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Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Table of contents

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

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

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

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

Language choices

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

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

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

Narrative voice

Ask yourself:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay question example

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

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

Thesis statement example

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

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

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

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

Your initial answer might be a surface-level description:

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

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

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

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

Finding textual evidence

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The introduction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paragraph structure

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

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

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

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

Topic sentences

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

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

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

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

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

Using textual evidence

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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 Writing

Last updated on: May 21, 2023

Literary Analysis Essay - Ultimate Guide By Professionals

By: Cordon J.

Reviewed By: Rylee W.

Published on: Dec 3, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On this Page

What is a Literary Analysis Essay?

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

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

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

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

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

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

How To Write A Literary Analysis Essay

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

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

Introduction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DOWNLOADABLE LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY OUTLINE (PDF)

Types of Literary Analysis Essay

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

Examples of Literary Analysis Essay

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

A ROSE FOR EMILY LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

THE GREAT GATSBY LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

THE YELLOW WALLPAPER LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

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

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

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

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

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

Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a literary analysis essay include.

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

What are the 4 components of literary analysis?

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

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

How do you start a literary analysis essay?

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

How do you do a literary analysis?

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

Why is literary analysis important?

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

What is the fundamental characteristic of a literary analysis essay?

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

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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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Introduction

You’ve been assigned a literary analysis paper—what does that even mean? Is it like a book report that you used to write in high school? Well, not really.

A literary analysis essay asks you to make an original argument about a poem, play, or work of fiction and support that argument with research and evidence from your careful reading of the text.

It can take many forms, such as a close reading of a text, critiquing the text through a particular literary theory, comparing one text to another, or criticizing another critic’s interpretation of the text. While there are many ways to structure a literary essay, writing this kind of essay follows generally follows a similar process for everyone

Crafting a good literary analysis essay begins with good close reading of the text, in which you have kept notes and observations as you read. This will help you with the first step, which is selecting a topic to write about—what jumped out as you read, what are you genuinely interested in? The next step is to focus your topic, developing it into an argument—why is this subject or observation important? Why should your reader care about it as much as you do? The third step is to gather evidence to support your argument, for literary analysis, support comes in the form of evidence from the text and from your research on what other literary critics have said about your topic. Only after you have performed these steps, are you ready to begin actually writing your essay.

Writing a Literary Analysis Essay

How to create a topic and conduct research:.

Writing an Analysis of a Poem, Story, or Play

If you are taking a literature course, it is important that you know how to write an analysis—sometimes called an interpretation or a literary analysis or a critical reading or a critical analysis—of a story, a poem, and a play. Your instructor will probably assign such an analysis as part of the course assessment. On your mid-term or final exam, you might have to write an analysis of one or more of the poems and/or stories on your reading list. Or the dreaded “sight poem or story” might appear on an exam, a work that is not on the reading list, that you have not read before, but one your instructor includes on the exam to examine your ability to apply the active reading skills you have learned in class to produce, independently, an effective literary analysis.You might be asked to write instead or, or in addition to an analysis of a literary work, a more sophisticated essay in which you compare and contrast the protagonists of two stories, or the use of form and metaphor in two poems, or the tragic heroes in two plays.

You might learn some literary theory in your course and be asked to apply theory—feminist, Marxist, reader-response, psychoanalytic, new historicist, for example—to one or more of the works on your reading list. But the seminal assignment in a literature course is the analysis of the single poem, story, novel, or play, and, even if you do not have to complete this assignment specifically, it will form the basis of most of the other writing assignments you will be required to undertake in your literature class. There are several ways of structuring a literary analysis, and your instructor might issue specific instructions on how he or she wants this assignment done. The method presented here might not be identical to the one your instructor wants you to follow, but it will be easy enough to modify, if your instructor expects something a bit different, and it is a good default method, if your instructor does not issue more specific guidelines.You want to begin your analysis with a paragraph that provides the context of the work you are analyzing and a brief account of what you believe to be the poem or story or play’s main theme. At a minimum, your account of the work’s context will include the name of the author, the title of the work, its genre, and the date and place of publication. If there is an important biographical or historical context to the work, you should include that, as well.Try to express the work’s theme in one or two sentences. Theme, you will recall, is that insight into human experience the author offers to readers, usually revealed as the content, the drama, the plot of the poem, story, or play unfolds and the characters interact. Assessing theme can be a complex task. Authors usually show the theme; they don’t tell it. They rarely say, at the end of the story, words to this effect: “and the moral of my story is…” They tell their story, develop their characters, provide some kind of conflict—and from all of this theme emerges. Because identifying theme can be challenging and subjective, it is often a good idea to work through the rest of the analysis, then return to the beginning and assess theme in light of your analysis of the work’s other literary elements.Here is a good example of an introductory paragraph from Ben’s analysis of William Butler Yeats’ poem, “Among School Children.”

“Among School Children” was published in Yeats’ 1928 collection of poems The Tower. It was inspired by a visit Yeats made in 1926 to school in Waterford, an official visit in his capacity as a senator of the Irish Free State. In the course of the tour, Yeats reflects upon his own youth and the experiences that shaped the “sixty-year old, smiling public man” (line 8) he has become. Through his reflection, the theme of the poem emerges: a life has meaning when connections among apparently disparate experiences are forged into a unified whole.

In the body of your literature analysis, you want to guide your readers through a tour of the poem, story, or play, pausing along the way to comment on, analyze, interpret, and explain key incidents, descriptions, dialogue, symbols, the writer’s use of figurative language—any of the elements of literature that are relevant to a sound analysis of this particular work. Your main goal is to explain how the elements of literature work to elucidate, augment, and develop the theme. The elements of literature are common across genres: a story, a narrative poem, and a play all have a plot and characters. But certain genres privilege certain literary elements. In a poem, for example, form, imagery and metaphor might be especially important; in a story, setting and point-of-view might be more important than they are in a poem; in a play, dialogue, stage directions, lighting serve functions rarely relevant in the analysis of a story or poem.

The length of the body of an analysis of a literary work will usually depend upon the length of work being analyzed—the longer the work, the longer the analysis—though your instructor will likely establish a word limit for this assignment. Make certain that you do not simply paraphrase the plot of the story or play or the content of the poem. This is a common weakness in student literary analyses, especially when the analysis is of a poem or a play.

Here is a good example of two body paragraphs from Amelia’s analysis of “Araby” by James Joyce.

Within the story’s first few paragraphs occur several religious references which will accumulate as the story progresses. The narrator is a student at the Christian Brothers’ School; the former tenant of his house was a priest; he left behind books called The Abbot and The Devout Communicant. Near the end of the story’s second paragraph the narrator describes a “central apple tree” in the garden, under which is “the late tenant’s rusty bicycle pump.” We may begin to suspect the tree symbolizes the apple tree in the Garden of Eden and the bicycle pump, the snake which corrupted Eve, a stretch, perhaps, until Joyce’s fall-of-innocence theme becomes more apparent.

The narrator must continue to help his aunt with her errands, but, even when he is so occupied, his mind is on Mangan’s sister, as he tries to sort out his feelings for her. Here Joyce provides vivid insight into the mind of an adolescent boy at once elated and bewildered by his first crush. He wants to tell her of his “confused adoration,” but he does not know if he will ever have the chance. Joyce’s description of the pleasant tension consuming the narrator is conveyed in a striking simile, which continues to develop the narrator’s character, while echoing the religious imagery, so important to the story’s theme: “But my body was like a harp, and her words and gestures were like fingers, running along the wires.”

The concluding paragraph of your analysis should realize two goals. First, it should present your own opinion on the quality of the poem or story or play about which you have been writing. And, second, it should comment on the current relevance of the work. You should certainly comment on the enduring social relevance of the work you are explicating. You may comment, though you should never be obliged to do so, on the personal relevance of the work. Here is the concluding paragraph from Dao-Ming’s analysis of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.

