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100 Best Literature Research Paper Topics For Students

literary research paper topics

Literary research paper topics are among the most interesting to write about. Books are the best teachers for most learners. And, students love reading interesting literature books. But, when asked to write research papers, most students have difficulties choosing their topics. That’s because many issues can be investigated and written about.

For instance, literary topics can be about characters’ personalities in certain works. They can also be about particular characteristics of specific literary genres. Learners can also choose literary analysis topics that focus on the life story of famous writers or poets. But, regardless of what a learner opts to write about, they should choose interesting topics.

What are Interesting Literary Research Paper Topics?

Several factors make a topic interesting to write about. A topic for a research paper or a graduate thesis should generally be definite, specific, and innovative. Also, it should be interesting to research and write about. Here’s how to select interesting literature topics:

Think about something. Explore the idea to select a topic for which you can find sufficient research data from credible sources. Narrow down your subject if you find it too broad.

English literature topics can be classified into different categories. Here some of these categories and topics can be considered in each category.

Great World Literature Research Topics

Perhaps, you’ve been asked to write a literature research paper with a global perspective. Here are some of the literary analysis research paper topics that you can consider.

  • Explain how the supernatural and spirituality help in furthering the development of the plot in the Latin American literature of the early 20th century.
  • What themes are common in the Japanese poems of the early 20th century? How do they differ from those of the early 19th century?
  • Compare the early Chinese literary works and European literary works of the middle ages. How different or alike are they?
  • How were European literary works in the early 20th century shaped by the revolutionary works of Engels and Marx? What examples can demonstrate this influence?
  • Explain how the Muslim philosophers’ work of the 15th century led to new ideas and inventions across the globe.
  • Compare and contrast different anti-British works that originated in India in the 19th century with pro-colonialist works that came from England at the same time.
  • How did the nightmarish utopian future ideas of Aldous Huxley influence modern-day science fiction writers across the world?
  • Explain how the Antigone play by Sophocles deals with the conflict between the central characters while relating to the state laws and individual conscience.
  • How are the sentiments of the authors reflected in Animal Farm by George Orwell and concerns about the October Revolution?
  • Explain some of the examples of literary fiction pieces that have shaped cultures in the world. Have historic, societal, and cultural factors played some roles in shaping these literature pieces?
  • Being a prolific writer in the early and mid-19th century, Charles Dickens’s works were published in serialized forms. How and why has this approach become less fashionable?
  • Compare and contrast the early Japanese literature works and the early Chinese literature works. How do they differ in terms of values and culture?
  • Explain how comedy differs in literature across cultures. What comedy appeared in the early theatrical performances and it’s still present in modern literature?
  • Analyze chivalry and honor critically in the Green Knight and Sir Gawain. What are the qualities of these works from a similar period?
  • Compare and contrast the Odyssey and Iliad by Homer the Ancient Greek. Explain how cultures across the world have adapted the themes presented in the poem.

Top Literary topics for Research Paper

Some topics for literary analysis stand out among students. These are topics that educators recommend for students across the study levels.

  • How is literature an aspect of modern culture?
  • Explain how feminism has influenced modern literature
  • How is psychology utilized in literature?
  • Explain the major social issues that have been exposed by literary works
  • Explain the philosophical tradition of Daoism in the Chinese literature
  • Explain the roles played by death and honor in Japanese literature in the 20th century
  • Explain how the European culture influences the Mid-West literature
  • How has European culture affected modern literature?
  • Analyze the personality of Don Quixote
  • Explain how literature differs between countries.
  • Discuss poetry in the innovative ear of the 21st century
  • Examine racism in the novels of the 1960s and 1970s
  • Explain the exile’s perception in literature
  • Literature and culture? Which one affects the other?
  • How has literature addressed homosexuality?

These can also be great literary debate topics. That’s because learners can have varying opinions about them.

British Literature Research Paper Topics

Students have many topics to choose from when it comes to British literature essay topics. Here are some of the best literature topics from the works of British authors.

  • Discuss Victorian England’s picture with the works of Charles Dickens in mind
  • Discuss the theme of Orphans with the Oliver Twist character in mind
  • Explain how British Literature has influenced different cultures
  • Explain how British literature has addressed gender issues
  • Explain how King Lear highlights the differences between anti-heroes and villains
  • Explain William Shakespeare’s personality- Highlight facts and myths
  • Choose two famous British novels and then compare the characters in them
  • Explain the viewpoint of different writers about the Utopian civilization idea
  • With Harry Potter books in mind, explain why some literature books are considered classics
  • Explain how love and romantic love are presented in Charlotte Bronte’s works
  • Explain how modern literary works have been affected by the Victorian period works
  • Discuss the adultery theme in Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • Who are the main characters in Lake Poets’ works?
  • Explain how violent imagery was used in World War I poetry
  • Explain talent as a theme in Milton’s on His Blindness
  • Explain innocence loss in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies
  • Explain the theme of individualism versus collectivism in Oliver Twist
  • Explain why the popularity of detective novels increased in the XIX century
  • What role did the supernatural play in Macbeth: a case study of three witches
  • Class demarcation in XVII century- The vengeance theme

American Literature Topics

Some teachers ask students to choose American literature research topics for certain reasons. If asked to write on such topics, here are some of the American literature research paper topics to consider.

  • Analyze key aspects of American ideology, particularly in the literature written before the 20th century.
  • Determine thematic concerns and literary styles of the major historical period of American literature between the colonial period and post-modernism.
  • Show the American identity uniqueness of texts
  • Propose connections between the American literature concerns and themes in the larger historical development and social issues that face the present world
  • Examine major concerns and themes that reappear across the American literature
  • Highlight the major themes in Absalom, Absalom by William Faulkner
  • Explain the African American Experience with female authors like Alice Walker, Zora Neal Hurston, and Toni Morrison
  • Explain the predominant theme in The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
  • Explain how Jonathan Edwards epitomizes Puritan definitions in his sermons
  • Explain the use of historical personalities and events by Washington Irving as the background for his works
  • The Crucible demonstrates how a community can be torn apart by hysteria. Explain
  • Explain how Sylvia Plath demonstrates the social pressure faced by women in the 1960s in the Bell Jar.
  • Explain how John Knowles demonstrates the impact of war on everyone
  • Explain the strong belief in the education power by Maya Angelou as depicted in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
  • Explain how Thornton Wilder conveys life as a gift in Our Town
  • Discuss the themes of anger and pity in the Grapes of Wrath
  • Explain how Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck portrays the Great Depression struggles
  • Discuss the portrayal of the unconquerable spirit in Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.
  • Plays by Eugene O’Neil are tragically realistic. Explain
  • God is humanized in The Creation poem by James Weldon Johnson. Explain

Some of the ideas here are great poetry topics. Nevertheless, they require careful research and analysis to write about.

High School Literary Essay Topics

Some topics in literature are ideal for high school essays. Here are examples of literary analysis paper topics for high school students.

