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Literary Analysis Essay Writing

Literary Analysis Essay Topics

Interesting Literary Analysis Essay Topics & Ideas

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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

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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.

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

Literary Analysis Essay Outline - A Step By Step Guide

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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

Lady Macbeths real name was Gruoch and Macbeth’s real name was Mac Bethad Mac Findlaich.

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:

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 Kierk e gaard’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 .

Hamlet has been translated into Klingon.

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.

450+ Literary Analysis Topics Ideas & Title Examples for Inspiration

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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?

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 .

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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.

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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.

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Interesting Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Students

Write a Perfect Literary Analysis Essay Outline

The Subtle Art of Writing an Literary Analysis Essay

29 July, 2020

12 minutes read

Author: Tomas White

When studying at school, college, or university, you get dozens of writing tasks, and a literary analysis essay is one of them. You have to study a piece of literature and write about the core idea, characters, or the author’s intentions. In some cases, it’s necessary to explore style, plot, structure, and other elements to explain how they complement or weaken each other.

Although it’s an interesting task, students often don’t have enough time or writing skills to craft a literary analysis essay excellently. Our article will help you cope with the assignment and compose a flawless paper. Discover how to craft an outline, start a literary analysis essay, and many more.

What is a Literary Analysis Essay?

Paper quality depends not only on the writer’s skills or the presence of fresh ideas in a text but also on their understanding of what is a literary analysis essay. Many students make the same mistake and compose reviews or just describe what they’ve read, but it’s not the purpose of this task. Take a look at the explanation of a literary analysis below to avoid the confusion:

Literary analysis essay definition

A literary analysis essay involves studying the text, evaluating the plot, analyzing characters, and determining devices used by the author to engage and influence readers. A novel, tale, poem, play, or another piece of literature can become the object of your research. When composing a literary analysis essay, a writer explores the text form, style, perspective, and characters.

What is the purpose of a literary analysis essay?

An excellently composed literary analysis essay demonstrates that you’ve looked at the events described in the literature piece from different perspectives. Examination of all the major elements, including a text structure, plot, author’s style, characters’ qualities, main theme, and form is an essential stage of the writing process. After you study all the important components, provide a conclusion on how they interact with each other and influence your overall impression.

How to Start a Literary Analysis Essay?

Now that you know a literary analysis essay definition, you’re ready to move further and discover the secrets of writing the paper. When reading the text, you must be very attentive. Notice the tricks the author uses to engage the reader, surprising details, and uncommon character’s features. Use these elements for your analysis.

It’s also necessary to answer a few important questions to discover the essence of the literature piece you’ve just read:

Which parts are the most essential ones?
What literary devices did the author use, and why did they choose them?
Do characters change somehow?

After you’ve answered these questions, you’ll have to determine the relationships between the ideas and storyline, the characters’ behavior, and how their roles change in a piece. Conduct comprehensive research to get information about the text, its background, and the author. These materials will help you understand the writer’s intentions and ideas better.

Literary Analysis Essay Outline

Crafting a literary analysis essay outline is an efficient method to organize your materials and structure a paper. An outline will contain all the core thoughts of your research. It helps an essay writer figure out whether they’ve studied all the essential elements and mentioned all the points.

Before you design an outline, it’s necessary to write a thesis statement that shortly describes your paper’s content. Usually, it contains one sentence and presents the entire sense of the essay. Crafting an outline is the next step after composing a thesis statement. Traditionally, it consists of 3 sections:

Introduction . This part is the most important one, as it should explain the main points of the body text and grab the reader’s attention. However, it’s not only a brief description of the essay’s content – you have to compose a catchy introduction that engages the audience. It’s necessary to use a hook to grab the reader’s attention and make them wonder what happens in the next literary analysis essay’s section. You can add a quote, an interesting fact connected with the book or the author, or write a question and promise to provide the answer in the next part.
Body text . After you’ve composed the introduction, it’s necessary to move to the next step in your writing. Body text will contain all your statements, arguments, and important details supporting your analysis. Usually, this section has 3 paragraphs, but you can extend it depending on the task complexity and the professor’s requirements. When designing an outline, use the columns or bullet points to present the main ideas. These lists will help you figure out which details are unnecessary in your essay.
Conclusion . Your final thoughts will shape the entire paper and influence the reader’s impression. At this point, the audience gets the overall impression of your analysis and decides whether you’re right or wrong. Name the paper’s core thoughts and write your final statement. You can write a sentence or two about the significance of the author’s idea or the impact made by the piece.