First performed in 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest has been made into a film, as recently as 2002 and is regularly revived by professional and amateur theatre companies. It endures not only because of the comic brilliance of its characters and their dialogue, but also because its satire still resonates with contemporary audiences. I am still amazed that I see in my own Asian mother a shadow of Lady Bracknell, with her obsession with finding for her daughter a husband who will maintain, if not, ideally, increase the family’s social status. We might like to think we are more liberated and socially sophisticated than our Victorian ancestors, but the starlets and eligible bachelors who star in current reality television programs illustrate the extent to which superficial concerns still influence decisions about love and even marriage. Even now, we can turn to Oscar Wilde to help us understand and laugh at those who are earnest in name only.

Dao-Ming’s conclusion is brief, but she does manage to praise the play, reaffirm its main theme, and explain its enduring appeal. And note how her last sentence cleverly establishes that sense of closure that is also a feature of an effective analysis.

You may, of course, modify the template that is presented here. Your instructor might favour a somewhat different approach to literary analysis. Its essence, though, will be your understanding and interpretation of the theme of the poem, story, or play and the skill with which the author shapes the elements of literature—plot, character, form, diction, setting, point of view—to support the theme.

Academic Writing Tips : How to Write a Literary Analysis Paper. Authored by: eHow. Located at: https://youtu.be/8adKfLwIrVk. License: All Rights Reserved. License Terms: Standard YouTube license

BC Open Textbooks: English Literature Victorians and Moderns: https://opentextbc.ca/englishliterature/back-matter/appendix-5-writing-an-analysis-of-a-poem-story-and-play/

Literary Analysis

The challenges of writing about english literature.

Writing begins with the act of reading . While this statement is true for most college papers, strong English papers tend to be the product of highly attentive reading (and rereading). When your instructors ask you to do a “close reading,” they are asking you to read not only for content, but also for structures and patterns. When you perform a close reading, then, you observe how form and content interact. In some cases, form reinforces content: for example, in John Donne’s Holy Sonnet 14, where the speaker invites God’s “force” “to break, blow, burn and make [him] new.” Here, the stressed monosyllables of the verbs “break,” “blow” and “burn” evoke aurally the force that the speaker invites from God. In other cases, form raises questions about content: for example, a repeated denial of guilt will likely raise questions about the speaker’s professed innocence. When you close read, take an inductive approach. Start by observing particular details in the text, such as a repeated image or word, an unexpected development, or even a contradiction. Often, a detail–such as a repeated image–can help you to identify a question about the text that warrants further examination. So annotate details that strike you as you read. Some of those details will eventually help you to work towards a thesis. And don’t worry if a detail seems trivial. If you can make a case about how an apparently trivial detail reveals something significant about the text, then your paper will have a thought-provoking thesis to argue.

Common Types of English Papers Many assignments will ask you to analyze a single text. Others, however, will ask you to read two or more texts in relation to each other, or to consider a text in light of claims made by other scholars and critics. For most assignments, close reading will be central to your paper. While some assignment guidelines will suggest topics and spell out expectations in detail, others will offer little more than a page limit. Approaching the writing process in the absence of assigned topics can be daunting, but remember that you have resources: in section, you will probably have encountered some examples of close reading; in lecture, you will have encountered some of the course’s central questions and claims. The paper is a chance for you to extend a claim offered in lecture, or to analyze a passage neglected in lecture. In either case, your analysis should do more than recapitulate claims aired in lecture and section. Because different instructors have different goals for an assignment, you should always ask your professor or TF if you have questions. These general guidelines should apply in most cases:

• A close reading of a single text: Depending on the length of the text, you will need to be more or less selective about what you choose to consider. In the case of a sonnet, you will probably have enough room to analyze the text more thoroughly than you would in the case of a novel, for example, though even here you will probably not analyze every single detail. By contrast, in the case of a novel, you might analyze a repeated scene, image, or object (for example, scenes of train travel, images of decay, or objects such as or typewriters). Alternately, you might analyze a perplexing scene (such as a novel’s ending, albeit probably in relation to an earlier moment in the novel). But even when analyzing shorter works, you will need to be selective. Although you might notice numerous interesting details as you read, not all of those details will help you to organize a focused argument about the text. For example, if you are focusing on depictions of sensory experience in Keats’ “Ode to a Nightingale,” you probably do not need to analyze the image of a homeless Ruth in stanza 7, unless this image helps you to develop your case about sensory experience in the poem.
• A theoretically-informed close reading. In some courses, you will be asked to analyze a poem, a play, or a novel by using a critical theory (psychoanalytic, postcolonial, gender, etc). For example, you might use Kristeva’s theory of abjection to analyze mother-daughter relations in Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved. Critical theories provide focus for your analysis; if “abjection” is the guiding concept for your paper, you should focus on the scenes in the novel that are most relevant to the concept.
• A historically-informed close reading. In courses with a historicist orientation, you might use less self-consciously literary documents, such as newspapers or devotional manuals, to develop your analysis of a literary work. For example, to analyze how Robinson Crusoe makes sense of his island experiences, you might use Puritan tracts that narrate events in terms of how God organizes them. The tracts could help you to show not only how Robinson Crusoe draws on Puritan narrative conventions, but also—more significantly—how the novel revises those conventions.
• A comparison of two texts When analyzing two texts, you might look for unexpected contrasts between apparently similar texts, or unexpected similarities between apparently dissimilar texts, or for how one text revises or transforms the other. Keep in mind that not all of the similarities, differences, and transformations you identify will be relevant to an argument about the relationship between the two texts. As you work towards a thesis, you will need to decide which of those similarities, differences, or transformations to focus on. Moreover, unless instructed otherwise, you do not need to allot equal space to each text (unless this 50/50 allocation serves your thesis well, of course). Often you will find that one text helps to develop your analysis of another text. For example, you might analyze the transformation of Ariel’s song from The Tempest in T. S. Eliot’s poem, The Waste Land. Insofar as this analysis is interested in the afterlife of Ariel’s song in a later poem, you would likely allot more space to analyzing allusions to Ariel’s song in The Waste Land (after initially establishing the song’s significance in Shakespeare’s play, of course).
• A response paper A response paper is a great opportunity to practice your close reading skills without having to develop an entire argument. In most cases, a solid approach is to select a rich passage that rewards analysis (for example, one that depicts an important scene or a recurring image) and close read it. While response papers are a flexible genre, they are not invitations for impressionistic accounts of whether you liked the work or a particular character. Instead, you might use your close reading to raise a question about the text—to open up further investigation, rather than to supply a solution.
• A research paper. In most cases, you will receive guidance from the professor on the scope of the research paper. It is likely that you will be expected to consult sources other than the assigned readings. Hollis is your best bet for book titles, and the MLA bibliography (available through e-resources) for articles. When reading articles, make sure that they have been peer reviewed; you might also ask your TF to recommend reputable journals in the field.

Harvard College Writing Program: https://writingproject.fas.harvard.edu/files/hwp/files/bg_writing_english.pdf

In the same way that we talk with our friends about the latest episode of Game of Thrones or newest Marvel movie, scholars communicate their ideas and interpretations of literature through written literary analysis essays. Literary analysis essays make us better readers of literature.

Only through careful reading and well-argued analysis can we reach new understandings and interpretations of texts that are sometimes hundreds of years old. Literary analysis brings new meaning and can shed new light on texts. Building from careful reading and selecting a topic that you are genuinely interested in, your argument supports how you read and understand a text. Using examples from the text you are discussing in the form of textual evidence further supports your reading. Well-researched literary analysis also includes information about what other scholars have written about a specific text or topic.

Literary analysis helps us to refine our ideas, question what we think we know, and often generates new knowledge about literature. Literary analysis essays allow you to discuss your own interpretation of a given text through careful examination of the choices the original author made in the text.

ENG134 – Literary Genres Copyright © by The American Women's College and Jessica Egan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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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

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 .

Prompt for a Literary Analysis of Night by Elie Wiesel

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

Othello Literary Analysis Prompt

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

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

Pride and Prejudice Literary Analysis Prompt

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

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

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Literary Analysis Prompt

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

The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis Essay Prompt

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

The Lottery Literary Analysis Prompt

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

Kafka’s Metamorphosis Literary Analysis Prompt

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

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

The Necklace Literary Analysis Prompt

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

The Odyssey Literary Analysis Prompt

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

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

The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis Essay Prompt

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

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

Wuthering Heights Literary Analysis Prompt

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

✍️ Writing a Literary Analysis: Step by Step

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

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

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

Best Tips for Writing a Literary Analysis

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

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

📃 Literary Analysis Example for Free

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

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

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

❓ Literary Analysis Essay FAQs

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

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

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

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

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

Further reading:

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

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• Jan. 31, 2019

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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.

