with insight, wry humor, and unimaginable sorrow. I am not exaggerating when I say that the collection’s devastating final piece, “The Aquarium”—which details his infant daughter’s brain tumor and the agonizing months which led up to her death—remains the most painful essay I have ever read.  –Dan Sheehan, Book Marks Editor

Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass (2013)

Of every essay in my relentlessly earmarked copy of Braiding Sweetgrass , Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s gorgeously rendered argument for why and how we should keep going, there’s one that especially hits home: her account of professor-turned-forester Franz Dolp. When Dolp, several decades ago, revisited the farm that he had once shared with his ex-wife, he found a scene of destruction: The farm’s new owners had razed the land where he had tried to build a life. “I sat among the stumps and the swirling red dust and I cried,” he wrote in his journal.

So many in my generation (and younger) feel this kind of helplessness–and considerable rage–at finding ourselves newly adult in a world where those in power seem determined to abandon or destroy everything that human bodies have always needed to survive: air, water, land. Asking any single book to speak to this helplessness feels unfair, somehow; yet, Braiding Sweetgrass does, by weaving descriptions of indigenous tradition with the environmental sciences in order to show what survival has looked like over the course of many millennia. Kimmerer’s essays describe her personal experience as a Potawotami woman, plant ecologist, and teacher alongside stories of the many ways that humans have lived in relationship to other species. Whether describing Dolp’s work–he left the stumps for a life of forest restoration on the Oregon coast–or the work of others in maple sugar harvesting, creating black ash baskets, or planting a Three Sisters garden of corn, beans, and squash, she brings hope. “In ripe ears and swelling fruit, they counsel us that all gifts are multiplied in relationship,” she writes of the Three Sisters, which all sustain one another as they grow. “This is how the world keeps going.”  –Corinne Segal, Senior Editor

Hilton Als, White Girls (2013)

In a world where we are so often reduced to one essential self, Hilton Als’ breathtaking book of critical essays, White Girls , which meditates on the ways he and other subjects read, project and absorb parts of white femininity, is a radically liberating book. It’s one of the only works of critical thinking that doesn’t ask the reader, its author or anyone he writes about to stoop before the doorframe of complete legibility before entering. Something he also permitted the subjects and readers of his first book, the glorious book-length essay, The Women , a series of riffs and psychological portraits of Dorothy Dean, Owen Dodson, and the author’s own mother, among others. One of the shifts of that book, uncommon at the time, was how it acknowledges the way we inhabit bodies made up of variously gendered influences. To read White Girls now is to experience the utter freedom of this gift and to marvel at Als’ tremendous versatility and intelligence.

He is easily the most diversely talented American critic alive. He can write into genres like pop music and film where being part of an audience is a fantasy happening in the dark. He’s also wired enough to know how the art world builds reputations on the nod of rich white patrons, a significant collision in a time when Jean-Michel Basquiat is America’s most expensive modern artist. Als’ swerving and always moving grip on performance means he’s especially good on describing the effect of art which is volatile and unstable and built on the mingling of made-up concepts and the hard fact of their effect on behavior, such as race. Writing on Flannery O’Connor for instance he alone puts a finger on her “uneasy and unavoidable union between black and white, the sacred and the profane, the shit and the stars.” From Eminem to Richard Pryor, André Leon Talley to Michael Jackson, Als enters the life and work of numerous artists here who turn the fascinations of race and with whiteness into fury and song and describes the complexity of their beauty like his life depended upon it. There are also brief memoirs here that will stop your heart. This is an essential work to understanding American culture.  –John Freeman, Executive Editor

Eula Biss, On Immunity (2014)

We move through the world as if we can protect ourselves from its myriad dangers, exercising what little agency we have in an effort to keep at bay those fears that gather at the edges of any given life: of loss, illness, disaster, death. It is these fears—amplified by the birth of her first child—that Eula Biss confronts in her essential 2014 essay collection, On Immunity . As any great essayist does, Biss moves outward in concentric circles from her own very private view of the world to reveal wider truths, discovering as she does a culture consumed by anxiety at the pervasive toxicity of contemporary life. As Biss interrogates this culture—of privilege, of whiteness—she interrogates herself, questioning the flimsy ways in which we arm ourselves with science or superstition against the impurities of daily existence.

Five years on from its publication, it is dismaying that On Immunity feels as urgent (and necessary) a defense of basic science as ever. Vaccination, we learn, is derived from vacca —for cow—after the 17th-century discovery that a small application of cowpox was often enough to inoculate against the scourge of smallpox, an etymological digression that belies modern conspiratorial fears of Big Pharma and its vaccination agenda. But Biss never scolds or belittles the fears of others, and in her generosity and openness pulls off a neat (and important) trick: insofar as we are of the very world we fear, she seems to be suggesting, we ourselves are impure, have always been so, permeable, vulnerable, yet so much stronger than we think.  –Jonny Diamond, Editor-in-Chief 

Rebecca Solnit, The Mother of All Questions (2016)

When Rebecca Solnit’s essay, “Men Explain Things to Me,” was published in 2008, it quickly became a cultural phenomenon unlike almost any other in recent memory, assigning language to a behavior that almost every woman has witnessed—mansplaining—and, in the course of identifying that behavior, spurring a movement, online and offline, to share the ways in which patriarchal arrogance has intersected all our lives. (It would also come to be the titular essay in her collection published in 2014.) The Mother of All Questions follows up on that work and takes it further in order to examine the nature of self-expression—who is afforded it and denied it, what institutions have been put in place to limit it, and what happens when it is employed by women. Solnit has a singular gift for describing and decoding the misogynistic dynamics that govern the world so universally that they can seem invisible and the gendered violence that is so common as to seem unremarkable; this naming is powerful, and it opens space for sharing the stories that shape our lives.