Literary Analysis Essay Examples

Check this short list of literary analysis essay example to get the idea:

http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/eng104/midtermexamples.htm
https://www.unm.edu/~aobermei/Eng200/sonnet95a.html

20 Literary Analysis Essay Topics

Sometimes professors allow students to pick topics themselves, and it’s a lucky ticket in the academic world. You can choose your favorite book or novel, research it, and provide excellent analysis. If you’ve written about the piece you love before or want to impress the professor, we recommend you to check our list of literary analysis essay topics for more ideas:

Examining the structure of Kurt Vonnegut’s “ Slaughterhouse-Five. ”
Explaining the importance of Ray Bradbury’s “ Fahrenheit 451. ”
Analyzing the changes in Ebenezer Scrooge’s character over the course of “ A Christmas Carol. ”
The importance of symbolism in “ Wuthering Heights .”
Examining Ernest Hemingway’s writing style.
The connection of plot lines in “ Froth of Days ” by Boris Vian.
The lasting influence of “ The Catcher in the Rye .”
Literary devices used by George Orwell in “ 1984. ”
The use of humor in Mark Twain’s short stories.
The impact of “ To Kill a Mockingbird .”
Analyzing the allegory in William Golding’s “ Lord of the Flies .”
“ Pride and Prejudice ” character analysis.
“ Love in the Time of Cholera ”: Florentino Ariza character analysis.
The significance of Herman Melville’s “ Moby-Dick .”
Plot analysis of William Shakespeare’s “ Hamlet. ”
The influence of Jack London’s life on his works.
The analysis of Jane Eyre’s personality.
Mysticism in Edgar Allan Poe’s novels.
Language analysis in Haper Lee’s “ To Kill Mockingbird .”
Stylistic analysis of “ The Great Gatsby .”

Useful Tips for Literary Analysis Essay

A literary analysis essay requires time, patience, and attentiveness. When reading a piece, don’t be lazy to write down all the important details connected with characters, plot, author’s style, ideas, etc. You also must be very attentive to notice important elements. However, attentiveness isn’t the only thing that will help you craft a paper. Read our tips to learn how to write a literary analysis essay flawlessly and get the best grade:

1. Read carefully

Choose a cozy place for reading – it’s where no one will disturb you, and noise won’t interrupt the process. Only in this case, you’ll notice the most important details. If you pick the right environment, you’ll be able to concentrate on a story. You can choose a quiet place in a park, stay in your room, or go to a library.

2. Take notes

Do characters have specific features? What makes the writer’s style special? How does symbolism influence text comprehension? Write down all the interesting or intriguing details you notice. You can use this information in your literary analysis essay.

3. Determine literary devices

Writers use literary devices to create special effects that help readers understand their intentions, interpret their works, and analyze them. Besides, these elements often become the author’s identifying feature that helps them stand out from the crowd. Here’s the list of literary devices you have to know:

Personification
Alliteration
Foreshadowing

4. Consider language style

It’s necessary to pay attention to the length of sentences, terminology, descriptions, presence of metaphors, etc. Does the writer use simple words to describe an object or go poetic? Is it easy to understand the text? Does the author use slang or conventional terms?

The writer’s style tells a lot about their piece – even more than you can imagine. Besides, the characters’ language style is one of their most important features. It helps readers understand their personalities. If your topic is connected with the character analysis, taking notes about language is a must for you.

5. Determine the narrator

Who’s telling the story? It can be told by a character or by an author watching the course of events from a distant perspective. You have to determine the role of the narrator in a story. Do they know everything about other characters? Is their role important for story development? Of course, if an author is a narrator, you won’t have to wonder whether they influence the piece somehow. If a character tells the story, the chances are that they hide some information or don’t know much about different events. In this case, some details may become evident in the end.

Write a Literary Analysis Essay with HandmadeWriting

If you need someone to help you craft a literary analysis essay, it’s necessary to choose a reputable service. You can rely on HandmadeWriting whenever assignments seem too difficult to cope with solely. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have enough time for the task completion because a professional writer will compose a flawless paper within the tightest timeframes.

HandmadeWriting has over 700 experienced writers specializing in different fields. They cope even with the most complicated tasks and deliver original papers in time. Writers at HandmadeWriting do their best to help students compose excellent essays. They’re passionate researchers who use many credible sources where they get the necessary information from. All the papers are also checked for plagiarism and edited.

Writing a literary analysis essay is an exciting yet time-consuming process. It’s necessary to read the piece of literature carefully to notice all the essential details. Composing a thesis statement, outlining an essay, and writing a meaningful paper are the next steps. If you aren’t sure about your skills or simply don’t have time because of the academic overload, you can address HandmadeWriting for professional help.

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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.

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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

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.

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Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Middle School Students

Satire in Absalom and Achitophel by John Dryden
Discuss the main character of âThe Crucible.â
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 Shakespeareâs 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 Miltonâs Paradise Lost
Childrenâs vaccination: why it is important.
Examine the portrayal of women in âOthello.â
The Hunger Games vs. The Lottery
What does the ending of âThe Great Gatsbyâ mean?
What role does money play in Fitzgeraldâs novel?
Literary analysis of a streetcar named desire
The irony in Jeromeâs 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 âOthelloâ and also analyze how her class influences the ways people treated her.
Analyze the behavior of men toward Emilia in the play âOthelloâ?
Analyze the idea of jealousy and love in the play âOthello.â
Analyze the type of relationship does Othello have with Cassio?
Analyze how women are portrayed in âOthelloâ?
To what extent are males dominant in âOthelloâ? Analyze.
To what extent are women depicted differently in âOthelloâ than they are today?
To what extent do women show their empowerment throughout the theme of the âOthelloâ?
What message did âOthelloâ 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 âCatcher in the Rye.â
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 âCatcher in the Rye.â
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 â1984â 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 â1984â in the context of racial discrimination.
Analyze the concept of âpartyâ in the novel â1984â.
Analyze how âdystopiaâ has been highlighted in the book â1984â By George Orwell.
Analyze how oppression and fear became the reason for rebellion in â1984â.
Analyze â1984â in the context of Carl Jungâs analytical psychology.
What do you think about the purpose of the book?
Analyze the book from the âSci-Fiâ aspect.