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Literary Analysis Essay

Literary Analysis Essay - Step by Step Guide

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Published on: Aug 16, 2020

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Literature is an art that can inspire, challenge, and transform us. But how do we analyze literature in a way that truly captures its essence? 

That's where a literary analysis essay comes in. 

Writing a literary analysis essay allows you to delve into the themes, characters, and symbols of a literary work. It's a chance to engage with literature on a deeper level and to discover new insights. 

In this comprehensive guide, we will take you through the process of writing a literary analysis essay, step by step. Plus, you’ll get to read some great examples to help you out!

So let’s dive in!

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What is a Literary Analysis Essay?

Literary analysis is a process of examining a literary work in detail to uncover its meaning and significance. 

It involves breaking down the various elements of a work, such as plot, character, setting, and theme. And then analyzing how they work together to create a specific effect on the reader.

In other words, literary analysis is an exercise in interpretation. The reader of a work asks questions about what the author means to say, how they are saying it, and why. 

A literary analysis essay is an essay where you explore such questions in depth and offer your own insights.

What is the Purpose of a Literary Analysis Essay?

In general, the purpose of a literary analysis essay is as follows: 

• To gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the work.
• To be able to think critically and analytically about a text. 

Content of a Literary Analysis 

A literary analysis essay delves deep into the various aspects of a literary work to examine its meaning, symbolism, themes, and more. Here are the key elements to include in your literary analysis essay:

Plot Analysis 

Plot refers to the sequence of events that make up the storyline of a literary work. It encompasses the main events, conflicts, and resolutions that drive the narrative forward. 

Elements of Plot Analysis 

The elements of a plot typically include:

• Exposition: The introduction of the story that establishes the setting, characters, and initial circumstances.
• Rising action: A set of events or actions that sets the main conflict into motion, often occurring early in the story.
• Conflict: The series of events that build tension and develop the conflict, leading to the story's climax.
• Climax: The turning point of the story, where the conflict reaches its peak and the outcome hangs in the balance.
• Falling Action: The events that occur after the climax, leading towards the resolution of the conflict.
• Resolution: The point in the story where the conflict is resolved, providing closure to the narrative.

Character Analysis 

Character analysis involves studying the role, development, and motivations of the characters in a literary work. It explores how characters contribute to the overall narrative and themes of the story.

Elements of Character Analysis 

• Identification of major and minor characters.
• Examination of their traits, behaviors, and relationships.
• Analysis of character development and changes throughout the story.
• Evaluation of the character's role in advancing the plot or conveying themes.

Symbolism and Imagery Analysis 

Symbolism and imagery analysis focuses on the use of symbols, objects, or images in a work. It analyzes and explores the use of literary devices to convey deeper meanings and evoke emotions. 

Elements of Symbolism and Imagery Analysis 

• Identification of key symbols or recurring motifs.
• Interpretation of their symbolic significance.
• Analysis of how imagery is used to create vivid mental pictures and enhance the reader's understanding and emotional experience.

Theme Analysis 

Analyzing the theme involves exploring the central ideas or messages conveyed in a literary work. It examines the underlying concepts, or messages that the author wants to convey through the story.

Elements of Theme Analysis 

• Identification of the main themes or central ideas explored in the text.
• Analysis of how the themes are developed and reinforced throughout the story.
• Exploration of the author's perspective and the intended message behind the themes.

Setting Analysis 

The Setting of a story includes the time, place, and social context in which the story takes place. Analyzing the setting involves how the setting influences the characters, plot, and overall atmosphere of the work.

Elements of Setting Analysis 

• Description and analysis of the physical, cultural, and historical aspects of the setting.
• Examination of how the setting contributes to the mood, atmosphere, and themes of the work.
• Evaluation of how the setting shapes the characters' actions and motivations.

Structure and Style Analysis 

Structure and style analysis involves studying the organization, narrative techniques, and literary devices employed by the author. It explores how the structure and style contribute to the overall impact and effectiveness of the work.

Elements of Structure and Style Analysis 

• Analysis of the narrative structure, such as the use of flashbacks, nonlinear timelines, or multiple perspectives.
• Examination of the author's writing style, including the use of language, tone, and figurative language.
• Evaluation of literary devices, such as foreshadowing, irony, or allusion, and their impact on the reader's interpretation.

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How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay?  

Writing a great literary analysis piece requires you to follow certain steps. Here's what you need to do to write a literary essay:

Preparing for Your Essay 

The pre-writing process for writing a literary analysis essay includes the following:

• Choosing a literary work to analyze
• Reading and analyzing the work
• Taking notes and organizing your thoughts
• Creating an outline for your essay

Choosing a Work to Analyze 

As a student, you would most probably be assigned a literary piece to analyze. It could be a short story, a novel, or a poem.  However, sometimes you get to choose it yourself.

In such a case, you should choose a work that you find interesting and engaging. This will make it easier to stay motivated as you analyze the work and write your essay.

Moreover, you should choose a work that has some depth and complexity. This will give you plenty of material to analyze and discuss in your essay. Finally, make sure that your choice fits within the scope of the assignment and meets the expectations of your instructor.

Reading and Analyzing 

Once you've chosen a literary work, it's time to read the work with careful attention. There are several key elements to consider when reading and analyzing a literary work:

• Plot - The sequence of events that make up the story. Analyzing the plot involves examining the structure of the story, including its exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
• Characters - The people or entities that populate the story. Analyzing characters involves examining their motivations, personalities, relationships, and development over the course of the story.

Want to learn more about character analysis? Head to our blog about how to conduct character analysis and learn easy steps with examples.

• Setting - The time, place, and environment in which the story takes place. Analyzing the setting involves examining how the atmosphere contributes to the story's overall meaning.
• Theme - The underlying message or meaning of the story. Analyzing themes involves examining the work's central ideas and how they are expressed through the various elements of the story.

Moreover, it's important to consider the following questions while analyzing:

• What is the central theme or main point the author is trying to make?
• What literary devices and techniques has the author used?
• Why did the author choose to write this particular work?
• What themes and ideas are present in the work?

These questions will help you dive deeper into the work you are writing about.

Take Notes and Gather Material 

As you read and analyze the literary work, it's important to take notes so you don't forget important details and ideas. This also helps you identify patterns and connections between different elements of the piece.

One effective way to take notes is to list important elements of the work, such as characters, setting, and theme. You can also use sticky notes, highlighters, or annotations to mark important passages and write down your ideas.

Writing Your Literary Analysis Essay 

Once you have read a piece of literature and taken notes, you have all the material you need to write an essay. Follow the simple steps below to write an effective literary analysis essay.

Create an Outline for Your Essay 

Firstly, creating an outline is necessary. This will help you to organize your thoughts and ideas and ensure that your essay flows logically and coherently.

This is what your literary essay outline would look like: 

Writing the Introduction 

Writing your essay introduction involves the three following parts:

• Begin the introductory paragraph with an engaging hook statement that captures the readers' attention. An effective hook statement can take many different forms, such as a provocative quote, an intriguing question, or a surprising fact. 

Make sure that your hook statement is relevant to the literary work you are writing about. Here are a few examples of effective hooks:

• Afterward, present the necessary background information and context about the literary work. For instance, 
• Talk about the author of the work or when and where it was written. 
• Give an overview of the work or why it is significant. 
• Provide readers with sufficient context so they can know what the work is generally about.
• Finally, end the introduction with a clear thesis statement . Your thesis statement should be a concise statement that clearly states the argument you will be making in your essay. It should be specific and debatable, and it should provide a roadmap for the rest of your essay.

For example, a thesis statement for an essay on "Hamlet" might be: 

Watch this video to learn more about writing an introduction for 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.