The Mother of All Questions, comprised of essays written between 2014 and 2016, in many ways armed us with some of the tools necessary to survive the gaslighting of the Trump years, in which many of us—and especially women—have continued to hear from those in power that the things we see and hear do not exist and never existed. Solnit also acknowledges that labels like “woman,” and other gendered labels, are identities that are fluid in reality; in reviewing the book for The New Yorker , Moira Donegan suggested that, “One useful working definition of a woman might be ‘someone who experiences misogyny.'” Whichever words we use, Solnit writes in the introduction to the book that “when words break through unspeakability, what was tolerated by a society sometimes becomes intolerable.” This storytelling work has always been vital; it continues to be vital, and in this book, it is brilliantly done.  –Corinne Segal, Senior Editor

Valeria Luiselli, Tell Me How It Ends (2017)

The newly minted MacArthur fellow Valeria Luiselli’s four-part (but really six-part) essay  Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in Forty Questions  was inspired by her time spent volunteering at the federal immigration court in New York City, working as an interpreter for undocumented, unaccompanied migrant children who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. Written concurrently with her novel  Lost Children Archive  (a fictional exploration of the same topic), Luiselli’s essay offers a fascinating conceit, the fashioning of an argument from the questions on the government intake form given to these children to process their arrivals. (Aside from the fact that this essay is a heartbreaking masterpiece, this is such a  good  conceit—transforming a cold, reproducible administrative document into highly personal literature.) Luiselli interweaves a grounded discussion of the questionnaire with a narrative of the road trip Luiselli takes with her husband and family, across America, while they (both Mexican citizens) wait for their own Green Card applications to be processed. It is on this trip when Luiselli reflects on the thousands of migrant children mysteriously traveling across the border by themselves. But the real point of the essay is to actually delve into the real stories of some of these children, which are agonizing, as well as to gravely, clearly expose what literally happens, procedural, when they do arrive—from forms to courts, as they’re swallowed by a bureaucratic vortex. Amid all of this, Luiselli also takes on more, exploring the larger contextual relationship between the United States of America and Mexico (as well as other countries in Central America, more broadly) as it has evolved to our current, adverse moment.  Tell Me How It Ends  is so small, but it is so passionate and vigorous: it desperately accomplishes in its less-than-100-pages-of-prose what centuries and miles and endless records of federal bureaucracy have never been able, and have never cared, to do: reverse the dehumanization of Latin American immigrants that occurs once they set foot in this country.  –Olivia Rutigliano, CrimeReads Editorial Fellow

Zadie Smith, Feel Free (2018)

In the essay “Meet Justin Bieber!” in Feel Free , Zadie Smith writes that her interest in Justin Bieber is not an interest in the interiority of the singer himself, but in “the idea of the love object”. This essay—in which Smith imagines a meeting between Bieber and the late philosopher Martin Buber (“Bieber and Buber are alternative spellings of the same German surname,” she explains in one of many winning footnotes. “Who am I to ignore these hints from the universe?”). Smith allows that this premise is a bit premise -y: “I know, I know.” Still, the resulting essay is a very funny, very smart, and un-tricky exploration of individuality and true “meeting,” with a dash of late capitalism thrown in for good measure. The melding of high and low culture is the bread and butter of pretty much every prestige publication on the internet these days (and certainly of the Twitter feeds of all “public intellectuals”), but the essays in Smith’s collection don’t feel familiar—perhaps because hers is, as we’ve long known, an uncommon skill. Though I believe Smith could probably write compellingly about anything, she chooses her subjects wisely. She writes with as much electricity about Brexit as the aforementioned Beliebers—and each essay is utterly engrossing. “She contains multitudes, but her point is we all do,” writes Hermione Hoby in her review of the collection in The New Republic . “At the same time, we are, in our endless difference, nobody but ourselves.”  –Jessie Gaynor, Social Media Editor

Tressie McMillan Cottom, Thick: And Other Essays (2019)

Tressie McMillan Cottom is an academic who has transcended the ivory tower to become the sort of public intellectual who can easily appear on radio or television talk shows to discuss race, gender, and capitalism. Her collection of essays reflects this duality, blending scholarly work with memoir to create a collection on the black female experience in postmodern America that’s “intersectional analysis with a side of pop culture.” The essays range from an analysis of sexual violence, to populist politics, to social media, but in centering her own experiences throughout, the collection becomes something unlike other pieces of criticism of contemporary culture. In explaining the title, she reflects on what an editor had said about her work: “I was too readable to be academic, too deep to be popular, too country black to be literary, and too naïve to show the rigor of my thinking in the complexity of my prose. I had wanted to create something meaningful that sounded not only like me, but like all of me. It was too thick.” One of the most powerful essays in the book is “Dying to be Competent” which begins with her unpacking the idiocy of LinkedIn (and the myth of meritocracy) and ends with a description of her miscarriage, the mishandling of black woman’s pain, and a condemnation of healthcare bureaucracy. A finalist for the 2019 National Book Award for Nonfiction, Thick confirms McMillan Cottom as one of our most fearless public intellectuals and one of the most vital.  –Emily Firetog, Deputy Editor

Dissenting Opinions

The following books were just barely nudged out of the top ten, but we (or at least one of us) couldn’t let them pass without comment.

Elif Batuman, The Possessed (2010)

In The Possessed Elif Batuman indulges her love of Russian literature and the result is hilarious and remarkable. Each essay of the collection chronicles some adventure or other that she had while in graduate school for Comparative Literature and each is more unpredictable than the next. There’s the time a “well-known 20th-centuryist” gave a graduate student the finger; and the time when Batuman ended up living in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for a summer; and the time that she convinced herself Tolstoy was murdered and spent the length of the Tolstoy Conference in Yasnaya Polyana considering clues and motives. Rich in historic detail about Russian authors and literature and thoughtfully constructed, each essay is an amalgam of critical analysis, cultural criticism, and serious contemplation of big ideas like that of identity, intellectual legacy, and authorship. With wit and a serpentine-like shape to her narratives, Batuman adopts a form reminiscent of a Socratic discourse, setting up questions at the beginning of her essays and then following digressions that more or less entreat the reader to synthesize the answer for herself. The digressions are always amusing and arguably the backbone of the collection, relaying absurd anecdotes with foreign scholars or awkward, surreal encounters with Eastern European strangers. Central also to the collection are Batuman’s intellectual asides where she entertains a theory—like the “problem of the person”: the inability to ever wholly capture one’s character—that ultimately layer the book’s themes. “You are certainly my most entertaining student,” a professor said to Batuman. But she is also curious and enthusiastic and reflective and so knowledgeable that she might even convince you (she has me!) that you too love Russian literature as much as she does. –Eleni Theodoropoulos, Editorial Fellow

Roxane Gay, Bad Feminist (2014)