  • Compare and contrast the major characters in your preferred book
  • Choose your favorite character in a book and explain your reasons for liking it
  • Please explain why the quality of a literature book is not determined by its length
  • Highlight the similarities of your favorite books
  • Discuss the top 4 authors in horror books
  • Explain why reading some books is more difficult than reading others
  • Explain what it takes to write a high-quality poem
  • Who is your favorite poet and why?
  • Explain what makes your favorite book interesting
  • Who is your favorite character in literary works and why?
  • What makes some literature books difficult to read?
  • Who are your favorite top 5 authors and why?
  • Should the age of readers be restricted to some books?
  • What is your favorite literary genre?
  • Explain why the author determines the quality of a book more than the story
  • Discuss the literary works of your favorite authors
  • Why is it important to captivate readers with the introductory chapter of a book?
  • Which book genre makes great movies?
  • Why is the work of Harry Potter so popular?
  • Explain why your favorite horror book is scary

Unique Research Topics in English Literature

Some literature research topics are unique and can be written about by learners at different study levels. Here are examples of such topics.

  • Analyze the use of literary devices in novels
  • Discuss the author’s autobiography
  • Analyze literary genres and the role played by an artist in them
  • Compare the works of a similar genre
  • Highlight the gender roles of characters in literary works
  • Social stratification and Harry Potter- Discuss
  • With Charles Dickens’ work in mind, explain the peculiarity of the bildungsroman genre.
  • Explain how The Lord of the Rings uses artificial language
  • Explain how the Sherlock Holmes image influences the world of detective fiction
  • Explain the war theme in the world literature

These are also great literary journalism topics. Nevertheless, they require extensive research to write about.

In a nutshell, students have many literary argument topics to consider. The most important thing is to choose an interesting topic that you can find sufficient data to write about. Also, don’t hesitate to check our history topics .

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Are you looking for an engaging literary research paper topic? Whether you're writing a college-level essay or a master's thesis, the right literature research paper topics can make all the difference. They range from exploring particular genres or authors to examining the use of language in literary works. By researching these topics, you will gain a greater understanding of the ideas, improve your critical thinking skills, and learn to appreciate the nuances. This article will explore such literature topics for research and open up endless possibilities for analysis and interpretation, ranging from classic to modern-day texts. Are you ready to choose a trending topic and write a paper that will win your professor’s heart? 

What Are Literary Research Paper Topics?

Literary research paper topics focus on a particular literary work, such as a book, poem, novel, play, or story. They provide a great starting point for researching the specific aspect you're planning to explore for a better perception of the idea and help to eliminate any artificial facet. Literary research topics may analyze a single text, compare different writings by the same author, or contrast different authors' styles.  Common literature topics for research papers comprise symbolism, characterization, themes, plot structure, historical context, point-of-view analysis, biographical contexts, and intertextual connections. These research paper topics may also focus on how an author has been interpreted or evaluated over time, analyzing the critical reception of their works and examining any changes within literary canonization. Additionally, these topics can explore how literary works intersect with other disciplines, such as philosophy, psychology, sociology, politics, or economics.

Characteristics of Good Literature Research Paper Topics

Literary research paper topics are usually considered good when they are:

  • Relevant They should be engaging, thought-provoking, and appropriate to the academic work.
  • Specific Similarly, good literature research topics must have a narrow focus and not be overly broad.
  • Interesting They should pique your interest and encourage you to explore and aspire to know more about the literary work.
  • Challenging Deep analysis, thoughtful reflection, and creative thinking are also vital.
  • Unique They should be memorable and offer new insights into academic work.

With these important characteristics of literary topics for research papers in mind, you're ready to start writing!

How to Choose a Literature Research Paper Topic?

Choosing a literature research paper topic can be daunting, but with careful thought and planning, you're sure to find the perfect one. In order to do this, you need to complete the following:

  • Brainstorm: First, start by brainstorming topics that interest you. Think about the works you've been studying, authors and genres you enjoy reading, and themes that have resonated with you.
  • Narrow it down: Once you've identified a few research topics that intrigue you, narrow them down to one that is most relevant and specific.
  • Research: Explore if it is relevant. This will guarantee that you have enough material to work with.
  • Refine: Once you have researched, refine your topic to ensure it is specific and engaging. Consider the most interesting aspects and how they can be explored further.
  • Choose: Finally, choose the title that best reflects your interests and passions for an enjoyable research experience!

With these tips, you can find the perfect literary research paper topic! Don’t have time for reading piles of books? Get professional help with research paper writing from StudyCrumb and have your study completed by a real pro.

List of Literature Research Paper Topics

A list of literature topics for research offers a wide range of literary-related issues that can be explored and studied for your project. It includes ideas that could spark your creativity and help you choose the best title. Whether you're interested in exploring the works of Shakespeare or examining modern literature, this list of literary research paper topics has something for everyone!

  • Use of symbolism in romantic poetry.
  • Importance of technology within cyberpunk genres.
  • Impact of fantasy on contemporary culture.
  • Representation of male or female authors as represented by classic literary works.
  • Postmodernist views of time and space in literature.
  • Representation of race and ethnicity within contemporary fiction.
  • Representation of LGBTQ characters in literary works.
  • The role of mythology during the era of ancient works.
  • Social media impact on modern texts.
  • Classic and contemporary literary criticism.

Interesting Literary Research Paper Topics

If you are interested in classic books or modern trends, these ideas can be a fascinating starting point for your project. They include theories, criticism, comparison, and specific authors or genres. Besides providing an analysis of the work, a literary research paper topic could also comprise examining different themes. Explore the following interesting literature topics for your project:

  • Literary influences of Jane Austen's works.
  • Symbolism as represented by gothic texts.
  • Relevance of classic mythology within contemporary fiction.
  • The role of magic or fantasy in children's literature.
  • The role of women in Victorian literature.
  • Representation of race and ethnicity in early 20th-century literature.
  • Themes of love and loss in romantic poetry.
  • The use of horror genres in contemporary fiction.
  • Postcolonialism's impact on literary works.
  • Nature in 19th-century literature .
  • Representation of LGBTQ characters as represented by contemporary fiction.
  • Technology's impact on modern literary works.
  • Classic and contemporary interpretations of gothic texts.
  • The role of magic and fantasy in modern literary works.
  • Representation of death and loss in 20th-century works.

Great Literature Research Paper Topics

A list of great literature research topics provides a variety of ideas related to literary works. These research topics in literature can offer an exciting starting point for your English paper:

  • Rebellion themes in Shakespeare's tragedies.
  • Class and economic status in Victorian texts.
  • Symbolism in romantic poetry.
  • Impact of British imperialism on literary fiction worldwide.
  • Gender and sexuality representation in early 20th-century writings.
  • Postcolonialism in 19th-century fiction.
  • The literary influence of WWII on modern writings.
  • Vampires' role in gothic literary texts.
  • Use of fantasy in childhood writings.
  • Technology's impact on contemporary literary works.
  • Race and ethnicity as represented by postmodern fiction.
  • Religion in romantic poetry.
  • Themes of love and loss in 20th-century texts.
  • Horror genres in literary fiction.
  • Postmodernism's impact on contemporary literary works.