âHamletâ Literary Analysis Essay Topic Ideas

Analyze how Shakespeare uses the imagery in act three of âHamletâ?
Analyze how Hamletâs speech moved from active to passive.
List the names of Hamletâs various foils. What role do they play, and how much are they important?
Analyze how Hamletâs 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 âsuicideâ 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 âMacbethâ?
Talk about Macbethâs hallucinations and visions. Also, analyze its effects on the overall character?
Analyze King Duncanâs personality and state his contributions to the play.
Discuss Macbethâs insanity as a result of greedy and dishonest nature.
Analyze how figurative language is used in âMacbeth.â
Analyze how imagery will help in understanding âMacbethâ 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.

âThe Crucibleâ 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 Millerâs 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 âRomeo and Juliet.â
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.â 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 Fitzgeraldâs 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 âthe great Gatsbyâ and Mark Twain in âA Tramp Abroad.â
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 âThe Great Gatsbyâ.

âFahrenheit 451â 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 âFahrenheit 451â. 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 âTo Kill a Mockingbirdâ

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 Atticusâs 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 Maudieâs relationship to the Finches.
Discuss the way the author has described Maycomb.
Analyze the authorâs 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 âThe Animal Farm".
How is a farm house the main setting of the novel?
What is the inherent irony in âThe Animal Farmâ.
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 Raffelsâ translation of âBeowulf.â
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 âBeowulfâ
What is Grendelâs claw?
Beowulfâs 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 âFrankensteinâ by Mary Shelley
Shelley Maryâs 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 âPursuit of Happiness.â
Enslavement in the âMoby Dickâ
Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter film analysis
"Bridget Jonesâs Diary" movie review
How did the story develop in âMidwayâ?
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 readerâs 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 readerâs 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.

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52 Literary Criticism Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best literary criticism topic ideas & essay examples, 🎓 good research topics about literary criticism, 🥇 interesting topics to write about literary criticism.

Literary Criticism on Adventures of Huckleberry Finn In the essay, Wallace examines the racism in the novel in a bid to protect the African Americans from “mental cruelty and harassment depicted in the novel.
Formalist Strategies in Literary Criticism If we analyze the approach of a formalist critic we would see that this form of criticism is more dependent on imageries presented in the text rather than the basics of the literature.
Literary Criticism: The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes This paper examines the poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” by Langston Hughes and delineates the meaning by focusing on the various elements in the poem like setting, the background of the author, and the […]
Literary and Theatrical Criticism on Ibsen’s “Enemy of the People” It was an essential part of Ibsen’s dramatic talent that he embodied the problems and conflicts of his own personality in the characters of his plays.
Literary Criticism of The Yellow Wallpaper by Gilman When she is isolated in the room, she notices a shadow emerging from the wallpaper and creeping over the walls and floor.
New Criticism in the English and American Literature Consequently, any effort to state the meaning of the poem appears to be heretical, as it is an affront to the honesty of the complex arrangement of sense within the literary creation.
Theories of Literary Criticism: Social and Literary Philosophy This essay engages in an in-depth, meaningful, and critical discussion of the most significant theories of public criticism.
The Literary Criticism of Agnosticism Agnostics have been unable to take a stand in the issue due to their inability to make a decision and it is advisable that agnostics emulate theists and atheists.
“Contemporary Literary Criticism” by Lowell His collection of poems “The Mills of the Kavanaughs” was written under the influence of Robert Frost and Robert Browning. The poem is mixed with images of death and a young boy’s love for his […]
The Concept of Literary Criticism Feminist literary criticism is focused on the analysis of texts from the feminist perspective. Feminist literary criticism is based on the feminist theory and broad politics of feminism.
Feminist Approach in Literary Criticism The reason for this is simple this particular plot’s development suggests that, just as it happened to be the case with the functioning of a male psyche, the working of a female psyche implies that […]
Applying Marxist Literary Criticism to “Of Mice and Men”
Biblical Literary Criticism: Higher Criticism
Charles Dickens Novels Literary Criticism
Classical and Literary Traditions in Literary Criticism
Fahrenheit 451: Literary Criticism and Critical Analysis
Feminist Literary Criticism: Feminist Critical Theory
The Link Between Formalism and the School of Literary Criticism
Peculiarities of Applying Literary Criticism to Graphic Novels
Jane Tompkins’ Revolutionary Approach to Literary Criticism
Analysis of Ecocriticism as a Literary Criticism
Linking Literary Criticism and Linguistics
The Parallels Between Literary Criticism and Marxist Criticism
Margit Stange’s Literary Criticism of Chopin’s “The Awakening”
Magical Realism Literature Literary Criticism
Marxist Literary Criticism Applied to Middlemarch
Post Structuralist Literary Criticism of English Literature
The Relationships Between Literary Theories and Literary Criticism
Correlations Between Psychoanalysis and Literary Criticism
Romantic Literary Criticism Criticism: Background and Overviews
Satire and Hypocrisy: Literary Criticism of Lewis’ “The Monk”
The Link Between American Narrative and Literary Criticism
Romantic Literary Criticism Criticism: The German Romantics
The Feminist Literary Criticism: Women’s Struggle
The Contemporary Literary Criticism of Frank McCourt’s Poetry
The Relations Between Structuralism and Literary Criticism
The Four Basic Approaches to Literary Criticism
“The Great Gatsby” Through a Marxist Literary Criticism Lens
The Important Things Regarding Professional Literary Criticism
The Purpose and Usage of Literary Criticism
Discussion on the African American Literary Criticism
Pros and Cons of Literary Criticism
Literary Criticism of “Well in a Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle
Different Perspectives of Literary Criticism on the Works of Literature
Journey Through Digital Literature: Hidden Literature and Literary Criticism in Video Games
Feminist Literary Criticism of Rip Van Winkle
Overview of Methods of Feminist Literary Criticism
Literary Criticism of “A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett
Feminist Literary Criticism of the Yellow Wallpaper
Literary Criticism as a Study With Its Functions
Overview of New Historicism in Literary Criticism
Canterbury Tales Research Ideas
A Good Man is Hard to Find Essay Ideas
Pride and Prejudice Essay Ideas
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Research Topics
The Great Gatsby Ideas
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The Metamorphosis Research Topics
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Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