Roxane Gay’s now-classic essay collection is a book that will make you laugh, think, cry, and then wonder, how can cultural criticism be this fun? My favorite essays in the book include Gay’s musings on competitive Scrabble, her stranded-in-academia dispatches, and her joyous film and television criticism, but given the breadth of topics Roxane Gay can discuss in an entertaining manner, there’s something for everyone in this one. This book is accessible because feminism itself should be accessible – Roxane Gay is as likely to draw inspiration from YA novels, or middle-brow shows about friendship, as she is to introduce concepts from the academic world, and if there’s anyone I trust to bridge the gap between high culture, low culture, and pop culture, it’s the Goddess of Twitter. I used to host a book club dedicated to radical reads, and this was one of the first picks for the club; a week after the book club met, I spied a few of the attendees meeting in the café of the bookstore, and found out that they had bonded so much over discussing  Bad Feminist  that they couldn’t wait for the next meeting of the book club to keep discussing politics and intersectionality, and that, in a nutshell, is the power of Roxane. –Molly Odintz, CrimeReads Associate Editor

Rivka Galchen, Little Labors (2016)

Generally, I find stories about the trials and tribulations of child-having to be of limited appeal—useful, maybe, insofar as they offer validation that other people have also endured the bizarre realities of living with a tiny human, but otherwise liable to drift into the musings of parents thrilled at the simple fact of their own fecundity, as if they were the first ones to figure the process out (or not). But Little Labors is not simply an essay collection about motherhood, perhaps because Galchen initially “didn’t want to write about” her new baby—mostly, she writes, “because I had never been interested in babies, or mothers; in fact, those subjects had seemed perfectly not interesting to me.” Like many new mothers, though, Galchen soon discovered her baby—which she refers to sometimes as “the puma”—to be a preoccupying thought, demanding to be written about. Galchen’s interest isn’t just in her own progeny, but in babies in literature (“Literature has more dogs than babies, and also more abortions”), The Pillow Book , the eleventh-century collection of musings by Sei Shōnagon, and writers who are mothers. There are sections that made me laugh out loud, like when Galchen continually finds herself in an elevator with a neighbor who never fails to remark on the puma’s size. There are also deeper, darker musings, like the realization that the baby means “that it’s not permissible to die. There are days when this does not feel good.” It is a slim collection that I happened to read at the perfect time, and it remains one of my favorites of the decade. –Emily Firetog, Deputy Editor

Charlie Fox, This Young Monster (2017)

On social media as in his writing, British art critic Charlie Fox rejects lucidity for allusion and doesn’t quite answer the Twitter textbox’s persistent question: “What’s happening?” These days, it’s hard to tell.  This Young Monster  (2017), Fox’s first book,was published a few months after Donald Trump’s election, and at one point Fox takes a swipe at a man he judges “direct from a nightmare and just a repulsive fucking goon.” Fox doesn’t linger on politics, though, since most of the monsters he looks at “embody otherness and make it into art, ripping any conventional idea of beauty to shreds and replacing it with something weird and troubling of their own invention.”

If clichés are loathed because they conform to what philosopher Georges Bataille called “the common measure,” then monsters are rebellious non-sequiturs, comedic or horrific derailments from a classical ideal. Perverts in the most literal sense, monsters have gone astray from some “proper” course. The book’s nine chapters, which are about a specific monster or type of monster, are full of callbacks to familiar and lesser-known media. Fox cites visual art, film, songs, and books with the screwy buoyancy of a savant. Take one of his essays, “Spook House,” framed as a stage play with two principal characters, Klaus (“an intoxicated young skinhead vampire”) and Hermione (“a teen sorceress with green skin and jet-black hair” who looks more like The Wicked Witch than her namesake). The chorus is a troupe of trick-or-treaters. Using the filmmaker Cameron Jamie as a starting point, the rest is free association on gothic decadence and Detroit and L.A. as cities of the dead. All the while, Klaus quotes from  Artforum ,  Dazed & Confused , and  Time Out. It’s a technical feat that makes fictionalized dialogue a conveyor belt for cultural criticism.

In Fox’s imagination, David Bowie and the Hydra coexist alongside Peter Pan, Dennis Hopper, and the maenads. Fox’s book reaches for the monster’s mask, not really to peel it off but to feel and smell the rubber schnoz, to know how it’s made before making sure it’s still snugly set. With a stylistic blend of arthouse suavity and B-movie chic,  This Young Monster considers how monsters in culture are made. Aren’t the scariest things made in post-production? Isn’t the creature just duplicity, like a looping choir or a dubbed scream? –Aaron Robertson, Assistant Editor

Elena Passarello, Animals Strike Curious Poses (2017)

Elena Passarello’s collection of essays Animals Strike Curious Poses picks out infamous animals and grants them the voice, narrative, and history they deserve. Not only is a collection like this relevant during the sixth extinction but it is an ambitious historical and anthropological undertaking, which Passarello has tackled with thorough research and a playful tone that rather than compromise her subject, complicates and humanizes it. Passarello’s intention is to investigate the role of animals across the span of human civilization and in doing so, to construct a timeline of humanity as told through people’s interactions with said animals. “Of all the images that make our world, animal images are particularly buried inside us,” Passarello writes in her first essay, to introduce us to the object of the book and also to the oldest of her chosen characters: Yuka, a 39,000-year-old mummified woolly mammoth discovered in the Siberian permafrost in 2010. It was an occasion so remarkable and so unfathomable given the span of human civilization that Passarello says of Yuka: “Since language is epically younger than both thought and experience, ‘woolly mammoth’ means, to a human brain, something more like time.” The essay ends with a character placing a hand on a cave drawing of a woolly mammoth, accompanied by a phrase which encapsulates the author’s vision for the book: “And he becomes the mammoth so he can envision the mammoth.” In Passarello’s hands the imagined boundaries between the animal, natural, and human world disintegrate and what emerges is a cohesive if baffling integrated history of life. With the accuracy and tenacity of a journalist and the spirit of a storyteller, Elena Passarello has assembled a modern bestiary worthy of contemplation and awe. –Eleni Theodoropoulos, Editorial Fellow

Esmé Weijun Wang, The Collected Schizophrenias (2019)