Unique Literature Research Paper Topics

Unique literature topics for research papers can help students explore new concepts and gain a deeper understanding of their subject. Below are rare literature paper topics for you to review:

  • The role of jealousy in 17th-century literary works.
  • Gender identity as represented by reformist fiction.
  • Mythological figures as portrayed by Greek and Roman poetry.
  • The relationship between gender and power in Shakespeare's plays.
  • Themes of isolation in 20th-century British poetry.
  • Metaphors in the works of Gabriel García Márquez .
  • Themes of rebellion and revolution in African American literary texts.
  • The role of women in medieval romance literature.
  • Poverty representation in Victorian novels.
  • Themes of oppression and freedom in colonial Latin American texts.
  • Use of metaphor and allegory in Dante's divine comedy.
  • Influence of industrialization on 19th-century fiction.
  • Dystopian settings within modern literature.
  • Religion in contemporary fiction.

Spotted any ideas for your literature research paper? Now it’s time to compose your study. Leave us ‘ do my research paper ’ notice and get a professional writer to work on your project. 

Controversial Literary Research Paper Topics

Controversial literary research topics can provide students with an opportunity to explore complex and sometimes contentious issues related to literary texts. Find below a controversial literary research paper topic for your dream English project!

  • Racial stereotypes during 19th-century English literature.
  • Themes of sexuality and desire in ancient Greek poetry.
  • The relationship between political power and language in Shakespeare's plays.
  • Conflict representation during 20th-century English fiction.
  • English role in colonial Indian literature.
  • Gender and racial representations within African American autobiographies.
  • Themes of justice and control in Victorian English novels.
  • Themes of oppression and resistance in feminist texts.
  • The role of English in modern Japanese fiction.
  • Themes of identity and belonging in postcolonial Indian literature.
  • Censorship, free speech, and social responsibility in 19th-century English novels.
  • Politics and power representations in Latin American poetry.
  • Gender, race, and class representations in English renaissance drama.
  • English as a tool for political ideology within the works of George Orwell.
  • Language used to defy authority during modern fiction writing.

Fresh Literature Research Paper Ideas

Coming up with fresh ideas for literature research topics can be daunting. Students may want to look at the works they have studied or venture outside the traditional reading list and explore different authors and genres. Some literature research paper ideas comprise studying how certain authors influenced the literary movement, analyzing how language has been used throughout history, or examining gender, race, and class representations from a literary text. Here is a perfect list of fresh ideas!

  • Aesthetics as presented by postmodern fiction.
  • The theme of loss as portrayed by African authors .
  • Use of language throughout history.
  • Identity and belonging representation in contemporary young adult fiction.
  • The intersection between art and literature in modern poetry.
  • Themes of authority, rebellion, and revolution in medieval epic poetry.
  • Role of fantasy in horror fiction.
  • Gender, race, and class representations within British romanticism.
  • American literary realism and naturalism.
  • Influence of symbolism on French modernist poetry.
  • Construction of memory within African American autobiographies.
  • Representation of narrative time in Latin American fiction.
  • Social injustice theme during early 20th-century American drama.
  • The relationship between social identity and language during postcolonial fiction.
  • Values and beliefs representations as presented by ancient Greek mythology.

Literature Research Paper Topics for Students

For students looking for research topics in literature for study, there is a wide variety of options available. Depending on the level and course, they might focus on analyzing particular authors, literary movements, or genres, exploring the use of language throughout history, or examining representations of gender, race, and class in books. You also need to study literary devices and their effects on readers when exploring literary topics for a research paper . Below are examples of literature topics for different students:

Literature Research Paper Topics for High School

These are literature topics to research, specifically tailored to high school students. They involve exploring the influence of literary work on culture, analyzing a single author's literary movement or genre, or investigating language use throughout history. This list of research topics in literature for high school provides an original starting point for your literary project!

  • Racism as presented during early 20th-century works.
  • Social criticism within contemporary dystopian young adult fiction.
  • Folklore's impact on contemporary poetry.
  • Representation of nature in modern literature.
  • Spirituality as portrayed by reformist literature.
  • Social class representation within postmodern novels.
  • The theme of environment in romantic works.
  • Colonialism representation during postcolonial works.
  • Effects of pop culture on modern fiction.
  • Mental illness representation during 19th-century poetry.
  • The role of music and art in early 20th-century literary texts.
  • Literature's influence on identity building in minority cultures.
  • Family dynamics in postmodern poetry.
  • Family and community representations during gothic fiction.
  • Literature as a tool for social change.

Literature Research Paper Topics for College Students

These titles entail more serious and in-depth scrutiny than a high school literary paper. A college-level literary research paper topic provides students with a broader range of analysis. It encompasses looking at literature as a form of political commentary to get its relationship with other art forms. Below are literature research paper topics for college students:

  • Identity construction during postmodern poetry.
  • Alienation themes within modern fiction.
  • Gender role representations in Shakespearean tragedies.
  • The relationship between narrative and memory within Holocaust literature.
  • Nature's role in contemporary American fiction.
  • Authority and subversion themes during the early 20th-century drama.
  • Race, class, and gender representation within African American autobiographies.
  • Social media influence the literary language.
  • The relationship between social identity and language in postcolonial fiction.
  • Values as presented by ancient Greek mythology .
  • Psychological distress during 20th-century war narratives.
  • Attitudes towards mental illness as portrayed by gothic texts.
  • The relationship between science and literary imagination.
  • Social hierarchy within Victorian novels.
  • Religion's role in southern American literature.

Literary Research Paper Topics by Categories

Research paper topics for literature by category offer an exclusive and stimulating perspective on literary analysis worldwide. They can be grouped into literary movements, authors, and genres, as well as topics related to language and history. If you are interested in European, American, and English literature topics, these ideas will help you find the perfect literary research paper topic for your project.

World Literature Research Paper Topics

Research paper topics for world literature allow students to explore literary works from any part of the world, including texts written in English, Spanish, and other languages. Below is a list that provides original world literature research topics for any project:

  • Impact of colonialism on native literary traditions.
  • Gender representation within French literature.
  • Religion's role within literary works from Latin America.
  • Symbolism in English poetry from the 19th century.
  • Themes of nationalism within modern Russian fiction.
  • Power and politics in Spanish plays.
  • Conflict as portrayed by African literature.
  • The role of folklore within Chinese fiction.
  • Themes of cultural identity in Japanese drama.
  • Family ties in Italian poetry.
  • Symbolism in Arabic literature.
  • Social class representation in Indian novels.
  • Impact of globalization on middle eastern fiction.
  • Human rights themes by contemporary Australian poets.
  • Western representations of other cultures in modern literature.