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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 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

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Literary Analysis Essay

Literary Analysis Essay Topics

Best Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Students

Published on: Nov 23, 2019

Last updated on: Jan 20, 2023

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Do you know what a literary analysis essay is? Most students are not familiar with the literary essay term, even though it is a common type of essay.It is a type of essay that requires you to analyze a work of literature carefully. It is more than a summary or simple review.

It carefully examines the author’s choice of words, motifs, themes, and literary devices.The first step in writing a persuasive literary analysis essay is to choose a good topic.

Here, we have presented some great literary analysis essay topics and essay writing tips for you.The analysis essay topic could be about a movie, book, social issue, or general problem. Read the blog to know what kind of topics make a strong analysis essay.

How to Choose an Interesting Literary Analysis Essay Topic?

When you start writing a literary essay, the first thing that you need to do is to find an essay topic. Literary essay writing assignments are very common in high school and college. But still, most of the students are not familiar with this type of essay. When they are assigned to write a literary essay, they look for help.

However, it is the simplest type of essay because it allows you to give your opinion about some literary work. An opinion is never right or wrong. Therefore, you are free to write whatever you have analyzed.

But to make a good impact on the reader’s mind, you need to choose a good topic for your essay. Check out the amazing tips given below to learn how to select a topic for a literary essay.

Define the purpose of your writing
Identify your target audience. Try to think about the argument that you want to make from their perspective.
Keep the objective in your mind while looking for the topic.
Find something that you are very familiar with and also interested in.
Avoid choosing a too broad or too narrow theme.
Choose a clear theme.
Make sure you can get enough material to work with.
Analyze the theme deeply and make sure you understand it completely.

Good Literary Analysis Essay Prompt

Now that you know how to choose a good topic for your essay, check out the list of topics given below. You’ll find some amazing literary analysis topics to choose from this list.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics about Movies

Analyze the harmful effects of movies on children’s mind
Analyze the psychological effects of horror movies
Assess a movie that is based on a movie
Analyze the theme of ‘Pursuit of Happiness.’
Analyze the love theme of ‘Romeo and Juliet’
Compare the movie and book ‘Sense and Sensibility.’
How did the story develop in ‘Midway’?
How ‘Unbroken’ movie depicted the Second World War?
What message did ‘Life of Pi’ provide?
Analyze the biographical period-drama ‘ 12 Years of Slave’

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Literary Analysis Essay Topics About Literature

How are women portrayed in ‘Othello,’ a tragedy by William Shakespeare?
The narrative voice behind the themes of angst and alienation in ‘Catcher in the Rye.’
Define the literary devices used in ‘Frankenstein.’
Madness in ‘Hamlet’
The corrupting influence of ambition in ‘Macbeth.’
Discuss the main character of ‘The Crucible.’
Analyze the concept of light and dark in ‘Romeo and Juliet’
Explore the theme of race and justice in ‘ To Kill a Mockingbird.’
Analyze ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ by Mark Twain
How ‘Fahrenheit 451’ presents a future American society where books are outlawed?