Esmé Weijun Wang’s collection of essays is a kaleidoscopic look at mental health and the lives affected by the schizophrenias. Each essay takes on a different aspect of the topic, but you’ll want to read them together for a holistic perspective. Esmé Weijun Wang generously begins The Collected Schizophrenias by acknowledging the stereotype, “Schizophrenia terrifies. It is the archetypal disorder of lunacy.” From there, she walks us through the technical language, breaks down the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual ( DSM-5 )’s clinical definition. And then she gets very personal, telling us about how she came to her own diagnosis and the way it’s touched her daily life (her relationships, her ideas about motherhood). Esmé Weijun Wang is uniquely situated to write about this topic. As a former lab researcher at Stanford, she turns a precise, analytical eye to her experience while simultaneously unfolding everything with great patience for her reader. Throughout, she brilliantly dissects the language around mental health. (On saying “a person living with bipolar disorder” instead of using “bipolar” as the sole subject: “…we are not our diseases. We are instead individuals with disorders and malfunctions. Our conditions lie over us like smallpox blankets; we are one thing and the illness is another.”) She pinpoints the ways she arms herself against anticipated reactions to the schizophrenias: high fashion, having attended an Ivy League institution. In a particularly piercing essay, she traces mental illness back through her family tree. She also places her story within more mainstream cultural contexts, calling on groundbreaking exposés about the dangerous of institutionalization and depictions of mental illness in television and film (like the infamous Slender Man case, in which two young girls stab their best friend because an invented Internet figure told them to). At once intimate and far-reaching, The Collected Schizophrenias is an informative and important (and let’s not forget artful) work. I’ve never read a collection quite so beautifully-written and laid-bare as this. –Katie Yee, Book Marks Assistant Editor

Ross Gay, The Book of Delights (2019)

When Ross Gay began writing what would become The Book of Delights, he envisioned it as a project of daily essays, each focused on a moment or point of delight in his day. This plan quickly disintegrated; on day four, he skipped his self-imposed assignment and decided to “in honor and love, delight in blowing it off.” (Clearly, “blowing it off” is a relative term here, as he still produced the book.) Ross Gay is a generous teacher of how to live, and this moment of reveling in self-compassion is one lesson among many in The Book of Delights , which wanders from moments of connection with strangers to a shade of “red I don’t think I actually have words for,” a text from a friend reading “I love you breadfruit,” and “the sun like a guiding hand on my back, saying everything is possible. Everything .”

Gay does not linger on any one subject for long, creating the sense that delight is a product not of extenuating circumstances, but of our attention; his attunement to the possibilities of a single day, and awareness of all the small moments that produce delight, are a model for life amid the warring factions of the attention economy. These small moments range from the physical–hugging a stranger, transplanting fig cuttings–to the spiritual and philosophical, giving the impression of sitting beside Gay in his garden as he thinks out loud in real time. It’s a privilege to listen. –Corinne Segal, Senior Editor

Honorable Mentions

A selection of other books that we seriously considered for both lists—just to be extra about it (and because decisions are hard).

Terry Castle, The Professor and Other Writings (2010) · Joyce Carol Oates, In Rough Country (2010) · Geoff Dyer, Otherwise Known as the Human Condition (2011) · Christopher Hitchens, Arguably (2011) ·  Roberto Bolaño, tr. Natasha Wimmer, Between Parentheses (2011) · Dubravka Ugresic, tr. David Williams, Karaoke Culture (2011) · Tom Bissell, Magic Hours (2012)  · Kevin Young, The Grey Album (2012) · William H. Gass, Life Sentences: Literary Judgments and Accounts (2012) · Mary Ruefle, Madness, Rack, and Honey (2012) · Herta Müller, tr. Geoffrey Mulligan, Cristina and Her Double (2013) · Leslie Jamison, The Empathy Exams (2014)  · Meghan Daum, The Unspeakable (2014)  · Daphne Merkin, The Fame Lunches (2014)  · Charles D’Ambrosio, Loitering (2015) · Wendy Walters, Multiply/Divide (2015) · Colm Tóibín, On Elizabeth Bishop (2015) ·  Renee Gladman, Calamities (2016)  · Jesmyn Ward, ed. The Fire This Time (2016)  · Lindy West, Shrill (2016)  · Mary Oliver, Upstream (2016)  · Emily Witt, Future Sex (2016)  · Olivia Laing, The Lonely City (2016)  · Mark Greif, Against Everything (2016)  · Durga Chew-Bose, Too Much and Not the Mood (2017)  · Sarah Gerard, Sunshine State (2017)  · Jim Harrison, A Really Big Lunch (2017)  · J.M. Coetzee, Late Essays: 2006-2017 (2017) · Melissa Febos, Abandon Me (2017)  · Louise Glück, American Originality (2017)  · Joan Didion, South and West (2017)  · Tom McCarthy, Typewriters, Bombs, Jellyfish (2017)  · Hanif Abdurraqib, They Can’t Kill Us Until they Kill Us (2017)  · Ta-Nehisi Coates, We Were Eight Years in Power (2017)  ·  Samantha Irby, We Are Never Meeting in Real Life (2017)  · Alexander Chee, How to Write an Autobiographical Novel (2018)  · Alice Bolin, Dead Girls (2018)  · Marilynne Robinson, What Are We Doing Here? (2018)  · Lorrie Moore, See What Can Be Done (2018)  · Maggie O’Farrell, I Am I Am I Am (2018)  · Ijeoma Oluo, So You Want to Talk About Race (2018)  · Rachel Cusk, Coventry (2019)  · Jia Tolentino, Trick Mirror (2019)  · Emily Bernard, Black is the Body (2019)  · Toni Morrison, The Source of Self-Regard (2019)  · Margaret Renkl, Late Migrations (2019)  ·  Rachel Munroe, Savage Appetites (2019)  · Robert A. Caro,  Working  (2019) · Arundhati Roy, My Seditious Heart (2019).

Emily Temple

Previous article, next article.

• RSS - Posts

Literary Hub

Created by Grove Atlantic and Electric Literature

Sign Up For Our Newsletters

How to Pitch Lit Hub

Advertisers: Contact Us

Privacy Policy

Support Lit Hub - Become A Member

55 Unique Odyssey Essay Topics & Research Paper Titles

If you have been tasked to write for The Odyssey , you have probably begun noting down ideas. This epic poem, just like many other Ancient Greek works, is bursting with content. We understand that it can be tricky to organize the process when the possibilities are endless.

This is precisely why here we have compiled a list of The Odyssey’s essay topics and research paper ideas. You will find all possible suggestions – from writing about characters to comparing the epic to other works. Feel free to browse through our collection to write a fantastic The Odyssey essay.