American Literature Research Paper Topics

In research paper topics for American literature, you examine the works of early American writers and poets, as well as those from later periods. Here is a list of American literature topics for your paper!

  • Attitudes towards race in early American novels.
  • Colonialism during 19th-century poetry.
  • Freedom and rebellion themes within revolutionary literature.
  • The emergence of gothic horror in American fiction.
  • Impact of transcendentalism on American writing.
  • Gender representation during pre-civil war literature .
  • Themes of morality in post-World War II American fiction.
  • Role of religion during 19th-century American novels.
  • Slavery and its abolition by American poets.
  • Social class representation during early American drama.
  • Themes of identity in postmodern American fiction.
  • Industrialization of 20th-century literature.
  • War and conflict representation by contemporary American playwrights.
  • Racism in 20th-century American novels.
  • Assimilation and immigration themes in post-World War II American literature.

British Literature Research Paper Topics

In British literature research topics, you explore works from early British writers to contemporary authors. Ideally, research topics for British literature should encompass works written by authors from all eras, including Medieval, Renaissance, and modern. Here is a list of English literature research paper topics for your perfect essay!

  • Gender representation during medieval English literature.
  • Colonialism's effects on British literary works during the 18th century.
  • Influence of British writers on modern literature.
  • The role of nature in 18th-century British novels.
  • Interpretations of classic British literary works.
  • Social class representations during 19th-century British fiction.
  • Themes of love and romance within Victorian literature.
  • Industrialization's impact on 20th-century British novels.
  • Patriotism and nationalism during post-World War II literary work.
  • Multiculturalism representations in postmodern British fiction.
  • Effects of censorship on British authors during the 20th century.
  • Mental health representation in modern British poetry.
  • Representation of historical events in British works throughout time.
  • Technological representations in 21st-century British Novels.
  • Intersectionality by contemporary British playwrights.

Did you know that you can generate a bunch of title ideas using our Research Paper Topic Generator ?

European Literary Research Paper Topics

European literature research paper topics offer an excellent opportunity to explore the works of European authors. They allow you to study and analyze the academic traditions and cultures of some of Europe's most influential writers. You can find such literary research paper topic ideas in the list below:

  • Representations of the European monarchy in classic novels.
  • Censorship effects on European authors during the 20th century.
  • Impact of World War II on European authors.
  • Gender representations within Victorian poetry.
  • Literary works from different countries and cultures in Europe.
  • Use of language, symbolism, and imagery to explore themes in European texts.
  • Themes of nature and environment within German short stories.
  • Technology representations in late Victorian poetry.
  • Popular culture's influence on European literary movements from the 20th century to modern times.
  • Impact of European literary works on people's perceptions of other cultures.
  • Use of supernatural elements within European gothic writings from the 18th to 19th centuries.
  • Identity representations in French social realism texts.
  • Technology's impact on contemporary European literary works.
  • Family and community representations during post-war theater.
  • Themes of justice and injustice within European dystopian texts.

Literature Research Paper Ideas by Periods

You may aspire to find literature topics for research papers from different historical periods. This involves studying literature from various cultures or eras, such as ancient, medieval, or modern ones. These ideas also cover the examination of themes and symbols used in writings and scrutinizing characters and their development through various works. Other topics include the exploration of texts from a political perspective in relation to their historical contexts. These ideas contain some literary research topics from various periods:

Ancient Literary Research Paper Topics

There are many exciting options to consider if you're looking for ancient literature research paper topics. They can be studied with regard to history, culture, art, and philosophy. To gain more insight, you could explore the works of Homer, Henry James, Virgil, and the Mahabharata, or old Egyptian writings, such as The Iliad and Odyssey . Below is a list of ancient literature topics for research you can choose from.

  • Gender representations in epic poetry.
  • Role of mythology and religion in ancient texts.
  • Influence of philosophy on ancient literature.
  • Power representations in Greek tragedy.
  • Heroism by early epic authors.
  • Love and marriage in ancient texts.
  • Ancient narratives of war and conflict.
  • Slavery representations in Roman poetry.
  • The role of music and art in classical literature.
  • Nature representations in ancient texts.
  • Politics' influence on Greek comedy.
  • Family and community representations in roman narratives.
  • Characters' representation in epic poetry.
  • The role of technology in early literary works.
  • Representations of the divine in ancient texts.
Read more: History Research Topics for Students 

Medieval Literature Research Paper Topics

The medieval literary study provides a unique opportunity to explore literature research topics of the Middle Ages. From Beowulf to The Canterbury Tales , these works offer insights into this era's cultural beliefs and values. Here are such literary topics for research papers to focus on:

  • Representations of medieval chivalry in literary works.
  • Religion's influence on medieval works.
  • Gender representation in medieval texts.
  • The role of magic in medieval narratives.
  • The impact of feudalism on medieval texts.
  • Honor and loyalty representations by chivalric texts.
  • The role of courtly love in medieval works.
  • Knights and warriors' representations in literary works.
  • Warfare representations in medieval texts.
  • The role of education and learning in medieval literature.

Renaissance Literary Research Paper Topics

The Renaissance literature research paper ideas explore works of literature during the Renaissance era, which spanned from the 14th to the 17th century. They focus on the themes, authors, and literature of this period to provide a better understanding of how literary works have evolved within this timeframe and their impact on our current literature. Some of the most influential figures who contributed immensely to writings during this era were William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes. If you are interested in researching this period, you can consider a literature research paper topic from the list below:

  • Love and romance representations in Renaissance texts.
  • Science and technology in 16th-century literature.
  • Class and social status representations in Renaissance literary works.
  • Classical mythology in Renaissance poetry.
  • Representations of family and community in Renaissance narratives.
  • Effects of humanism on Renaissance literature in Europe.
  • Imagery role by William Shakespeare .
  • Representations of art, music, and theater in Renaissance texts.
  • Politics' role in 16th-century literary texts.
  • Nature representation by John Milton or Torquato Tasso.
  • Exploration influence on Renaissance narratives.
  • Influence of Renaissance literature on modern writing.
  • Women's representation in literary texts by Anne Bradstreet or Aphra Behn.
  • Magic and supernatural representations in literary works of Renaissance.
  • Humanism and individualism themes within Renaissance literature.

Romantic Literature Research Paper Ideas

Romantic literature emerged during the late 18th century and flourished throughout the early 19th century in Europe. It is characterized by its focus on emotion and depictions of nature. This movement had a lasting impact on literary works and has been highly influential. Research topics in literature can explore the writings of authors such as Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and William Wordsworth. Here are some ideas related to romanticism:

  • Nature representations in Romantic texts.
  • The role of emotion as depicted in 19th-century literature.
  • Influence of Romantic authors on modern literature and culture.
  • Women's representation in Romantic narratives.
  • Industrialization impact on 19th-century texts.
  • Influence of religion and superstition in early Romantic texts.
  • Use of technology to discuss themes in Romantic texts from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
  • The role of education as portrayed by Romantic narratives.
  • Character analysis and plot structure in gothic fiction.
  • Nationalism and patriotism as represented by post-Napoleonic war poems.