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on School and Education

The similarities and differences between short stories and narrative essay
Why should psychological help be provided in schools and colleges?
Discuss the effects of bullying in school
Why should tests and quizzes be banned in school?
Discuss the ways of improving education standards
Present your views in favor of college fee cancellation
Discuss the pro’s and con’s of wearing a school uniform
How are gender roles defined in schools and colleges?
Should children be taught equality in school?
The relationship between higher education and employment opportunities

Literary Analysis Essay Topics about Nature and Animals

Drug testing on animals should be banned.
How to train an emotional support animal
Why do dogs hate cats?
The bad effects of air pollution on the ozone layer
The different ways of saving water
Why should we recycle plastic?
Dogs are more loyal than humans.
Do plants and trees have consciousness?
Discuss why pets are therapeutic for human beings
Discuss the harmful effects of certain microbes

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on Health

Pros and cons of being a vegetarian
Why are the majority of nurses female?
How to help kids maintain a healthy body?
Discuss different types of eating disorders
Discuss the pro’s and con’s of the keto diet
What are the consequences of eating meat-free food?
Social and health issues of cosmetic surgery
What are the different reasons for insomnia?
Pros and cons of clinical trials
Is doing sport always healthy?

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Literary Analysis Essay Topics on Society

How to avoid inequality?
How does society treat people with mental issues?
Why has society set some beauty standards?
The role of women in the development of the country
The impact of technology on kids minds
The world is moving towards IoT and AI.
Discussions based on religion should be avoided.
Why do we need to consider depression as a serious problem?
The ethical side of euthanasia
Why do long-distance relationships don’t work?

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on Crime

The increased rate of cybercrime during COVID-19
How to control the crime rate?
The reasons why youngsters are becoming criminals
The effectiveness of harsh penalties against white-collar crime
The role of advanced technology in crime development
Factors that influence increased crime rate in different areas
How do parents’ separation influence child crime?
How to tackle gang behavior?
What causes criminal behavior?
How to prevent cybercrime?

Literary Analysis Essay Topics about Youth and Teens

Influence of social media on youth?
Effects of mass media on youth
What is the influence of video games on teenager’s minds?
Teens learn violent behavior from video games.
How to deal with a rude teen?
Why is our young generation obsessed with social media?
Why has smoking become very common among youngsters?
Why are teens always busy with their phones?
Symptoms, causes, and treatment of teen depression
What is the role of youngsters in the development of a country?

Use any of these topics to create a good literary analysis paper. If you need to learn how to write a literary analysis essay, take help from a professional essay writer . Professional writers at FreeEssayWriter.net are very skilled in writing academic essays and papers.

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What kinds of topics are good ones?

The best topics are ones that originate out of your own reading of a work of literature, but here are some common approaches to consider:

A discussion of a work's characters: are they realistic, symbolic, historically-based?
A comparison/contrast of the choices different authors or characters make in a work
A reading of a work based on an outside philosophical perspective (Ex. how would a Freudian read Hamlet ?)
A study of the sources or historical events that occasioned a particular work (Ex. comparing G.B. Shaw's Pygmalion with the original Greek myth of Pygmalion)
An analysis of a specific image occurring in several works (Ex. the use of moon imagery in certain plays, poems, novels)
A "deconstruction" of a particular work (Ex. unfolding an underlying racist worldview in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness )
A reading from a political perspective (Ex. how would a Marxist read William Blake's "London"?)
A study of the social, political, or economic context in which a work was written — how does the context influence the work?

How do I start research?

Once you have decided on an interesting topic and work (or works), the best place to start is probably the Internet. Here you can usually find basic biographical data on authors, brief summaries of works, possibly some rudimentary analyses, and even bibliographies of sources related to your topic.

The Internet, however, rarely offers serious direct scholarship; you will have to use sources found in the library, sources like journal articles and scholarly books, to get information that you can use to build your own scholarship-your literary paper. Consult the library's on-line catalog and the MLA Periodical Index. Avoid citing dictionary or encyclopedic sources in your final paper.

How do I use the information I find?

The secondary sources you find are only to be used as an aid. Your thoughts should make up most of the essay. As you develop your thesis, you will bring in the ideas of the scholars to back up what you have already said.

For example, say you are arguing that Huck Finn is a Christ figure ; that's your basic thesis. You give evidence from the novel that allows this reading, and then, at the right place, you might say the following, a paraphrase:

According to Susan Thomas, Huck sacrifices himself because he wants to set Jim free (129).

If the scholar states an important idea in a memorable way, use a direct quote.

"Huck's altruism and feelings of compassion for Jim force him to surrender to the danger" (Thomas 129).

Either way, you will then link that idea to your thesis.

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12.20: 12-20 Literary Essay Titles

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

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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

The Emotional Resonance of Nature in the Romantic Time Period

This essay about the Romantic era explores the profound emotional connection to nature that characterized the period. It highlights how Romantic poets and artists viewed nature as a source of spiritual and emotional inspiration, reflecting on its beauty and sublimity. The essay discusses the impact of industrialization, the pastoral ideal, and the concept of the sublime, illustrating how these themes influenced literature and art, and how they continue to shape contemporary views on nature.

How it works

The Romantic era, spanning from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century, was a period of profound transformation in art, literature, and thought. Central to this transformation was a heightened sensitivity to the natural world, which became a source of inspiration and emotional resonance for Romantic writers and artists. This period marked a departure from the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason and rationality, shifting towards an appreciation for the sublime, the beautiful, and the transcendent qualities of nature.