• Provide evidence: 

After you have introduced your main point, provide evidence from the text to support your analysis. This could include quotes, paraphrases, or summaries of the text.

• Explain and discuss the evidence:

Explain how the evidence supports your main point or argument or how it connects back to your thesis statement.

• Conclude the paragraph: 

End the paragraph by relating your main point to the thesis and discussing its significance. You should also use transitions to connect the paragraph to your next point or argument.

Writing the Conclusion 

The conclusion of a literary analysis essay provides closure to your analysis and reinforces your thesis statement. Here's what a conclusion includes:

• Restate your thesis statement: 

Start by restating your thesis statement in a slightly different way than in your introduction. This will remind the reader of the argument you made and the evidence you provided to support it.

• Summarize your main points: 

Briefly summarize the main points you made in your essay's body paragraphs. This will help tie everything together and provide closure to your analysis.

• Personal reflections:

The conclusion is the best place to provide some personal reflections on the literary piece. You can also explain connections between your analysis and the larger context. This could include connections to other literary works, your personal life, historical events, or contemporary issues.

• End with a strong statement: 

End your conclusion with a strong statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. This could be a thought-provoking question, a call to action, or a final insight into the significance of your analysis.

Finalizing your Essay

You've completed the first draft of your literary analysis essay. Congratulations!

However, it's not over just yet. You need some time to polish and improve the essay before it can be submitted. Here's what you need to do:

Proofread and Revise your Essay 

After completing your draft, you should proofread your essay. You should look out for the following aspects:

• Check for clarity: 

Make sure that your ideas are expressed clearly and logically. You should also take a look at your structure and organization. Rearrange your arguments if necessary to make them clearer.

• Check for grammar and spelling errors: 

Use spelling and grammar check tools online to identify and correct any basic errors in your essay. 

• Verify factual information:

You must have included information about the work or from within the work in your essay. Recheck and verify that it is correct and verifiable. 

• Check your formatting: 

Make sure that your essay is properly formatted according to the guidelines provided by your instructor. This includes requirements for font size, margins, spacing, and citation style.

Helpful Tips for Revising a Literary Essay 

Here are some tips below that can help you proofread and revise your essay better:

• Read your essay out loud:

Reading your essay out loud makes it easier to identify awkward phrasing, repetitive language, and other issues.

• Take a break: 

It can be helpful to step away from your essay for a little while before starting the editing process. This can help you approach your essay with fresh eyes and a clearer perspective.

• Be concise:

Remove any unnecessary words or phrases that do not add to your argument. This can help to make your essay more focused and effective.

• Let someone else proofread and get feedback: 

You could ask a friend or a teacher to read your essay and provide feedback. This way, you can get some valuable insights on what you could include or catch mistakes that you might have missed.

Literary Analysis Essay Examples 

Reading a few good examples helps to understand literary analysis essays better. So check out these examples below and read them to see what a well-written essay looks like. 

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay

Literary Analysis Essay Example

Sample Literary Analysis Essay

Lord of the Rings Literary Analysis

The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis

Literary Analysis Example for 8th Grade

Literary Analysis Essay Topics 

Need a topic for your literary analysis essay? You can pick any aspect of any work of literature you like. Here are some example topics that will help you get inspired:

• The use of symbolism in "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• The theme of isolation in "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger.
• The portrayal of social class in "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen.
• The use of magical realism in "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
• The role of women in "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood.
• The use of foreshadowing in "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding.
• The portrayal of race and identity in "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison.
• The use of imagery in "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy.
• The theme of forgiveness in "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini.
• The use of allegory in "Animal Farm" by George Orwell.

To conclude,

Writing a literary analysis essay can be a rewarding experience for any student or writer, But it's not easy. However, by following the steps you learned in this guide, you can successfully produce a well-written literary analysis essay. 

Also, you have got some examples of essays to read and topic ideas to get creative inspiration. With these resources, you have all you need to craft an engaging piece. So don't hesitate to start writing your essay and come back to this blog whenever you need.

The deadline is approaching, but you don't have time to write your essay? No worries! Our analytical essay writing service is here to help you out!

At CollegeEssay.org, we have a team of professional and experienced literature writers who can help you craft a compelling literary essay. Our affordable and reliable essay writing website focuses on providing high-quality essays and deliver them timely.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 4 components of literary analysis.

The four main components of literary analysis are: 

• Conflict 
• Characters 
• Setting 

What is the fundamental characteristic of a literary analysis essay?

Interpretive is the fundamental characteristic of a literary analysis essay. 

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Literary analysis: sample essay.

We turn once more to Joanna Wolfe’s and Laura Wilder’s  Digging into Literature: Strategies for Reading, Writing, and Analysis  (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2016) in order to show you their example of a strong student essay that has a strong central claim elucidated by multiple surface/depth arguments supported by patterns of evidence.

Paragraph 1

Sylvia Plath’s short poem “Morning Song” explores the conflicted emotions of a new mother. On the one hand, the mother recognizes that she is expected to treasure and celebrate her infant, but on the other hand, she feels strangely removed from the child. The poem uses a combination of scientific and natural imagery to illustrate the mother’s feelings of alienation. By the end of the poem, however, we see a shift in this imagery as the mother begins to see the infant in more human terms.

Paragraph 2

There are several references to scientific imagery in “Morning Song” that suggest that mother is viewing the baby in clinical, scientific terms rather than as a new life. The poem refers to magnification (4) and reflection (8), both of which are scientific methods. The word “distills” (8) refers to a scientific, chemical process for removing impurities from a substance. The baby’s cry is described as taking “its place among the elements” (3), which seems to refer to the periodic table of elements, the primordial matter of the universe. The watch in the first line is similarly a scientific tool and the gold the watch is made of is, of course, an element, like the baby’s cry. Even the balloons in the last line have a scientific connotation since balloons are often used for measurements and experiments in science. These images all serve to show how the speaker feels distanced from the baby, who is like a scientific experiment she is conducting rather than a human being.

Paragraph 3

Natural imagery also seems to further dehumanize the baby, reducing it to nothing more than its mouth. The baby’s breathing is compared to a moth in line 10, suggesting that the speaker feels the infant is fragile and is as likely to die as a moth dancing around candlelight. A few lines later, the baby’s mouth is compared to another animal—a cat—who greedily opens its mouth for milk. Not only does the speaker seem to feel that the baby is like an animal, but she herself is turned into an animal, as she arises “cow-heavy” (13) to feed the infant. These images show how the speaker sees both the baby and herself as dumb animals who exist only to feed and be fed. Even the morning itself seems to be reduced to another mouth to feed as she describes how the dawn “swallows its dull stars” (16). These lines suggest that just as the sun swallows up the stars, so the baby will swallow up this mother.

Paragraph 4

However, in the last few lines the poem takes a hopeful turn as the speaker begins to view the baby as a human being. The baby’s mouth, which has previously been greedy and animal-like, now becomes a source of music, producing a “handful of notes” (17) and “clear vowels” (18). Music is a distinctly human sound. No animals and certainly not the cats, cows, or moths mentioned earlier in the poem, make music. This change in how the speaker perceives the baby’s sounds—from animalistic cry to human song—suggest that she is beginning to relate the baby as an individual. Even the word “handful” in the phrase “handful of notes” (17) seems hopeful in this context since this is the first time the mother has referred to the baby as having a distinctly human body part. When the baby’s notes finally “rise like balloons” (18), the speaker seems to have arrived at a place where she can celebrate the infant. For the first time, the infant is giving something to the speaker rather than threatening to take something away. The mother seems to have finally accepted the child as an independent human being whose company she can celebrate.

Works Cited

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AP® English Writing Prompts and Analysis Resources

Human language is completely different from all other means of animal communication. The complexity of human communication exceeds that of some primates' use of sign language. Neanderthals, who are the closest genetic ancestors of our species, also never evolved complex communication like our own. 1 But even more than our ability to speak in complete sentences—and with an entire system of grammatical rules (regardless of which language is spoken)—nothing highlights the difference between humans and animals quite like the human ability to communicate with writing .