⛵ Odyssey Essay Topics on Themes

• A comparison of the themes of kleos and nostos in The Odyssey.
• The importance of loyalty throughout Homer’s Odyssey .
• Gender in The Odyssey – what were the Ancient Greek gender roles, and how are they expressed in Homer’s epic?
• A deconstruction of the theme of fate in The Odyssey: how did the gods influence Odysseus’ fate?
• How is cunning the most celebrated quality in The Odyssey ?
• What are the parallels between loyalty to Odysseus and loyalty to the gods in The Odyssey ?
• Homer’s commentary on hubris through his criticism of kleos in The Odyssey .
• The impact of perseverance on Odysseus’ journey.
• Xenia in The Odyssey and what it tells us about the hospitality customs in Ancient Greece.
• Why is the theme of disguise so prevalent throughout Homer’s Odyssey ?

🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏽 The Odyssey Essay Topics on Characters

• How did Telemachus grow and develop throughout The Odyssey ?
• A comparison of monsters and people in The Odyssey.
• Athena and Poseidon – what was the gods’ influence on Odysseus’ journey?
• An analysis of the Greek expectations of heroism through Odysseus.
• Was Odysseus’ revenge on the suitors justified?
• Examining the role of the servants in The Odyssey .
• How did Odysseus succeed and fail as a husband to Penelope?
• ‘Man of twists and turns’ – an analysis of Odysseus as a morally gray character.
• A study of the antagonists in The Odyssey : what differentiates friend from foe.
• What is the role of ghosts in Odysseus’ journey?
• Penelope’s character in The Odyssey – how Odysseus’ wife is different from other women in the epic.
• An examination of the family relationships in The Odyssey .

✒️ Literary Analysis of The Odyssey : Essay Topics

• Why are Homeric similes in The Odyssey effective?
• The role of metaphors in The Odyssey and how Homer used them.
• The uses of irony throughout The Odyssey ’s books.
• Why was The Odyssey written out of chronological order?
• Dactylic hexameter as one of the most significant literary devices in The Odyssey .
• An analysis of the last book of The Odyssey : how it differs from the rest of the epic.
• The role of allusions to The Iliad in The Odyssey .
• How and why is sarcasm expressed throughout The Odyssey ?
• An examination of the narrator in The Odyssey and its relation to the oral tradition.
• Symbols in The Odyssey – an analysis of the most common motifs appearing in the epic.
• The language of Homeric epic poems: its iterations in The Odyssey .
• How different translations of The Odyssey change our perspective on the subject matter of the epic.

🆚 The Odyssey & Other Stories: Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

• The study of Greco-Roman cultures through The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh.
• A comparative literary analysis of The Odyssey and The Aeneid.
• The contrasting themes of The Iliad and The Odyssey .
• The portrayal of women in epic poems through a study of The Odyssey and Oedipus Rex .
• In what ways did James Joyce’s Ulysses draw inspiration from The Odyssey ?
• An analysis of humans through the lens of The Odyssey and Rig Veda.
• Contrasting depictions of heroism between Beowulf and Odysseus.
• A comparison of Homer’s Odyssey and Dante’s Divine Comedy as epic poems.
• What can we learn about the Ancient Greek gods through The Odyssey and Theogony ?
• Ideas of morality in Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid.
• A literary analysis of the Homeric Hymns and The Odyssey : do they really have a different author?

📚 The Odyssey Research Paper Titles

• The role of women in The Odyssey and Ancient Greece.

Describe the most notable women in the epic. How do they aid/deter Odysseus’ journey? Analyze their purpose in the story. What does Homer’s portrayal of femininity tell us about the treatment of women in Ancient Greece?

• Exploring the ideas of loyalty through Odysseus’ crew.

Mention what we know about Odysseus’ crew and how he leads them. Analyze the incidents with Circe, Elpenor’s death and burial Talk about the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, and the Cyclops. Why does Odysseus’ crew stop listening to him? How are they punished for it?

• How does Homer celebrate nostos in The Odyssey ?

What is nostos ? How is it portrayed in The Odyssey ? Explain why coming home is the most important thing to Odysseus. Reflect on his encounter with Achilles in the Underworld. What is Homer trying to teach us with that brief scene?

• The relationship between Odysseus and Athena in The Odyssey .

Describe both characters separately. Why does Athena aid Odysseus? In what ways does Odysseus repay the goddess for her assistance? Summarize the importance of being favorable to the gods.

• The difference in portrayals of violence in The Odyssey .

Examine what role violence plays in Ancient Greek culture – i.e., Athena is the goddess of war. Mention violent incidents with monsters such as the Cyclops and Laestrygones. Analyze the slaughter of the suitors and the torture of the unfaithful servants. What is the difference between Odysseus’ violence and the violence done to him?

• The Odyssey’s portrayal of fatherhood and father-son relationships.

Look at the relationships between Telemachus and Odysseus, Polyphemus and Poseidon, Odysseus and Laertes, Orestes and Agamemnon. What are the responsibilities of the father in each of these cases? What are the sons’ responsibilities? How are father-son relationships characterized in the epic?

• What stands in the way of Odysseus’ return home?

Examine all of the trials that Odysseus had to go through. Why is it that the sea is never on his side? What obstacles keep extending his journey? Mention Poseidon and Polyphemus, Circe, Aeolus, and Helios, and their impact on Odysseus.

• How does hospitality in The Odyssey differentiate monster from man?

Explain the importance of xenia in Ancient Greece. Provide good examples of hospitality from the epic, such as those of Telemachus and Penelope, kings Mentes and Nestor, and Circe. Contrast them against the bad instances, such as the Cyclops and the suitors. What does hospitality tell us about a person’s character?

• Homer’s representation of justice in The Odyssey .

What lesson is Homer trying to teach his audience about justice and gods? Analyze Odysseus’ struggle against the suitors and the omens around it. Explore the incident with Poseidon and the Phaecians and the role of divine prophecy. How are we to understand what is just in The Odyssey’s world?

• The Odyssey: a subversion of the hero’s journey.