Nature in the Romantic period was not merely a backdrop for human activity; it was imbued with deep emotional and spiritual significance.

Romantic poets like William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and John Keats saw nature as a living, breathing entity that could evoke powerful emotions and insights. Wordsworth’s “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey” exemplifies this sentiment, as he reflects on the serene beauty of the Wye River Valley and how it has influenced his inner life. He writes of the “still, sad music of humanity,” suggesting that nature’s quietude offers a counterpoint to the tumult of human existence, providing solace and a sense of continuity.

This emotional connection to nature was partly a reaction to the rapid industrialization and urbanization of the time. As cities grew and natural landscapes were transformed by industry, Romantic thinkers yearned for a return to a simpler, more harmonious relationship with the natural world. This nostalgia is evident in the works of poets like John Clare, who lamented the loss of the English countryside to enclosures and agricultural development. Clare’s poetry often conveys a sense of loss and longing, as he mourns the disappearing pastoral landscapes of his youth.

The concept of the sublime, popularized by Edmund Burke, also played a crucial role in the Romantic appreciation of nature. The sublime referred to experiences that were awe-inspiring and overwhelming, often eliciting feelings of both terror and beauty. Nature, with its vast mountains, deep forests, and tempestuous seas, provided ample opportunities for such experiences. For instance, in Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the vastness and unpredictability of the ocean become a metaphor for the mariner’s existential journey, invoking both wonder and fear. The sublime in nature was a reminder of the limits of human control and understanding, prompting a sense of humility and reverence.

Romantic literature frequently depicted nature as a source of personal and spiritual renewal. This idea is vividly portrayed in the poetry of Percy Bysshe Shelley. In “Mont Blanc,” Shelley contemplates the power and mystery of the mountain, viewing it as a symbol of the eternal and the infinite. He writes, “The everlasting universe of things / Flows through the mind,” suggesting that nature is a conduit for accessing deeper truths and cosmic insights. For Shelley, nature was not just a physical entity but a gateway to the sublime, offering a glimpse into the divine.

The emotional resonance of nature in the Romantic period was also linked to the idea of the pastoral, an idealized vision of rural life that stood in stark contrast to the burgeoning urban centers. The pastoral tradition, with its roots in ancient Greek and Roman literature, was revitalized by Romantic poets who sought to escape the confines of modernity. In the pastoral, they found a world where human life was in harmony with the rhythms of nature, untouched by the pressures and corruptions of industrial society. This idealization is evident in the works of poets like Robert Burns and William Blake, who celebrated the simplicity and purity of rural existence.

Blake’s “Songs of Innocence and of Experience” juxtapose the innocence of childhood and nature with the harsh realities of adult life and industrialization. In poems like “The Lamb” and “The Tyger,” Blake uses animals as symbols of innocence and experience, exploring the dualities of human nature and the natural world. The emotional power of these poems lies in their ability to evoke a sense of wonder and contemplation, inviting readers to reflect on their own relationship with nature.

The Romantic period also saw the rise of the naturalist movement in art, with painters like J.M.W. Turner and Caspar David Friedrich capturing the majesty and emotional depth of the natural world. Turner’s dramatic landscapes, with their swirling clouds and intense light, conveyed the dynamism and sublimity of nature. Friedrich’s contemplative scenes, often featuring solitary figures gazing at vast, untamed landscapes, expressed a sense of introspection and spiritual yearning. These visual representations of nature complemented the literary works of the time, reinforcing the idea that nature was a profound source of emotional and spiritual inspiration.

Moreover, the Romantic fascination with nature extended to the exploration of the individual’s inner world. Nature was seen as a mirror of the human soul, reflecting its moods and emotions. This theme is particularly evident in the poetry of Lord Byron, whose works often feature tempestuous natural settings that parallel the emotional turmoil of his characters. In “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage,” Byron describes the Alps in vivid detail, using the grandeur and isolation of the mountains to reflect the protagonist’s inner struggles and quest for meaning.

The Romantic emphasis on the emotional resonance of nature also had a lasting impact on subsequent literary and artistic movements. The transcendentalists in America, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, drew inspiration from Romantic ideals, emphasizing the spiritual and moral significance of nature. Thoreau’s “Walden,” a reflection on simple living in natural surroundings, echoes the Romantic belief in the restorative power of nature and its ability to foster personal growth and self-discovery.

In conclusion, the Romantic period was characterized by a profound emotional connection to nature, which was seen as a source of beauty, inspiration, and spiritual insight. This connection was expressed through poetry, art, and literature, revealing a deep longing for harmony with the natural world amidst the changes brought about by industrialization and urbanization. The Romantic legacy continues to influence contemporary perspectives on nature, reminding us of its enduring power to move, inspire, and transform the human spirit.

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Will I Get Caught Using Chat GPT?

ChatGPT has been around for a little over a year but already found popularity among all groups of users. School and college students have taken a particular liking to it. However, many students avoid using the chatbot for fear that their teacher might catch them.

Read this article to learn more about ChatGPT, its features, and whether your teacher can actually find out if you use it for your homework.

What is Chat GPT?