AP® English classes are centered around written communication. In both AP Literature and AP Language, students must be able to analyze a variety of written texts and also be able to construct their own. Students in AP Lang focus on rhetorical analysis, which requires students to analyze the rhetorical strategies employed by an author in a given text. AP Lit students, on the other hand, focus on literary analysis, which requires students to examine and interpret a literary work. Since both types of analyses require strong writing responses, it’s important to make sure students build strong communication and critical thinking skills through consistent writing and critical thinking practice.

AP English Language and Composition Writing Prompts

To develop their skills in AP Lang, students should regularly practice writing with AP Language writing prompts that encompass a wide range of rhetorical strategies and topics. These prompts can be incorporated into various classroom activities every day—five-minute bell-ringers, quick exit tickets, or even full writing assignments. The more AP Lang students practice writing with rhetorical prompts, the more they will refine their ability to analyze and respond effectively to complex texts. Additionally, practicing with AP Language writing prompts cultivates critical thinking, enhances persuasive writing techniques, and prepares students for the rigorous exam format.

The following section includes several AP Language writing prompts you can use in your AP Lang class. Each prompt correlates with specific course units and a big idea.

RHS (Rhetorical Situation): Units 1, 2, 4, 7, & 8

Individuals write within a particular situation and make strategic writing choices based on that situation.

CLE (Claims and Evidence): Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, & 9

Writers make claims about subjects, rely on evidence that supports the reasoning that justifies the claim, and often acknowledge or respond to other, possibly opposing, arguments.

REO (Reasoning and Organization): Units 3, 4, & 5

Writers guide understanding of a text’s lines of reasoning and claims through that text’s organization and integration of evidence.

STL (Style): Units 5, 6, 7, & 8

The rhetorical situation informs the strategic stylistic choices that writers make.

*AP® English Language and Composition Course and Exam Description 2

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Resources

In AP English Language and Composition, rhetorical analysis reigns supreme. But before students can practice applying their knowledge of constructing responses to rhetorical analysis prompts, they must first learn how to do so. Therefore, when teaching its concepts and processes to students, having quality rhetorical analysis resources is especially helpful to AP Language teachers.

The following is a list of our favorite free rhetorical analysis resources for the AP Lang classroom:

• Stacie Kaminski: A Deep Dive into Rhetorical Analysis
• The Garden of English: How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay from Beginning to End
• Angie Kratzer: Rhetorical Analysis
• Christy’s Classroom: Rhetorical Analysis Portfolio
• Coach Hall Writes: AP Lang Teachers

AP English Literature and Composition Writing Prompts

AP English Literature and Composition students should practice writing prompts that challenge their ability to analyze and interpret literary works across different genres and time periods. These AP Literature writing prompts can be seamlessly integrated into brief 5-minute bell-ringers or concise exit tickets, as well as longer assignments that delve deeper into literary analysis. By engaging with AP Literature writing prompts regularly, students sharpen their critical thinking skills, develop a nuanced understanding of literary techniques, and hone their ability to craft insightful and cohesive responses. The following table includes

The following section includes several AP Literature writing prompts you can use in your AP Lit class. Each prompt correlates with specific course units and a big idea.

CHR (Character): Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, & 9

Characters in literature allow readers to study and explore a range of values, beliefs, assumptions, biases, and cultural norms represented by those characters.

SET (Setting): Units 1, 3, 4, & 7

Setting and the details associated with it not only depict a time and place, but also convey values associated with that setting.

STR (Structure): Units 1-9

The arrangement of the parts and sections of a text, the relationship of the parts to each other, and the sequence in which the text reveals information are all structural choices made by a writer that contribute to the reader’s interpretation of a text.

NAR (Narration): Units 1, 4, 6, 7, & 9

A narrator’s or speaker’s perspective controls the details and emphases that affect how readers experience and interpret a text.

FIG (Figurative Language): Units 2, 5, 6, 7, & 8

Comparisons, representations, and associations shift meaning from the literal to the figurative and invite readers to interpret a text.

LAN (Literary Argumentation): Units 1-9

Readers establish and communicate their interpretations of literature through arguments supported by textual evidence.

*AP® English Literature and Composition Course and Exam Description 3

AP Lit Literary Analysis Resources

Literary analysis is perhaps the most important skill in AP English Literature and Composition. However, before students can put their understanding of this skill into practice with prompt responses, they must first learn how to do so. This is why, when teaching literary analysis concepts and processes to students, having high-quality and relevant resources is especially helpful to AP Literature teachers.

Here is a list of our top free literary analysis tools for AP Literature classes:

• The Garden of English: Literary Analysis Templates for Poetry, Prose, and Literary Argument
• Mrs. Wilensky: Welcome to AP Literature
• Study.com: Examples of English Literary Analysis
• Lit & More: Teaching Line of Reasoning to AP English Lit
• Reading and Writing Haven: 10 of the Best Literary Analysis Activities to Elevate Thinking

Key Takeaways

In both AP Literature and AP Language courses, students must learn to analyze diverse written texts and construct compelling written compositions. AP Language emphasizes rhetorical analysis skills, whereas AP Lit students must immerse themselves in the art of literary analysis. Given that both types of analysis require adept written responses, AP English teachers must foster the development of strong writing and critical thinking abilities among their students through consistent practice.

Learn more about how UWorld can support AP English teachers who want to help their students develop their critical analysis skills with our Learning Tools for AP Courses .

• Pagel, M. (2017, July 24). Q&A: What is human language, when did it evolve and why should we care? - BMC biology . BioMed Central. https://bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12915-017-0405-3#:~:text=Human%20language%20is%20unique%20among,is%20nothing%20like%20human%20language .
• The College Board. (2020). AP English Language and Composition: Course and Exam Description . AP Central. https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-english-language-and-composition-course-and-exam-description.pdf
• The College Board. (2020b). AP English Literature and Composition: Course and Exam Description . AP Central. https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-english-literature-and-composition
• Recco, W., & Schultz, C. (2003). 501 writing prompts - mrsmitchellsaplanguage.weebly.com . EBSCO Learning Express. http://mrsmitchellsaplanguage.weebly.com/uploads/5/9/1/2/59122629/501writingprompts.pdf

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450+ Literary Analysis Topics Ideas & Title Examples for Inspiration

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

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

What Are Literary Analysis Topics?

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

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

• Literary devices
• Structure and style

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

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

Features of Good Literary Analysis Topics

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

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

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

How to Choose a Literary Analysis Topic?

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

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

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

Literary Analysis Essay Topics List

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

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

Good Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

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

Interesting Literary Analysis Topics

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

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

Unique Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

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

Best Literature Essay Topics

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

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

Easy Literary Analysis Title Examples

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

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

Topics for Literary Analysis in Different Genre

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

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

American Literature Essay Topics

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

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

English Literature Essay Topics

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

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

Literary Analysis Topics for Students

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

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Middle School Students 

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

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for High School Students

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

Literary Analysis Essay Topics for College Students

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

Literary Analysis Essay Topics in Poetry

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

Romeo and Juliet Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

Hamlet Literary Analysis Essay Topics Ideas

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

Macbeth Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

Literary Analysis Essay Topics Ideas & Prompts

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

Frankenstein Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

Beowulf Literary Analysis Essay Prompts

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

The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis Topics

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

Fahrenheit 451 Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

Othello Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

The Catcher In The Rye Literary Analysis Topics

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

The Crucible Literary Analysis Topics

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

1984 Literary Essay Topics

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

The Story of an Hour Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

The Cask of Amontillado Literary Analysis Ideas

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

Pride and Prejudice Literary Analysis Prompts

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

Kafka’s Metamorphosis Literary Analysis Title Examples

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

Topics for Literary Analysis of The Odyssey

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

The Old Man and the Sea Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

Jane Eyre Literary Analysis Topics

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

The Scarlet Letter Literary Topics for Essays

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

Of Mice and Men Literary Analysis Essay Ideas

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

Lord of the Flies Literary Analysis Titles

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

To Kill a Mockingbird Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

Literary Analysis Essay Topics & Title Ideas by Themes

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

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on Education

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

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on Religion 

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

Literary Analysis Essay Topics on Race

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

War and Peace Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

Literary Analysis Topics on Justice and Judgment

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

Literary Analysis Ideas About Good and Evil

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

Bottom Line on Literary Analysis Essay Topics

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

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

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125 Odyssey Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Looking for the Odyssey essay examples and writing tips? This article contains the Odyssey literary analysis how-to guide, prompts, title ideas, outlining tips, and examples.