Modernist Literary Research Paper Topics

Modern literature emerged during the early 20th century until the end of World War II. It is characterized by a rejection of traditional conventions and focused on experimentation with form. This movement had an unprecedented impact on literature research topics and is highly influential today. If you are looking for literary topics for research papers that focus on modernism, consider exploring the following:

  • Nature representations by modern texts.
  • Social inequality in 21st-century novels.
  • Modernism's influence on current literature and culture.
  • Climate change within contemporary fiction.
  • Impact of social injustice on 20th-century literary works.
  • Urbanization representations by modern literary texts.
  • Education's influence on modernist narratives.
  • Wealth and power in early modernist texts.
  • Themes of urban life by Ezra Pound or Wallace Stevens.
  • Modernism's impact on classical literature.
  • Globalization themes within postmodern poetry.
  • Multiculturalism themes in contemporary literary works.
  • Mental health representations in modern British novels.
  • Global conflict representation in modern fiction.
  • The influence of psychoanalysis on modernist literature.

Current Literature Research Paper Ideas

Current literature paper topics can look at the latest trends. They include exploring contemporary works such as Harry Potter by J.K Rowling and Stardust by Neil Gaiman. These topics may also involve analyzing social media's effects on literary writings. If you are looking for current literary topics for a research paper, consider the following:

  • Technological impact on literary works in the 21st century.
  • Art, music, and theater in modern texts.
  • Impact of conflict on recent literary works.
  • Social injustice in 21st-century narratives.
  • Racism, ethnicity, and slavery in contemporary texts.
  • Wealth and power in recent literary works.
  • Globalization themes in postmodern poetry.
  • Urbanization in modern writings.
  • Immigration within postmodern British novels.

In case you need more paper topics, feel free to browse our blog. We have a wide arsenal of ideas starting from philosophy research paper topics to education research paper topics .  

Bottom Line on Literature Research Paper Topics

Literature topics for research can explore a wide range of themes and works. Whether you are looking for visionary ideas about poetry, fiction, or books from different eras, there is no shortage of literature paper topics to choose from. To narrow down your focus and find the best idea for your project, consider researching literary movements, reading widely, and thinking about the areas that interest you most.  Literature topics for research papers should be chosen based on students' interests and areas of expertise. By conducting in-depth research, you will gain a greater appreciation for literary work and its impact on society. With this article as a guide, you can take the time to find a topic that speaks to you and create an engaging research paper.

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Education Research Topics

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100 Best Literary Research Topics – Fresh Perspectives on Literature Pieces

Selecting the right literature topics for a research paper work can be challenging due to the wealth of literary works and themes available. To find the perfect topic, focus on your personal character interests, the scope of your assignment, and the availability of resources or requirements of American universities. Reflect on the literary periods, authors, or themes that captivate you, and investigate potential questions or ideas related to them. Seeking guidance from your instructor or peers can also be beneficial, as can browsing academic journals, literary critiques, or scholarly databases to discover trending literature research paper topics or ongoing debates in the literary and cultural field.

How to Understand If a Topic Is Good?

Choose literary topics for research paper works that genuinely interest you ensure there is a sufficient amount of primary and secondary sources, and contribute to the existing body of knowledge. You need to determine if literary research topics in history are suitable for your literary research paper, consider the factors: interest and engagement with the literary research topic, the scope and maintenance of the subject.

Test it with an Outline

You need to create a preliminary outline for your paper, organizing your ideas and potential arguments logically. Together with our research paper writing service , you gain the success results. In another way, you can concentrate on the text`s main points and reveal the literary research topics intricacy, pertinence, and scope.

Write a Thesis Statement

Craft a premise statement that encapsulates your central argument and offers a fresh perspective on your chosen literature research paper ideas to ensure it is neither overly broad. An effective premise statement should be clear, concise, and debatable, sparking further discussion and analysis, and if you feel troubled with managing this task our website writes for you any essay .

List of Literature Research Topics

When choosing literary research topics, consider exploring various spheres of interest that offer diverse subjects for examination. For instance, focus on the works of specific authors, the characteristics of a particular literary period, or the themes and poetry that recur across different eras. Delve into the representation of historical and social issues in literary research topics, such as gender roles, race, or mental health, and investigate how to make the list of the best research paper topics . By examining American literature research topics, you can find literature topics for research that resonates with your interests and contributes to the existing body of literary knowledge. Additionally, you may explore genres like science fiction or magical poetry, examining their impact on society and culture. Investigating the relationship between literature and other disciplines, such as philosophy, psychology, or history, can also yield fascinating American or British lit research paper topics.

British Literature Research Paper Topics

You can investigate captivating elements of literary research paper topics through an array of research work topics. By scrutinizing distinct themes, genres, and historical eras, you can profoundly comprehend the multifaceted and diverse landscape of English literary research subjects and their impact on American authors. This exploration allows you to broaden your knowledge, develop critical thinking skills, and foster a genuine appreciation for the creative and intellectual contributions within the field of English literature research topics.

  • Gender Roles in Shakespeare’s Plays.
  • Power Representation in Jane Austen’s Novels.
  • Love and Marriage in John Donne’s Poetry.
  • Gothic literature’s influence on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
  • Imperialism in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.
  • Symbolism in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.
  • Nature’s Role in William Wordsworth’s Poetry.
  • Social Class in George Eliot’s Middlemarch.
  • Supernatural Elements in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
  • World War I’s Impact on Early 20th-Century Literature.

American Literature Topics

From iconic novels to influential authors, these literary research topics encompass the essence of American identity, history, and culture. Unravel the complexities of this vast literary landscape as you delve into themes of race, ethnicity, the American Dream, and more, uncovering the unique perspectives and voices that have shaped and defined American literature throughout the centuries.

  • The American Identity in Toni Morrison’s Beloved.
  • The American Dream in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
  • The American Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.
  • Race and ethnicity in James Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain.
  • The American Slavery in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
  • Road Trip in Jack Kerouac’s On the Road.
  • Magical Realism in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude.
  • The American Civil Rights Movement’s Impact on 1960s American Literature.
  • The American Religion in Flannery O’Connor’s works.
  • The American West in Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian.

Science Fiction Literary Research Essay Topics

With these topics, you can delve into a myriad of literary research topics that explore the depths of futuristic societies, alternate realities, and advanced technology. Unearth the themes, symbolism, and socio-political commentary embedded within these stories, fostering a deeper appreciation for the power and allure of sci-fi literary research topics.