ChatGPT was first introduced to the world in November 2022. At the time, it was a one-of-a-kind chatbot that used the power of generative AI to create content in response to specific prompts. In simpler words, ChatGPT can analyze your questions and use its vast database of texts to write a cohesive reply.

Before it was introduced to the public, the AI was trained on a massive amount of text sources. Slowly but surely, it “learned” how language works. Now, it can “speak” using this knowledge, repeating the patterns it learned and predicting how the next part of its response should go word by word.

This technology revolutionized the whole globe and opened a new world of opportunities to users from different backgrounds.

Chat GPT: Applications and main features

As a text-based model, ChatGPT can be used across many domains. Let’s explore the main capabilities of Chat GPT and its applications in real life.

Content creation . ChatGPT can create completely new texts based on a user’s prompt. This is a particularly useful feature for businesses that have to generate a lot of content like ad texts, social media, blog posts, video scripts, etc.
Research . ChatGPT can use its enormous database to find answers to specific research questions or provide brief overviews of certain sources. It can also give a list of references that researchers are welcome to study further for a more in-depth analysis.
Translation . ChatGPT can translate texts into over 50 different languages. It can also provide feedback and proofread existing translations.
Consulting . It’s possible to use ChatGPT for various consultations. Most users prefer asking their questions to the chatbot instead of sorting through myriad web pages selected by search engines. Also, Chat GPT helps users brainstorm ideas, acts as customer support, and even gives basic mental health counseling.
Proofreading . You can ask the AI chatbot to check your texts or translations for any grammar mistakes. It can in turn give you suggestions to improve your text even more.

As you can see, the capabilities of Chat GPT extend to a wide range of areas, and this is just a small portion of what it can do. It’s also safe to say that the true potential of GPT technology is yet to be explored.

Can I get caught using ChatGPT?

Given how quickly OpenAI’s chatbot took over the world, it’s not surprising that students have already discovered all the benefits of using generative AI for homework. However, there is a common concern that AI writing can be detected by teachers and professors. So, is it true?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Texts produced by ChatGPT have several distinct features of texts that experienced educators can easily detect. Besides, there already are a lot of automatic services that can analyze your essays and find traces of ChatGPT origin. Here is a list of these features that are often attributed to AI generators.

Repetitive patterns . While ChatGPT was trained on a large dataset of texts, it can still use repetitive phrases, particularly in specific contexts. This repetition can become very obvious in longer texts like essays.
Unusual phrasing . AI may generate sentences or phrases that sound slightly off or unnatural to human readers, which can be caused by low-quality training data or errors in the way the model understands the language.
Lack of emotion . ChatGPT-generated text often lacks the emotional depth that is typical of human writing. No matter how hard we try to stay neutral, our personal biases seep into our writing while AI tends to produce unnaturally dry text.
Factual errors . There are a lot of examples when ChatGPT was seen making up non-existent facts. This is the most obvious mistake that can tip your teacher off about your use of AI generators.
Lack of creativity . AI may produce texts that rely on common language idioms or templates. This can become a hindrance, especially when your assignment is to show off your creative skills.

As you see, detecting ChatGPT can be easy if you know what to look for. That’s why teachers can often tell when you use it to complete your assignments.

How to avoid getting caught using Chat GPT

Thankfully, there are ways to hide that you used Chat GPT help. But they still require some effort on your part.

1. Generate ideas instead of text

Sure, It’s easier to ask ChatGPT to write an entire paper at once. But it’s much safer to use it to brainstorm ideas. Ask it to compile a plan for your essay or think of supporting arguments. Don’t copy everything it writes without editing. Remember that you need to stick to your style of writing.

Search for sources

You can also ask ChatGPT to compile a list of sources for your papers. But always double-check that these sources exist. As we already know, ChatGPT can write factually incorrect texts, so it’s better to study sources yourself. This way, you’ll also be ready should your teacher ask any follow-up questions about your research.

Use Ai-generator Aithor

While ChatGPT was the first AI chatbot, it’s not the best now. There are plenty of new language models that are trained to write specific texts.

AI-generator Aithor is one of these models. Trained on a large database of academic texts, Aithor can generate top-notch essays and research papers that follow the rules of academic writing to a T.

It can also simulate your writing styles and create completely original texts free of plagiarism. Your teachers won’t find out that you used it because AI-generator Aithor uses constantly improving AI detectors that eliminate this risk.

Explore all the advantages of Aithor right now!

The capabilities of Chat GPT are immense, but there’s still a chance that your teachers will detect it. To avoid this, use this chatbot with caution, for instance, to generate ideas, compile a list of references, or proofread your texts. Or try AI-generator AIthor specifically trained to create academic tests and forget about this concern once and for all.