💡 The Odyssey Essay: Themes & Ideas

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

❓ Odyssey Essay Questions

Homer’s Odyssey remains one of the most impressive masterpieces of the Greek literature. It’s not surprising that students often are assigned to write an essay on this poem.

Brainstorm the ideas you’re willing to discuss in the paper and make a list of all the key points. Look through the essay samples represented below for inspiration or check the list of the Odyssey themes and ideas below.

• Symbolism in the Odyssey. What do Odysseus struggles symbolize? How can you compare the Odysseus trials and adventures to our lives? Can we say that our lives are similar to the hero’s journey when we’re on the way to achieve something we desire.
• Hospitality theme in the Odyssey. How do people welcome strangers? Explore the ways Odysseus was welcomed when he returned home and when he was welcomed by the king and queen.
• Theme of loyalty in the Odyssey. Think, why loyalty is important. Explain why Penelope and Telemachus stayed loyal to Odysseus even when they received the message about his death.
• Theme of revenge in the Odyssey. Why does the theme of vengeance is important in the poem? Analyze it from the point of view of Odysseus and Poseidon. You can also compare and contrast vengeance in “Odysseus” and Christian teachings. Think if it is acceptable to kill in the name of vengeance.
• The role of women in the Odyssey. Discuss how does the female characters influence the plot of the story. What roles do they play in Telemachus and Odysseus journeys?

A thesis statement is the main point of your paper summarized in one sentence. It usually appears in the introductory paragraph of the text.

Below you’ll find a list of the Odyssey thesis statements that you might want to use for inspiration.

• There are parallels between the Odyssey and Near Eastern mythology, especially the Epic of Gilgamesh .
• The central themes of the Odyssey are wandering and homecoming.
• Women in the Odyssey are presented as inferior to men; even goddesses are described as angry and short-sighted.
• The key symbols in the Odyssey are the bow, the sea, and the shroud.

When writing your paper introduction, keep in mind that you have to engage your reader and make them want to read the entire text. Avoid phrases like “In this essay I’m going to discuss…” at the beginning of the paper.

A good idea is to start your Odyssey essay with an interesting fact about the epic poem or a quote. For instance, if you’re planning to focus on Odysseus as an epic hero, you can use a quote about heroic qualities of a person.

Below you’ll find a list of the Odyssey hook ideas.

• “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” (Joseph Campbell)
• “Show me a hero and I’ll write you a tragedy.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
• “Nobody – that’s my name. Nobody — so my mother and father call me, all my friends.” (the Odyssey)

Regardless of what Odyssey essay topic you will choose, you should tell your readers about the background and event developments of the poem.

Analyze the content and provide connections between the events or/and characters and your essay key idea. Make sure that all the paragraphs are logically connected.

When writing the Odyssey essay conclusion, make it bright and clear. Restate the thesis statement and add your personal impressions on the poem.

After you finish your paper read it again carefully and add some touches you might miss during the writing. Proofread the essay and get rid of all grammar, style and spelling mistakes. Did you know that some professors can cut out up to 20% of grade because of errors?

Still not sure how to complete your essay on Homer’s Odyssey and get the best grade? Check IvyPanda’s essay examples below, written by professionals for your convenience!