  • Artificial Intelligence in Asimov’s “I, Robot” and Dick’s “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”
  • Dystopia in Orwell’s “1984” and Huxley’s “Brave New World.”
  • Alienation in Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” and Vonnegut’s “Cat’s Cradle.”
  • Time Travel in Wells’ “The Time Machine” and L’Engle’s “A Wrinkle in Time.”
  • Genetic Engineering in Huxley’s “Brave New World” and Atwood’s “Oryx and Crake.”
  • Environmentalism in Herbert’s “Dune” and Butler’s “Parable of the Sower.”
  • Virtual Reality in Gibson’s “Neuromancer” and Stephenson’s “Snow Crash.”
  • Post-apocalyptic settings in McCarthy’s “The Road” and Mandel’s “Station Eleven.”
  • Identity in Le Guin’s “The Left Hand of Darkness” and Delany’s “Dhalgren.”
  • Extraterrestrial Life in Clarke’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” and Lem’s “Solaris.”

High School Literary Research Essay Topics

These subjects should be carefully selected for their relevance and appeal, they provide the perfect foundation for developing critical thinking, analytical skills, and a love for literature. Discover thought-provoking issues relevant to high school readers with these high school literary research topics. By delving into contemporary literary research topics that resonate with teenage audiences, you can foster a greater appreciation for literature and its impact on young minds.

  • Mental Illness in Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” and Plath’s “The Bell Jar.”
  • Symbolism in Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter” and its relevance today.
  • Identity and Self-Discovery in Baldwin’s “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and Walker’s “The Color Purple.”
  • Racism and inequality in Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” and Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye.”
  • Nature and Symbolism in Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights” and Frost’s works.
  • Isolation and Loneliness in Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” and Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
  • Gender Roles in Bronte’s “Jane Eyre” and Chopin’s “The Awakening.”
  • Magical Realism in Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and Allende’s “The House of the Spirits.”
  • War and its effects in Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms” and Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five.”
  • The American Dream in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” and Miller’s “Death of a Salesman.”

Modernist Literature Research Paper Topics

Discover interesting literature topics of self-discovery, rebellion, and experimental styles that resonate with teenagers, while gaining an understanding of the cultural and historical influences that fuelled this revolutionary movement. Fell the groundbreaking literary movements in these modernist research topics in literature and chose the best one for you.

  • Fragmentation in Modernist Literature: Joyce’s Ulysses and Eliot’s The Waste Land.
  • Modernist Literature and Trauma: Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway and Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises.
  • World War I’s Influence on Modernist Literature: Owen’s Works and Ford’s Parade’s End.
  • Time in Modernist Literature: Proust’s In Search of Lost Time and Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury.
  • Women’s Role in Modernist Literature: Barnes’ Nightwood and Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea.
  • Identity in Modernist Literature: Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain and Ellison’s Invisible Man.
  • Stream of Consciousness in Modernist Literature: Mansfield’s “Bliss” and Woolf’s To the Lighthouse.
  • Modernist Literature and the City: Pound’s “In a Station of the Metro” and Eliot’s “Preludes.”
  • Modernist Literature and the Movement: Pound’s The Cantos and H.D.’s Trilogy.
  • The “Lost Generation” in Modernist Literature: Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises and Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

Renaissance Literature Research Paper Topics

The era, characterized by a remarkable resurgence in culture, art, and intellectual pursuits, has impacted the trajectory of human civilization. Uncover the rich tapestry of the revival literary research topics for your literary research paper.

  • Love in Shakespeare’s Sonnets
  • Women in Twelfth Night and the Duchess of Malfi
  • Humanism in Utopia and Petrarch’s Sonnets
  • Fate in Romeo and Juliet and Doctor Faustus
  • Courtly Love in the Faerie Queene and Astrophil and Stella
  • Classical Themes in Julius Caesar and Dido, Queen of Carthage
  • Reformation in Paradise Lost and the Temple
  • Power in Macbeth and The Revenger’s Tragedy
  • Revival Influence on Hamlet and the Spanish Tragedy
  • Kingship between Richard II and Edward II

Controversial Literature Research Paper Topics

Debate and analyze character issues in literature with these controversial literature literary research topics. These subjects allow you to explore literary research topics, ethical dilemmas, and social commentaries within literary works, providing an opportunity for intellectual growth and open dialogue.

  • Mental Illness Portrayal in Literature: Helpful or Harmful?
  • Cultural Appropriation in Literature Ethics.
  • Racial Slurs Use in Literature Controversy.
  • Trigger Warnings in Literature and Free Speech Impact.
  • Censorship Effects on Literature and Society.
  • Authorial Intent Ethics in Literary Interpretation.
  • Sexuality Representation in Literature Controversy.
  • Violence against Women’s Portrayal in Literature and Society’s Impact.
  • Cancel Culture’s Impact on Literature and Publishing.
  • Literary Classics Value Debate in Modern Society.

World Literature Research Topics

Embark on a literary journey around the globe with these World literary research topics.

  • War Depiction in Global Literature
  • Novel Evolution in Different Cultures
  • Immigration and Diaspora in Literature
  • Love and Relationships in Global Literature
  • Colonialism’s Impact on Global Literature
  • Mythology in Global Literature
  • Cultural Identity in International Literature
  •  Political Oppression and Resistance Themes
  • Eastern Philosophy’s Influence on Western Literature
  • Spirituality and Religion in Global Literature

Literature Research Paper Topics for Students

These literary research topics are designed to challenge students’ critical thinking and analytical skills while fostering a deeper appreciation for literature.

  • Technology’s Impact on Contemporary Literature.
  • LGBTQ+ Community Portrayal in Literature.
  • Mental Health Representation in Young Adult Literature.
  • Feminism’s Role in Shaping Contemporary Literature.
  • Globalization’s Impact on Literature and Culture.
  • Social Justice and Activism Themes in Modern Literature.
  • Race and Ethnicity in Contemporary Literature.
  • Postmodernism’s Influence on Contemporary Literature.
  • Environment and Climate Change Representation in Literature.
  • Science Fiction’s Role in Reflecting and Shaping Contemporary Society.

Modern Literature Research Paper Topics

Analyze the intricacies of modern literary research topics masterpieces for university students.

  • Magic Realism in Garcia Marquez’s Works
  • Morrison and Baldwin’s Literary Techniques
  • Feminism in Alice Munro’s Short Stories
  • Postmodernism in Don Delillo’s Novels
  • Mental Illness in the Bell Jar and the Yellow Wallpaper
  • Identity in Adichie and Lahiri’s Works
  • Colonialism’s Impact on Achebe and Ngugi WA Thiong’O
  • Stream of Consciousness in Mrs. Dalloway and Ulysses
  • Masculinity in Hemingway’s Novels
  • Memory Role in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Novels

Ancient Literature Research Topics

Delve into the origins of storytelling and literary research topics for your literary research paper. These literary research topics will allow you to investigate various themes, genres, and styles across different time periods, ultimately enhancing your appreciation for the transformative power of storytelling. 