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Complete Literary Analysis Essay Pack
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Two Reflective Teachers: A Peek into our Literary Essay Unit
25+ Inspiring Literary Essay Topics Ideas
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VIDEO

LITERARY ESSAYS
How to attempt a literary essay for CSS||structure of Essay||Boys will be Boys outline
Important Essay Topics
How Can I Write an Effective Literary Essay? Simple Techniques Explained
UGC NET English Literature Exam Oriented Topics
Outlining for Literary Analysis Essay

COMMENTS

220 Best Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Students
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.
120 Literary Essay Topics
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.
435 Literary Analysis Essay Topics and Prompts [2024 Upd]
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.
How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay
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.
450+ Literary Analysis Essay Topics & Prompt Ideas in 2023
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.
100-Plus Writing Prompts to Explore Common Themes in Literature and
Identity. We ask students, " Are You Being Raised to Pursue Your Dreams? " Our prompt is based on the article "How to Raise a Feminist Son.". Illustration by Agnes Lee. 1. Are You the Same ...
100 Literary Analysis Essay Topics (2024)
Frankenstein Literary Analysis Essay Topics. Analyze philosophy in Frankenstein. Examine the role of suspense and foreshadowing throughout the novel. Analyze what light and fire are trying to symbolize. Analyze the nature of betrayal in the novel Frankenstein. Philosophy of dualism and materialism in Frankenstein.
A Comprehensive Guide to Writing a Literary Analysis Essay
Writing the Body. Here are the steps to follow when writing a body paragraph for a literary analysis essay: Start with a topic sentence: The topic sentence should introduce the main point or argument you will be making in the paragraph. It should be clear and concise and should indicate what the paragraph is about.
PDF HOW TO WRITE A LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY
The term regularly used for the development of the central idea of a literary analysis essay is the body. In this section you present the paragraphs (at least 3 paragraphs for a 500-750 word essay) that support your thesis statement. Good literary analysis essays contain an explanation of your ideas and evidence from the text (short story,
Literary Analysis Essay
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.
How to Write a Literary Analysis: 6 Tips for the Perfect Essay
These 4 steps will help prepare you to write an in-depth literary analysis that offers new insight to both old and modern classics. 1. Read the text and identify literary devices. As you conduct your literary analysis, you should first read through the text, keeping an eye on key elements that could serve as clues to larger, underlying themes.
Tips and Tricks on Writing Literary Analysis Essay
20 Literary Analysis Essay Topics. Sometimes professors allow students to pick topics themselves, and it's a lucky ticket in the academic world. You can choose your favorite book or novel, research it, and provide excellent analysis. If you've written about the piece you love before or want to impress the professor, we recommend you to ...
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 ...
88 Perfect Essay Topics on The Great Gatsby
3,574. Welcome to The Great Gatsby Essay Topics page prepared by our editorial team! Here you'll find a large collection of essay ideas on the novel! Literary analysis, themes, characters, & more. Get inspired to write your own paper! We will write a custom essay specifically. for you for only 11.00 9.35/page.
160+ Interesting Literary Analysis Essay Topics for You
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.
52 Literary Criticism Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
Literary Criticism on Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In the essay, Wallace examines the racism in the novel in a bid to protect the African Americans from "mental cruelty and harassment depicted in the novel. Feminist Criticism in Literature: Character of Women in Books. Wright The unimportance of women in the play is a critical factor for ...
Beginner's Guide to 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.
Literary Analysis: Essay Prompts, Outline, & American Literature Topics
Overview. The literary analysis aims at solving the mysteries of a book using one's critical thinking. When analyzing a novel, you can see how all those characters, places, objects, and events obtain new senses. Any literature work consists of thousands of micro-details that require close reading in the first place.
50+ Literary Analysis Essay Topics & Ideas for Every Student
Literary Analysis Essay Topics about Movies. Analyze the harmful effects of movies on children's mind. Analyze the psychological effects of horror movies. Assess a movie that is based on a movie. Analyze the theme of 'Pursuit of Happiness.'. Analyze the love theme of 'Romeo and Juliet'. Compare the movie and book 'Sense and ...
Literature Topics and Research
A comparison/contrast of the choices different authors or characters make in a work. A reading of a work based on an outside philosophical perspective (Ex. how would a Freudian read Hamlet ?) A study of the sources or historical events that occasioned a particular work (Ex. comparing G.B. Shaw's Pygmalion with the original Greek myth of ...
12.20: 12-20 Literary Essay Titles
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 ...
100 Best Literary Essay Topics [2024 Updated]
Myth and folktale in literature. Role of fate in Romeo and Juliet. Literature in the 21 st century. Socialism through the eyes of George Orwell. Marxism literary criticism. Feminism in literature. Literature as an aid for psychological development. Mythology and mythic grandeur in Moby Dick. Existentialism in literature.
The Emotional Resonance of Nature in the Romantic Time Period
Essay Example: The Romantic era, spanning from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century, was a period of profound transformation in art, literature, and thought. Central to this transformation was a heightened sensitivity to the natural world, which became a source of inspiration and emotional
Will I Get Caught Using Chat GPT?
How to avoid getting caught using Chat GPT. Thankfully, there are ways to hide that you used Chat GPT help. But they still require some effort on your part. 1. Generate ideas instead of text. Sure, It's easier to ask ChatGPT to write an entire paper at once. But it's much safer to use it to brainstorm ideas.

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What Does Analysis Mean?

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Character Analysis

Theme Analysis

Symbolism Analysis

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435 Literary Analysis Essay Topics and Prompts [2024 Upd]

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