• The Role of Women in the Odyssey and Ancient Greece. Describe the most notable women in the epic. How do they aid/deter Odysseus’ journey? Analyze their purpose in the story. What does Homer’s portrayal of femininity tell us about the treatment of women in Ancient Greece?
• Exploring the Ideas of Loyalty Through Odysseus’ Crew. Mention what we know about Odysseus’ crew and how he leads them. Analyze the incidents with Circe, Elpenor’s death and burial Talk about the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, and the Cyclops. Why does Odysseus’ crew stop listening to him? How are they punished for it?
• How Does Homer Celebrate Nostos in the Odyssey? What is nostos? How is it portrayed in The Odyssey? Explain why coming home is the most important thing to Odysseus. Reflect on his encounter with Achilles in the Underworld. What is Homer trying to teach us with that brief scene?
• The Relationship Between Odysseus and Athena in the Odyssey. Describe both characters separately. Why does Athena aid Odysseus? In what ways does Odysseus repay the goddess for her assistance? Summarize the importance of being favorable to the gods.
• The Difference in Portrayals of Violence in the Odyssey. Examine what role violence plays in Ancient Greek culture – i.e., Athena is the goddess of war. Mention violent incidents with monsters such as the Cyclops and Laestrygones. Analyze the slaughter of the suitors and the torture of the unfaithful servants. What is the difference between Odysseus’ violence and the violence done to him?
• The Odyssey’s Portrayal of Fatherhood and Father-Son Relationships. Look at the relationships between Telemachus and Odysseus, Polyphemus and Poseidon, Odysseus and Laertes, Orestes and Agamemnon. What are the responsibilities of the father in each of these cases? What are the sons’ responsibilities? How are father-son relationships characterized in the epic?
• What Stands in the Way of Odysseus’ Return Home? Examine all of the trials that Odysseus had to go through. Why is it that the sea is never on his side? What obstacles keep extending his journey? Mention Poseidon and Polyphemus, Circe, Aeolus, and Helios, and their impact on Odysseus.
• How Does Hospitality in the Odyssey Differentiate Monster From Man? Explain the importance of xenia in Ancient Greece. Provide good examples of hospitality from the epic, such as those of Telemachus and Penelope, kings Mentes and Nestor, and Circe. Contrast them against the bad instances, such as the Cyclops and the suitors. What does hospitality tell us about a person’s character?
• Homer’s Representation of Justice in the Odyssey. What lesson is Homer trying to teach his audience about justice and gods? Analyze Odysseus’ struggle against the suitors and the omens around it. Explore the incident with Poseidon and the Phaecians and the role of divine prophecy. How are we to understand what is just in The Odyssey’s world?
• The Odyssey: A Subversion of the Hero’s Journey. How are the events of The Odyssey different from a typical epic poem? How are they similar? Analyze Odysseus’ character and the changes he goes through. Examine the idea of returning home rather than leaving to set out on an adventure. Thanks for reading! If you haven’t found what to write about, use our topic generator and get more original ideas. For more information about The Odyssey, check the links below.
• Father-Son Relationship in The Odyssey by Homer In Odyssey therefore, it is expected that the relationship of Odysseus and Telemachus is as admiring as it is; the father is proud of his son, who is courageous and the son is proud of […]
• Examples of Hospitality in The Odyssey by Homer While the tale has various mythical and magical motifs in the form of Gods, Goddesses, nymphs, witches, and magic; one of the most interesting and a rather unusual aspect of the story was the astounding […]
• Deception Role in “The Odyssey” by Homer He also pretended to be a beggar to test the loyalty of others and to devise his plan of overthrowing the other suitors.
• Disguise in “The Odyssey”: Character Development & Athena’s Impact Athena also had to pour a sea fog around Odysseus to protect him, and then she assumed the shape of a little girl and showed him the way to the palace.
• Women in Literature: Oedipus the King and The Odyssey Two major works of literature, ‘Oedipus the king’ and ‘The Odyssey’, provide some of the best examples of how the role of female characters is portrayed in different ways and how these women influence the […]
• The Ghosts in Homer’s The Odyssey I find the ghost one of my favorite because of the hope and information he gives Odysseus.”The ghost reveals to Odysseus that Poseidon was busy punishing and killing the Achaeans “. From the encounter with […]
• Role of Fate and Divine Intervention in Oedipus and The Odyssey This is because while the gods are obviously responsible for choosing the path that one’s life is to take, it still takes the free will of the involved person to follow that path.
• Divine Comedy and The Odyssey as Epics It is a poem about the supernatural more than about a hero, which is the first difference between the current poem and ‘The Odyssey’.’Divine Comedy’ has 14, 233 lines, the number that is almost equal […]
• Roles of Women in “The Odyssey” by Homer Of course, she is not a mortal woman as she is a nymph and is beyond the laws of human society. Of course, the woman is meant to be devoted to her husband and her […]
• Homer’s “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”: Main Themes The Iliad and the Odyssey are anti-war poems, even though the actions in the stories are mainly conflict-oriented. They are anti-conflict because the aftermath of the fights is tragic, and every individual always engaged in […]
• “The Odyssey” by Homer Throughout the story, there is a constant struggle of the growing Telemachus to imitate the actions of his father and then eventually become like him that he comes to an end of his journey.
• “Bhagavad-Gita”, “The Odyssey” and “The Epic of Gilgamesh”: Contrast and Comparison The sole aim of all the religions is to make the people realize the value of life and to make the most of the same but doing holy acts and by not indulging in undesirable […]
• Gender Role Expectations in “The Odyssey” by Homer The reason is that many behaviors of these female characters are masculine in their nature, and they need to be further discussed with reference to examples.
• Telemachus Journey From Boyhood to Hero: Homer’s The Odyssey As described by Arnold van Gennep in “The rites of Passage,” the concept of the rites of passage is a ritual event used to signify the process of transition of a person from one social […]
• Odysseus as Husband Being a good father and an excellent husband, Odysseus did everything he could to return home, however, there were a number of barriers, however, having returned home Odysseus killed all people who wanted evil to […]
• Importance of the Book “The Odyssey” by Homer It is a book with a story that has lasted for ages due to its major themes such as the relation between father and son, the role of women, the significance of hospitality and the […]
• The Symbol of Weaving in the Poem “The Odyssey” The Penelope image is associated with the goddess of the house, the keeper of the hearth, and all households. During his wanderings, the goddess is the patroness of Odysseus.
• Varying Moral Worlds in The Odyssey and Aeneid Some of the issues that differ between the two societies, as highlighted in the two poems, include marital love, representation of the underworld, the idea of fate, and pride/hubris. It is believed that the intention […]
• “The Odyssey”: The Relationship Between the Monstrous and the Human When looking at the relationship between the monstrous and the human in Odyssey, it can be seen that monsters represent, in many instances, the darker side of humanity.
• The Meaning and Impact of the Closing Book of The Odyssey Critics such as William Merritt Sale argue that Homer’s purpose in creating the mythic poem of The Odyssey was to represent the inherent struggle of the human condition when faced with the choice between the […]
• The Plays “The Iliad,” “The Odyssey,” and “Agamemnon”: Understanding of Leadership Finally, the story of Agamemnon told in The Iliad and Agamemnon taught us that a capable leader must remain humble and self-aware.
• Sophocles II and The Odyssey: Book Analysis Penelope’s hand is one of the allusions in The Odyssey that offers the reader a comprehensive picture of who Odysseus was and how powerful he was.
• Women in The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh In particular, the women’s power in the story was shown in their ability to influence significantly men, who were depicted as the wisest and most powerful beings.
• Culture of Ancient Greece in The Odyssey by Homer The Odyssey is one of the oldest and most well-known epics in the world. This can be attributed to Homer’s ability to describe the culture and life of the people of the ancient era with […]
• The Poems “The Song of Roland,” “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” and “The Odyssey” The emphasis on bravery and dignity in Roland represents a stark contrast to the characters of Odysseus and Gilgamesh. Therefore, Roland as a character is vital in the evolution of heroic characters in epic narratives.
• “The Odyssey” by Homer as a Vehicle for Creative Works One of the characters that can be interesting to examine in a more broad way is Telemachus. It works well to tie in a sense of loss and longing for a father with Telemachus, allowing […]
• Community Conflict in The Odyssey The Iliad heroes, Diomedes and Glaucus, provide a glimpse into the constructs of community and conflict. Such a story is that of Glaucus and Diomedes who recognized their ancestors as heroes, resulting in mutual respect […]
• Characters in The Odyssey: Athena, Poseidon, and Polyphemus In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus encounters Athena, Poseidon and Polyphemus are surrounded by unique myths and occupy a distinct place in Odysseus’ journey.
• Deception in King Lear, The Odyssey and Gilgamesh The forms of deception in the book seem to come effortlessly to Odysseus, and the stories he tells throughout the book serve to protect him and his family.
• The Oldest Epics of Ramayana and The Odyssey Thus, the main similarity is the narrative about the difficulties of the protagonists, and the difference is the presence of magical characteristics.
• Heroism and the Spirit of Adventure: The Odyssey and Gilgamesh Interpretation In fact, the ancient epic is famous nowadays mainly due to the fact that some of the works are considered as the first official mentioning of a hero.
• The Role of Women in Great Epic Works: “The Odyssey” and “Gilgamesh” To summarize the influence of both women on Gilgamesh, it is possible to cite Kelley to describe Gilgamesh’s advice to him during one of the toughest period of the epic: When the gods created man, […]
• The Power of “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” Nowadays The significance of Iliad and Odyssey in the modern world can be explained by the fact that they are the first ancient epics, which have survived to this day.
• Plot Analysis of Homer’s The Odyssey Through the meeting of Telemachus with Menelaus, the author emphasizes the significance of hospitality as a primary value and develops such features and discretion, leadership, and heroism of the son of Odysseus.
• The Relevance of the Book “The Odyssey” The book’s central motif is the adventurous journey, the complete transformation of the king of Ithaca from the Trojan battle.
• Manhood in Homer’s Poem The Odyssey From the point of view of the author of the poem, the heroism of Odysseus lies in the fact that he remains faithful to his homeland, the island of Ithaca, nothing scares him in achieving […]
• “The Odyssey” by Homer and Its Legacy: A Romantic Vision of the State Odysseus is known all over the world as one of the most outstanding models of leadership anthemed in the literature of the ancient world.
• Themes in Books VIII-XI of Homer’s “The Odyssey” For instance, Retief and Cilliers argue that Book XI of The Odyssey largely shaped the perception of Hades, or the Greek land of the dead, as well as of the Ancient views on death and […]
• The 11 Book of Homer’s “The Odyssey” The 11th book of the Odyssey tells about the trip of Odysseus to the Underworld. He expresses pity that Odysseus is also in the land of the dead and tells about his journey in Hades […]
• An Exemplary Hero: Homer’s “The Odyssey” The masterpiece describes the life of Odysseus and his journey especially after the infamous fall of Troy. One outstanding fact about Odysseus is that he is the main hero of the epic.
• Comparative Literature: “The Odyssey” and “The Aeneid” The Odyssey and The Aeneid are some of the major epics created by the western civilizations. On balance, it is possible to state that the two epics share a lot of features as Virgil’s work […]
• “The Odyssey” by Homer Discussion With this knowledge, it is necessary to examine the role played by the other characters in the poem. On the other hand, Penelope knows that she is expected to remain faithful to her husband.
• ‘Homer’s The Odyssey’ by Bernhard Frank Literature Analysis Bernhard makes use of clear words and concrete examples as well as numerous quotes to articulate his belief that the cause and sequence of the events in this book were created on purpose by Homer […]
• Monstrous and Human Relationship in “The Odyssey” In each stage of the adventure readers are introduced to an ever increasing similarity between what is monstrous and what is man to the point that the line between the two blurs resulting in actions […]
• The Expression of Sarcasm in The Odyssey The suitors laughed and teased Telemachos of his struggles to defend the beggar. Odysseus simply examines the bow and one of the suitors mocks him saying he is a connoisseur.
• The Comparison of Gilgamesh and Odysseus This paper is aimed at discussing the journeys undertaken by the main characters; in particular one should focus on their motives of the protagonists and the way in which both Gilgamesh and Odysseus were transformed […]
• Greek Culture in Homer’s “The Odyssey” Therefore, a critical analysis of the story enlightens the contemporary society on the aspect of hospitality in relation to the people of Greece.
• The Role of Hospitality in the Homeric World-Odyssey None the less the Homeric world gives a glimpse of the noble men and women who live within that society, they appreciate and acknowledge the little favors and hospitality extended to them and in some […]
• Human Potential in Rig Veda, Genesis and Homer’s The Odyssey Human beings need to meditate from time to time to find out specific modes of behaviour they need to observe. The value of hard work is used to explain how human beings need to be […]
• Greek/Roman Humanities: Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey The earliest works of fiction included the work of fiction the Epic of Gilgamesh that dates from the beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia and Homer’s Odyssey, greatest ancient works of literature attributed to Homer.
• Analysis of Job’s and Odysseus The strong character traits of the main characters Odyssey and Job in the epic The Odyssey and The Story of Job help develop their plots from the beginning to the rise of conflict and their […]
• Gods and Humans in “The Odyssey” by Homer For instance, the journey of Odysseus back to Ithaca feature him as an important figure to Calypso therefore helping in building up the story as his return remains the center of all agony that begets […]
• The Concept of Moral Principles in Literature Works He formulated the trick of the great wooden horse to give victory to the Greeks. The prince was also supposed to strike a balance of generosity to the citizens.
• The Journey to the Land of the Dead: Homer’s “The Odyssey” Homer is regarded as a legendary Greek due to his great works of literature such as “The journey to the Land of the Dead”.
• How Did Telemachus Grow and Develop Throughout the Odyssey?
• Xenia in the Odyssey and What It Tells Us About the Hospitality Customs in Ancient Greece
• A Comparison of Monsters and People in the Odyssey
• A Comparison of the Themes of Kleos and Nostos in the Odyssey
• Athena and Poseidon – What Was the Gods’ Influence on Odysseus’ Journey?
• An Analysis of the Greek Expectations of Heroism Through Odysseus
• Homer’s Commentary on Hubris Through His Criticism of Kleos in the Odyssey
• Was Odysseus’ Revenge on the Suitors Justified?
• Examining the Role of the Servants in the Odyssey
• How Did Odysseus Succeed and Fail as a Husband to Penelope?
• ‘Man of Twists and Turns’ – An Analysis of Odysseus as a Morally Gray Character
• A Study of the Antagonists in the Odyssey: What Differentiates Friend From Foe
• What Is the Role of Ghosts in Odysseus’ Journey?
• Penelope’s Character in the Odyssey – How Odysseus’ Wife Is Different From Other Women in the Epic
• An Examination of the Family Relationships in the Odyssey
• Why Are Homeric Similes in the Odyssey Effective?
• The Importance of Loyalty Throughout Homer’s Odyssey
• The Role of Metaphors in the Odyssey and How Homer Used Them
• The Uses of Irony Throughout the Odyssey’s Books
• The Impact of Perseverance on Odysseus’ Journey
• Why Was the Odyssey Written Out of Chronological Order?
• Dactylic Hexameter as One of the Most Significant Literary Devices in the Odyssey
• An Analysis of the Last Book of the Odyssey: How It Differs From the Rest of the Epic
• The Role of Allusions to the Iliad in the Odyssey
• How and Why Is Sarcasm Expressed Throughout the Odyssey?
• An Examination of the Narrator in the Odyssey and Its Relation to the Oral Tradition
• Symbols in the Odyssey – An Analysis of the Most Common Motifs Appearing in the Epic
• The Language of Homeric Epic Poems: Its Iterations in the Odyssey
• How Different Translations of the Odyssey Change Our Perspective on the Subject Matter of the Epic?