  • Women in Greek Tragedies
  • Mythology in Homer & Virgil Epic
  • Poetry: Greece vs Rome
  • Prophecy in Greek Tragedies
  • Fate in Oedipus Rex & Macbeth
  • Dreams in Egyptian Literature
  • Gods in Mesopotamian Literature
  • Love Poetry: India & China
  • Oral Tradition in African Literature
  • Karma in Mahabharata 

In conclusion, selecting literary research topics is an essential step in the writing process, as it sets the foundation for your entire paper. Explore various subjects within English, American, or global literature, and consider literary research topics such as gender roles, power representation, or the impact of historical events on literature discuss. Remember to choose literary research topics that genuinely interest you, as this will make the literature discussion and writing process more enjoyable and engaging. Test your literary research topics with an outline and a premise statement to ensure it is focused, specific, and manageable.

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Top 300 Engaging Literature Research Paper Topics

Literature Research Paper Topics

Are you ready to dive into the fascinating world of literature? This guide is your passport to exploring fascinating literature research paper topics that will spark your curiosity and imagination. Whether you’re passionate about classic novels, modern poetry, or even graphic novels, there’s a topic here waiting to be discovered by you.

Uncover themes that echo across cultures, analyze the impact of influential authors, or even dive into the evolution of storytelling through the ages. From Shakespeare’s timeless works to contemporary masterpieces, this compilation offers a treasure of ideas that will make your research journey exciting and fulfilling.

Discover the power of words, uncover the mysteries behind beloved characters, and explore the socio-cultural contexts that shaped literary movements. Get ready to go on an intellectual adventure that will deepen your appreciation for the writings.

So, grab your notebook and pen, and let’s start this exciting literary exploration together. 

What Are The Key Elements Of A Good Research Paper?

Table of Contents

A good research paper should contain several key elements to ensure its effectiveness, credibility, and impact. When these elements come together effectively, they create a research paper that is rigid, insightful, and contributes meaningfully to its academic or professional domain. They are as:

  • Clear and Focused Topic: A well-defined and specific research question or topic that is relevant and interesting.
  • Thorough Literature Review: A complete review of existing literature to establish context, identify gaps, and support the research hypothesis or argument.
  • Solid Methodology: Clear explanation of the research methods employed, whether qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods, ensuring they are appropriate for the research question.
  • Credible Sources: Reliance on credible and scholarly sources to support arguments and findings. This includes peer-reviewed journals, academic books, and reputable websites.
  • Strong Thesis Statement: A concise and arguable thesis statement that articulates the main argument or point of the paper.
  • Logical Structure: A well-organized structure with clear divisions containing introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
  • Critical Analysis: A critical evaluation of data or literature, providing insightful analysis and interpretation, not just summary.
  • Proper Citations and References: Accurate and consistent citation of sources following a specific citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
  • Clarity and Precision: Clear, concise, and precise writing that is free from jargon or unnecessary complexity, ensuring accessibility to a wide audience.
  • Conclusion and Implications: A strong conclusion that summarizes key findings and discusses their implications, suggesting avenues for further research or application.
  • Editing and Proofreading: Thorough editing and proofreading to eliminate errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling, ensuring a polished final product.
  • Originality and Contribution: Demonstrating original thought, analysis, or contribution to the field, providing new insights or perspectives.

Now for your convenience, we have categorized the literature research topics under different categories, and they are as follows:

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Shakespearean Studies

  • Portrayal of Women in Shakespearean Plays
  • Exploration of Tragic Flaws in Shakespearean Characters
  • The Influence of Greek Tragedy on Shakespearean Drama
  • Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Themes and Analysis
  • Political Themes in Shakespearean Plays
  • The Role of Comedy in Shakespeare’s Works
  • Adaptations of Shakespearean Plays in Modern Media
  • Analysis of Shakespeare’s Historical Accuracy
  • Madness and Sanity in Shakespearean Characters
  • The Concept of Love and Relationships in Shakespeare’s Works
  • Shakespearean Villains: Motivations and Representations
  • Religious Elements in Shakespearean Plays
  • Comparative Study of Tragedies and Comedies in Shakespearean Literature
  • Gender Roles and Identity in Shakespearean Society
  • Shakespeare’s Influence on English Language and Literature
  • Exploration of Revenge in Shakespearean Plays
  • Psychological Depth in Shakespearean Characters
  • Theatrical Performance Techniques in Shakespearean Era
  • The Theme of Power and Authority in Shakespeare’s Works
  • Interpretation of Fate and Destiny in Shakespearean Plays

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Modernist Literature

  • Stream of Consciousness Narratives in Modernist Literature
  • The Role of Urban Settings in Modernist Novels
  • Fragmentation and Experimental Structures in Modernist Writing
  • Modernist Poetry: Innovation and Themes
  • Political and Social Critique in Modernist Literature
  • Modernist Women Writers and Their Impact
  • Influence of World War I on Modernist Literature
  • Change from Realism to Modernism in Literature
  • Modernist Literature and the Exploration of Identity
  • Modernist Short Stories: Techniques and Themes
  • Symbolism and Imagery in Modernist Novels
  • Streamlining Time and Narrative in Modernist Fiction
  • Transatlantic Modernism: Comparing American and European Movements
  • Modernist Plays and Theatrical Innovations
  • Modernist Literature and Psychoanalytic Theories
  • Interwar Period and Modernist Literature
  • Modernist Literature and the Cityscape
  • Religious and Spiritual Motifs in Modernist Works
  • Feminist Perspectives in Modernist Writing
  • Modernist Literature: Reactions to Industrialization and Modernity

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Post-Colonial Literature

  • Decolonization and Identity in Post-Colonial Literature
  • Subaltern Voices in Post-Colonial Texts
  • Effect of Colonialism on Cultural Hybridity in Literature
  • Post-Colonial Literature and Resistance Narratives
  • Colonial Trauma and Memory in Post-Colonial Writing
  • Post-Colonial Feminism in Literature
  • Nationalism and Post-Colonial Identity
  • Post-Colonialism and Language Politics in Literature
  • Indigenous Perspectives in Post-Colonial Texts
  • Diasporic Literature in Post-Colonial Contexts
  • Globalization and Post-Colonial Literary Discourse
  • Postcolonial Ecocriticism in Literature
  • Power Dynamics and Post-Colonial Representation
  • Post-Colonialism and Magical Realism in Literature
  • Postcolonialism and Postmodernism in Literary Works
  • Subversion of Colonial Stereotypes in Literature
  • Hybrid Identities in Post-Colonial Texts
  • Post-Colonial Literature and the Politics of Place
  • Post-Colonial Literature and Reimagining History
  • Post-Colonial Literature and the Legacy of Empire

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Feminist Perspectives in Literature