How are the events of The Odyssey different from a typical epic poem? How are they similar? Analyze Odysseus’ character and the changes he goes through. Examine the idea of returning home rather than leaving to set out on an adventure. Thanks for reading! If you haven’t found what to write about, use our topic generator and get more original ideas. For more information about The Odyssey, check the links below.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

Study Guide Menu

• Short Summary
• Summary & Analysis
• Literary Devices and Symbols
• Questions & Answers
• Essay Samples
• Essay Topics
• Homer: Biography
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, August 13). 55 Unique Odyssey Essay Topics & Research Paper Titles. https://ivypanda.com/lit/the-odyssey/essay-topics/

"55 Unique Odyssey Essay Topics & Research Paper Titles." IvyPanda , 13 Aug. 2023, ivypanda.com/lit/the-odyssey/essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '55 Unique Odyssey Essay Topics & Research Paper Titles'. 13 August.

IvyPanda . 2023. "55 Unique Odyssey Essay Topics & Research Paper Titles." August 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/lit/the-odyssey/essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "55 Unique Odyssey Essay Topics & Research Paper Titles." August 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/lit/the-odyssey/essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "55 Unique Odyssey Essay Topics & Research Paper Titles." August 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/lit/the-odyssey/essay-topics/.

• How It Works
• Essay Examples

Tops 50 Literary Essay Topics

Literature courses are usually all about reading and then writing about what you have just read. Sometimes, it’s quite hard to comprehend what you are reading about, let alone to write an essay and analyze everything. Luckily for you, this article will summarize all the literary analysis topics and ideas you might come across and it will provide insights that will help you a lot when you start writing a good-quality literary essay.

Handy Tips for Composing Good Literary Essays

Before we go to the themes and topics you can approach when writing a literary essay , let’s first take a quick look at some basic rules that you need to keep in mind when writing about literature. It’s nothing too complicated but remembering these rules and applying them when writing could definitely change the end result. Here are 3 things you’d want to take into consideration:

• Make sure you follow the proper format when writing about literature. A good essay example in this direction is that of titles that should be written in Italic and if we’re referring to poems and short stories, the titles should be between quote marks.
• If you add quotes to your essay, always make sure you mark them down correctly with the exact location of the quote you are referring to in the original paper.
• Try to avoid quoting directly or borrowing arguments from other literary essays or analytical papers. It could be considered a form of plagiarism by some of the teachers and you don’t want that.

One final thought before jumping into the subject of topics and ideas for your literary essays. Keep in mind that the topics and fine details are important but you need to have a strong understanding of the basics in order to have a good product. In other words, you need to have a straightforward introduction, a well-defined body, and a strong and comprehensive conclusion.

How to Write Perfect Shakespeare Essays

If you’re studying English, there’s no way in the world to do that without going through the work of William Shakespeare and that’s the main reason we will be starting this article with a list of Shakespeare-based essay topics. Romeo and Juliet is perhaps the most used topic by students all over the world, however, there are still a lot of good essay examples that you can use. Here are some helpful topics if you need to write a Shakespearean literary analysis essay.

Romeo and Juliet

Even though there are a lot of essay examples on this subject all over the internet and the feeling is that you can’t possibly find a new topic on the subject, here are some ideas that you can use to start your paper.

Fate’s Role in Romeo and Juliet

It’s common knowledge that Romeo and Juliet are the first star-crossed lovers in literature. And there are all kinds of clues that Shakespeare introduced all over the text that their love story was, up to a point, sealed by fate.

Dark and Light in Romeo and Juliet

Light and dark, both from a contrast point of view but as well as moments of their love story are present throughout this literary piece. Actually, it is embedded in the entire language of the play and even the character of Romeo has these characteristics present while dealing with contradictory feelings.

Time in Romeo and Juliet

Another very interesting subject for a good-quality essay is the matter of time and the love story between the two characters. Romeo comes to visit during the night and always makes promises of a return in the future. All these happen in a play that has a total timeline of around a week, symbolizing how short our time really is.

Love in Romeo and Juliet

Even though it might seem to be a predictable topic at first glance, love is and will be the ultimate theme and symbol of Romeo and Juliet. The tragic destiny is that the bond of the couple has become a theme for romantic fatalism and that’s the reason it is the number one topic in the literary essays written about Shakespeare’s work.

The competition between Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet in which piece of work of Shakespeare is the most assigned in English courses is tight, however, we’d like to consider Hamlet to be in the second place simply because of the sheer volume of essays written on Romeo and Juliet. If you’re going to focus on this monumental play written by the English genius, here are some topics that should help.

Hamlet and Mortality

If you look closely at Shakespeare’s work, you will notice that a lot of the characters end up dead. Hamlet makes no exception to this rule and there’s so much to analyze and speculate about mortality in this play that you should be just great and write a pretty big essay on this topic.

Misogyny and Women in Hamlet

The play takes place in a time when women did not have too many rights or a certain place in society. You can clearly see that in characters like Ophelia or Gertrude that are not treated well at all. They’d make the main subject of an essay regarding the place of women in the society of those times.

Hamlet and the Theme of Madness

If you’re going to write an essay on Hamlet, you can’t leave out the motive of madness. Just like an essay on Romeo and Juliet couldn’t go without the theme of love, madness is one of the essential characteristics of the play.

The shortest of the mandatory Shakespearean plays, Macbeth is just as full of symbols and meaningful themes and motives that can easily turn into a good literary essay. Here are just a few that you can focus on when writing a piece on Macbeth.

Ambition and Its Corrupting Influence

The main character of this play is in the middle of a quest and there are several moments when he alone decides that the ends justify the means, a theme that can be exploited as an essay topic. Alternatively, you can focus on Lady Macbeth that has quite the same philosophy when it comes to her goals.

Witchcraft in Macbeth

The prophecies issued by the three witches are the main reason why Macbeth is set into action. This theme is often left aside when considering good essay topics in the favor of Lady Macbeth sleepwalking. You could really build something interesting if you choose such a topic since the world of the supernatural is always appealing and attractive.

Another great play by Shakespeare that can be the base of a lot of essay topics. Many of those that had the honor to play the king in this piece have sustained that it’s one of the most intriguing roles due to the king’s slow descent into madness, making him one great essay topic. Apart from that, madness itself is a great approach if you’re going to write a literary essay based on King Lear.

You wouldn’t consider a sonnet to be a good essay topic, however, Sonnet 18 is so succinct and rich in meaning that it can actually give you at least two or three essay topics. First of all, you have adoration and love, which can be a very inspiring topic. Besides that, you have the ever-present theme of jealousy that can, again, make a great topic.

Essays Beyond Shakespeare

It’s natural that the literature world doesn’t end with Shakespeare but it certainly starts there. In the following rows, we will analyze other relevant essay topics derived from big titles of other famous English writers.