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

• The Study of Greco-Roman Cultures Through the Odyssey and the Epic of Gilgamesh
• A Comparative Literary Analysis of the Odyssey and the Aeneid
• The Contrasting Themes of the Iliad and the Odyssey
• The Portrayal of Women in Epic Poems Through a Study of the Odyssey and Oedipus Rex
• In What Ways Did James Joyce’s Ulysses Draw Inspiration From the Odyssey?
• An Analysis of Humans Through the Lens of the Odyssey and Rig Veda
• Contrasting Depictions of Heroism Between Beowulf and Odysseus
• A Comparison of Homer’s Odyssey and Dante’s Divine Comedy as Epic Poems
• What Can We Learn About the Ancient Greek Gods Through the Odyssey and Theogony?
• Ideas of Morality in Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid
• A Literary Analysis of the Homeric Hymns and the Odyssey: Do They Really Have a Different Author?
• What Is an Example of Alliteration From “The Odyssey”?
• What Does “Odyssey” Mean in Greek Mythology?
• What Occupation Did Eumaeus Have in “The Odyssey”?
• Why Is the Theme of Disguise so Prevalent Throughout Homer’s Odyssey?
• How Is “The Odyssey” Book Written Based on the Flaws and Imperfections of the Main Characters?
• What Is the Land of Death in “The Odyssey”?
• Did Atreides Make It Home in “The Odyssey”?
• What Are the Parallels Between Loyalty to Odysseus and Loyalty to the Gods in the Odyssey?
• How the Greeks Portrayed God in “The Odyssey”?
• Are Women the Source of Many Difficulties for Odysseus in “The Odyssey”?
• What Is the Main Message in “The Odyssey”?
• How Does Hubris Affect Odysseus in “The Odyssey” Epic Poem?
• Gender in the Odyssey – What Were the Ancient Greek Gender Roles, and How Are They Expressed in Homer’s Epic?
• How Did Odysseus Display the Characteristics of a Hero in “The Odyssey”?
• How Does “The Odyssey” Represent the Importance of Family?
• A Deconstruction of the Theme of Fate in the Odyssey: How Did the Gods Influence Odysseus’ Fate?
• Whether the Olympians Prefer War or Peace in “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”?
• Did Odysseus Bring the Trouble on Himself in “The Odyssey”?
• Which Epic Has Most Relevance to a Twenty-First Century Reader, Virgil’s “Aeneid” or Homer’s “The Odyssey”?
• What Does “The Odyssey” Teach Us About Greek Culture?
• How Is Cunning the Most Celebrated Quality in the Odyssey?
• What Can We Learn From “The Odyssey” Journey?
• How Telemachus Evolved From a Boy to a Man in “The Odyssey”?
• How Fate and Free Will Play a Part in “The Odyssey”?
• How Does Homer Use Suspense to Make the Story of “The Odyssey” More Interesting?
• How Women Are Portrayed in Homer’s “The Odyssey”?
• How Was the Divine Represented in Homer’s “The Odyssey”?
• How the Star Crossed Lover Theme Appears in the “Aeneid” and “The Odyssey”?
• What Is a Good Thesis Statement for “The Odyssey”?
• Why Does Odysseus Fit the Epic Hero’s Mold in Homer’s “The Odyssey”?
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Writing Prompts

Below are a number of writing prompts using various literary devices to help get those creative juices flowing.

• Write a short story using the literary device of foreshadowing to build suspense and tension throughout the narrative.
• Create a poem that uses alliteration to emphasize certain sounds or ideas. For example, use the repetition of “s” sounds to evoke a sense of serenity or use “b” sounds to convey a sense of aggression or tension.
• Write a dialogue between two characters that uses irony to highlight the difference between what is being said and what is meant. For example, one character might say something sarcastic or hypocritical while the other character takes it at face value.
• Write a descriptive paragraph that uses metaphor to create vivid imagery. For example, describe a sunset as “a fiery ball of gold sinking into the ocean.”
• Create a short story that uses the literary device of flashback to reveal important information about the protagonist’s past and how it has shaped their present.
• Write a persuasive essay that uses rhetorical questions to engage the reader and make them consider your argument. For example, “If we don’t take action now, when will we?”
• Write a character study that uses characterization to reveal the personality, motivations, and traits of a protagonist or antagonist. For example, describe the physical appearance, behaviors, and internal thoughts of a character to create a full picture of their personality.
• Create a short story that uses symbolism to represent a deeper meaning or theme. For example, use a white rose to symbolize purity or a black crow to symbolize death.
• Write a descriptive paragraph that uses personification to give human qualities to non-human objects or concepts. For example, describe a thunderstorm as “angry” or a book as “patient.”
• Create a poem that uses imagery to evoke emotions and sensory experiences in the reader. For example, describe a summer day using vivid colors, smells, and sounds to transport the reader to the scene.

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thank you thank you thank you

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