Night by Elie Wiesel

This memoir of the holocaust and the events that surrounded it is quite difficult to read for students, the reason why it is often avoided. But what can you do when your teacher requests a Night essay? Well, obviously, you need to start looking for some good topics that will help you develop the structure of the piece you’ll be writing. We’ll give you a helping hand with that by letting you know that you definitely have to touch the subjects of religious faith and the inhuman side of people that are put in extreme situations. When you’re not dealing with fictional literature, it may seem easier to find good topics so the list can go on.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

The story of the 22-year-old McCandless Christopher also known as Alex Supertramp, who decides to abandon society and the modern world to take a 2-year trip into the wilderness of the US. There are a lot of topics and themes that can be extracted from this book. Among them, the escape from society, rebellion against the rules, and sheer power of nature are the favorites when deciding to write a literary essay.

Essays on Ancient Greek Literature

The literature from those times gained a timeless stamp due to the fact that it is so old and is still present in the educational system and did not lose any of its value. From another perspective, since thousands of years have passed between the time these works were written and the moment you have to write an essay on them, the vast majority of topics have already been approached in other works. But even so, there are some things that can be done to bring something new into literary essays based on ancient books.

The Republic – Plato

Plato is, without a doubt, one of the most influential philosophers in the Western World so you can imagine that writing a paper on his very powerful ‘The Republic’ is not at all an easy task. Before you start writing anything, you should take some time and understand the philosophic approach that Plato had. After that, you will be able to find a lot of topics about ‘The Republic’ such as human nature, fight for power, and hierarchy.

Antigone – Sophocles

Another great mind of those times, Sophocles had some really interesting views that he shared in his masterpiece ‘Antigone’. If you’re looking for topics and themes to write about, you can easily go with civil disobedience, human law, and even faithfulness and honor.

Literary Analysis Topic on the Subject of Race

The subject of race was of a great interest to a lot of writers and a lot of books have this subject as a central piece. If you’re looking to write an essay that touches the subject of race, you should definitely take the following works into consideration.

Waiting for the Barbarians – J.M Coetzee

‘Waiting for the Barbarians’ is quite a powerful piece of work that even brought the author a Nobel Prize for Literature. Talking about such an award-winning work, if you were to do a summary of it, you should definitely approach the topic of tension between the fictional town-colony and the surrounding population.

Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad

This is the story of Marlow and his journey on the Congo River. On his journey, he meets an ivory trader called Kurtz and there are a lot of themes being explored in the book: imperialism, racism, and even how civil the western society is compared to the indigenous population.

Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain

Mark Twain is very famous for his fictional pieces that really appeal to a lot of true characteristics that can be found in the society. Huckleberry Finn makes no exception and it includes a lot of characters that depict the political class and the struggle that the population was left with. If you were to write a piece on this book, themes like slavery versus freedom or man versus nature are a must.

To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

This is another example of a great classic. Like a lot of other great pieces of the 20th century, Harper Lee’s book is focused on the South of America and it explores a lot of subjects of justice and race.

Profound Literary Analysis Topics in Women’s Literature

We approached this subject a bit when we were discussing Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’, but it’s time to go deeper into the subject and check out some books dedicated to gender and the place of women in society.

The Works of Alice Walker

Alice Walker is a great literary figure of the 20th century, being the author of a lot of notable books and short stories. From all her portfolio, two works are the musts when it comes to literary analysis.

The Color Purple

Perhaps the most famous work of Alice Walker, this book won a lot of awards for the way it approaches themes like racism, sexism, and modification of traditional gender purpose in the society. All these topics can be successfully used for in-depth literary essays as well.

Everyday Use

This is a short story that approaches the subject of heirloom possessions that are being passed from one generation to another. These are also the main themes and topics that can be used if we are talking about essays since the differences between generations are something quite hot nowadays.

Jane Austin’s Works

Even though she departed early, the talent she has shown was tremendous and the breakthroughs she managed to obtain were incredible for a woman living at the end of the 18th century. She explored the role of women in that society and focused on how much hard work they had to do in order to secure respectable places in society.

Pride and Prejudice

Wealth and social position are just two of the main themes and topics of this book that follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet that must choose between two men. One is a better individual from a moral and physical point of view while the other has a better social position. The topic here is clearly about how wealth can change someone’s standards and it also makes a good essay starting point.

Yet another book that fits perfectly in the pattern we were discussing above, Emma is the tale of a woman that is more interested in seeing her sisters married. This book explores the constraints placed upon women in that period and the symbolism of marriage in that society.

The 19th and 20th Century Period

A lot of the literary works that are now studied by English students were completed in the golden era that included the 19th and the 20th centuries. Everything from extraordinary novels to short poems is providing insight into topics that define the Anglophone world and can as well be used in a lot of literary essays.

Part of ‘The Adventures of the Speckled Band’, Sherlock Holmes arose as a very influential character among teachers and students. Essays on the topics of good versus evil and overall order in chaos are among the favorites when writing an essay on this short story.

Lord of the Flies – William Golding

Yet another awesome example of what the golden period of writing had to offer to readers and essay writers alike. The topics approached in this title are shaping around the dangers of group thinking and how irrationality and rationality are sometimes in conflict that is then expanded into morality or immorality.

The Princess Bride – William Goldman

A very entertaining book that was also transformed into a movie touches the topics of the arbitrary nature of history and time and how love tends to conquer all in the end.

The Rocking Horse Winner – D. H. Lawrence

Lawrence is one of the geniuses of the 20th century in literature and this short story is the best demonstration of his skill. It tells the story of a family that struggles and the main themes that are being explored are greed, money, and a bit of fiction.

Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck

This book captures the struggles of medium-class individuals during the Great Depression. The central theme is the following of dreams and how powerful the human spirit is when it has a clear goal to fight for.

A Streetcar Named Desire – Tennessee Williams

Considered by most the best-known American dramatic play, it approaches the themes of fantasy and reality in an eternal conflict as well as the era’s tendency of women to depend on men.

Topics and Themes for Analysis of Poetry

Stephen Crane gave the world ‘War is Kind’, a collection of poems that touched deep and powerful themes such as war, violence, and human greed and all the inspiration came from his personal experience with the American-Spanish and Greco-Turkish wars.You can use it for your poem analysis essay .

John Donne, a total opposite of Stephen Crane, focused his work on sonnets that approached the topics of love, death, religion, and social criticism. It’s true that they lived in different times as well.

Contemporary Literature

If you’re thinking it’s a pity you were born in these times because no good books are written anymore, you are mistaken. What we now consider big classics were not so hot during their times either and that’s the cycle of literature, to become valuable a certain time after the book is released. So, if you want to go with contemporary literature for your essay, here are some suggestions.

Reservation Blues – Sherman Alexie

Depicting the story of a young group of men that get their hands on an enchanted guitar that once upon a time belonged to a legendary bluesman, the book touches sensitive subjects of the Native American life such as endurance, overcoming everyday obstacles, and poverty.

Montana 1948 – Larry Watson

Set in Western American state of Montana, this novella is about a family that struggles to survive in the tough conditions they have to face. Themes of loyalty, family obligations and bonds or even justice are approached by Watson and they can be great sources of inspiration for good essays.

The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold

This book follows the story of Susie, a young woman that dies but her spirit leaves the body and watches over the investigation of her case. Obviously, the recurrent themes here are justice, mortality, and grief.

Feel free to explore other essay title examples in our blog.

• How to Write Dissertation Chapters
• Resume Writing Tips
• Argumentative Essay Topics
• Best Dissertation Methodology for Writing a Chapter
• A Complete Guide To Proofreading For Beginners

Title Generator for Essay

Use our AI essay title generator to generate title for your acedemic essay.

Get 2,000 Free Credit Every Month

Get started today and get 2,000 free credit every month.

You’ve poured hours into your essay, carefully crafting each argument, refining your thesis, and ensuring that your conclusion leaves a lasting impression. But there’s still one hurdle left: crafting that perfect title. Titles are often overlooked, but they play an essential role in captivating your readers and setting the stage for your work. Enter the Title Generator for Essay, your next must-have writing tool. Let’s dive deep into the realm of essay titles and discover how our tool can elevate your writing game.

The Significance of a Stellar Essay Title

Before we delve into the features of our Title Generator, let’s understand why titles matter so much:

• First Impressions Count: Your title is the first thing a reader, instructor, or examiner sees. A well-chosen title can intrigue and beckon them into the depth of your essay.
• Summarizes Your Argument: A good title encapsulates the main idea or argument of your essay in a few words.
• Enhances Searchability: If your essay is published online or in a database, a relevant title helps readers find your work when searching for related topics.

Challenges in Crafting Essay Titles

Crafting an engaging and relevant title isn’t as simple as it sounds. Writers often struggle with:

• Keeping titles concise yet informative.
• Avoiding cliches or overused phrases.
• Making sure the title aligns with the essay’s content.
• Striking a balance between creativity and clarity.

Why the Title Generator for Essay is a Game-Changer

This innovative tool is designed to address these challenges head-on:

• Context-Driven: Simply provide your essay’s context, and our tool will deliver a tailored title that aligns seamlessly with your content.
• AI-Powered Precision: Leveraging cutting-edge algorithms, the Title Generator ensures uniqueness and relevance.
• Time-Efficient: No more hours of brainstorming. Get a range of title suggestions in seconds.
• Flexible and Customizable: Whether your essay is argumentative, descriptive, expository, or narrative, our tool caters to all types.

How to Use the Title Generator for Essay

Harnessing the power of our title generator is straightforward:

• Navigate to the Tool: Visit our user-friendly Title Generator for Essay page.
• Enter Essay Context: Describe your essay’s main theme, argument, or subject in the provided field.
• Select Essay Type (optional): If you want a title tailored to a specific type of essay, choose from our dropdown menu.
• Generate: Click the ‘Generate’ button and explore a variety of title suggestions.
• Pick, Tweak, and Finalize: Choose the title that resonates most, customize if needed, and voila – your essay is now ready for the spotlight!

How to write compelling essay titles

• Before trying to come up with a title, make sure you fully understand the core message or argument of your essay.
• Consider your thesis statement or main argument; it can often be a source of inspiration for your title.
• The title should provide a hint or summary of the essay’s content. Misleading titles can confuse or frustrate readers.
• Avoid long-winded titles. Aim for brevity while ensuring that the title still conveys the essence of the essay.
• Using strong verbs can make your title more dynamic. For example, instead of “The Effects of Pollution on Marine Life,” consider “How Pollution Devastates Marine Life.”
• Alliteration can make titles more catchy and memorable. For example, “Fame, Fortune, and Fallacies: The Myth of Celebrity Success.”
• Posing a question can engage the reader’s curiosity. For example, “Is Artificial Intelligence a Threat to Humanity?”
• Overused phrases can make your essay seem unoriginal. Always strive for a fresh and unique title.
• Including pertinent keywords can make your essay more discoverable, especially if it’s being published online.
• Play with Dual Meaning or Puns (when appropriate): This can make your title more interesting, but it should be used judiciously and not forced.
• Consider Your Audience: Ensure the tone and style of your title align with the expectations of your audience. An academic paper will have a different title style compared to a casual blog post.
• Draft Multiple Titles: Don’t settle on the first title that comes to mind. Write down several options, mull over them, or even get feedback from peers.
• Finalize After Writing the Essay: Often, the process of writing the essay will offer clarity or a fresh perspective, making it easier to craft a fitting title.
• Avoid Sensationalism: While it’s important to capture attention, don’t exaggerate or sensationalize just for the sake of drawing readers in. The title should remain true to the content of the essay.

Final Thoughts

An essay’s title can make or break its reception. While the body of your essay provides depth and detail, the title serves as the inviting entryway. With the Title Generator for Essay, you’re not only saving time but also ensuring that your essays get the attention they deserve right from the start. So, the next time you find yourself stumped for a title, let our generator do the heavy lifting!

Get started With 2000 Free Monthly Credit

Want to level up your content game? Get started today with 2000 monthly free credit.

Advanced AI writing tool trained to write better content faster.

• Sentence Rewriter Tool
• Instagram hashtag generator
• LinkedIn headline generator
• Paraphrasing tool
• Acronym generator
• Title generator
• Business name generator
• Slogan generator
• Blog ideas generator
• Job Description Generator
• Brand Style Guide
• Affiliate Program
• Social Media Marketing
• Email Marketing
• Random Generator
• Name Generator
• Summary Generator
• Character Counter
• Word Counter
• Word Finder
• AI Content Detector

Copyright © 2024 WriterBuddy. All rights reserved.