  • Representation of Women in Classic Literature: Challenges and Transformations
  • Feminist Critique of Patriarchal Norms in Literature
  • Intersectionality in Feminist Literature
  • Feminist Reinterpretation of Fairy Tales and Folklore
  • Female Bildungsroman in Literature
  • Ecofeminism and Environmental Concerns in Literature
  • Motherhood and Maternal Experience in Literature
  • Feminist Dystopian Literature: Power and Resistance
  • Body Politics and Feminist Discourse in Literary Works
  • Feminist Perspectives on Sexuality and Gender Identity in Literature
  • Feminist Satire and Irony in Literature
  • Women’s Writing and Feminist Literary Canon
  • Feminist Themes in Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature
  • Feminist Perspectives on Women of Color in Literature
  • Feminist Manifestos and Essays in Literary Contexts
  • Feminist Revisioning of Mythology and Legends in Literature
  • Feminist Utopian Visions in Literary Works
  • Feminist Perspectives on Marriage and Relationships in Literature
  • Feminist Critique of Male Authors and their Representation of Women
  • Feminist Discourse in Contemporary Literature

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Literary Criticism and Theory

  • Structuralism and its Impact on Literary Criticism
  • Post-structuralist Perspectives in Literary Theory
  • New Criticism: Analysis of Textual Elements
  • Reader-response Theory and Interpretation in Literature
  • Formalism and its Influence on Literary Analysis
  • Marxist Literary Criticism: Class and Ideology in Texts
  • Psychoanalytic Literary Theory and Character Analysis
  • Feminist Literary Criticism: Gender and Power Dynamics
  • Deconstructionist Theory in Literary Analysis
  • Postcolonial Literary Criticism and its Applications
  • Queer Theory in Literary Interpretation
  • Ecocriticism and Environmental Literary Theory
  • Aestheticism and the Philosophy of Art in Literature
  • Cultural Studies and Literary Criticism
  • Critical Race Theory and Literature
  • Comparative Literature and Critical Theory
  • Reception Theory and its Impact on Literary Studies
  • Formalist Literary Theory and Russian Formalism
  • Semiotics and Significance in Literary Criticism
  • Narrative Theory and its Role in Analyzing Texts

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Comparative Literature

  • Comparative Analysis of Mythological Narratives across Cultures
  • Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Shakespearean Plays
  • Comparative Study of Fairy Tales from Different Regions
  • Multilingualism in Comparative Literature
  • Comparative Exploration of Epic Poetry
  • Cultural Exchange in Translated Literary Works
  • Comparative Analysis of Post-War Literature from Various Countries
  • Comparative Approaches to Folklore and Oral Traditions
  • Interdisciplinary Studies in Comparative Literature
  • Comparative Study of Contemporary Graphic Novels Worldwide
  • Comparative Analysis of Existential Themes in World Literature
  • Comparative Analysis of Literary Movements in Different Regions
  • Comparative Perspectives on Colonial and Post-Colonial Literature
  • Comparative Study of Detective Fiction across Cultures
  • Comparative Analysis of Tragic Drama in Different Cultures
  • Comparative Study of Bildungsroman Novels from Various Cultures
  • Comparative Analysis of Magical Realism in World Literature
  • Comparative Exploration of Science Fiction in Different Languages
  • Comparative Study of Feminist Literature Globally
  • Comparative Perspectives on Utopian and Dystopian Fiction

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On LGBTQ+ Themes in Literature

  • LGBTQ+ Representation in Classic Literature
  • Queer Theory and its Application in Literary Analysis
  • LGBTQ+ Coming-of-Age Narratives in Literature
  • Transgender Identities in Literature
  • LGBTQ+ Themes in Contemporary Poetry
  • LGBTQ+ Relationships in Historical Fiction
  • Homosexuality and Gender Fluidity in Mythological Texts
  • LGBTQ+ Memoirs and Autobiographies in Literature
  • LGBTQ+ Themes in Young Adult Literature
  • LGBTQ+ Voices in Science Fiction and Fantasy
  • LGBTQ+ Perspectives in Graphic Novels and Comics
  • LGBTQ+ Characters in Children’s Literature
  • LGBTQ+ Themes in Theater and Performance Arts
  • Intersectionality and LGBTQ+ Literature
  • LGBTQ+ Themes in Diasporic Literature
  • LGBTQ+ Activism and Representation in Literature
  • LGBTQ+ Themes in Mystery and Crime Fiction
  • LGBTQ+ Themes in Non-Western Literary Traditions
  • LGBTQ+ Themes in Postcolonial Literature
  • LGBTQ+ Representation in Speculative Fiction

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Science Fiction and Fantasy

  • Evolution of Science Fiction: From Pulp to Modern
  • Dystopian Futures in Science Fiction Literature
  • Hard Science Fiction: Exploring Scientific Accuracy in Sci-Fi
  • Cyberpunk Literature: Technology and Society
  • Feminist Themes in Science Fiction
  • Space Opera and Epic Science Fiction
  • Alternate Realities in Fantasy Literature
  • Magic Systems in Fantasy Worlds
  • Mythological Influences in Fantasy Literature
  • Time Travel in Science Fiction and Fantasy
  • Artificial Intelligence in Science Fiction
  • Alien Cultures and Intergalactic Politics in Sci-Fi
  • Folklore and Fairy Tales in Fantasy Writing
  • Steampunk: Victorian Era Reimagined in Literature
  • Post-Apocalyptic Narratives in Science Fiction
  • Superheroes and Supervillains in Comics and Novels
  • Evolution of Robots and Androids in Sci-Fi
  • Quests and Journeys in Fantasy Epics
  • Environmental Themes in Science Fiction
  • Multiverse Theory in Speculative Fiction

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On African American Literature

  • Harlem Renaissance and Its Literary Legacy
  • Slave Narratives in African American Literature
  • Civil Rights Movement in African American Writing
  • Oral Traditions in African American Literature
  • Folklore and Mythology in African American Stories
  • African American Women Writers: Their Contributions
  • Reconstruction Era Literature and its Significance
  • Jazz and Blues Influences in African American Writing
  • Contemporary Voices in African American Literature
  • Intersectionality and Identity in African American Writing
  • Symbolism of the African Diaspora in Literature
  • Afrofuturism in African American Literature
  • Urban Realism and African American Urban Experience
  • Religion and Spirituality in African American Writing
  • LGBTQ+ Themes in African American Literature
  • African American Children’s Literature
  • The Impact of Toni Morrison’s Literary Contributions
  • African American Poetry: Tradition and Innovation
  • Critique of Racism in African American Literature
  • African American Short Stories and Their Impact

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Environmental Literature

  • Ecocriticism: Exploring Nature in Literature
  • Environmental Activism in Literary Works
  • Wilderness and the American Imagination in Literature
  • Climate Change Narratives in Environmental Literature
  • Nature Writing and the Natural World in Literature
  • Urban Ecology in Literary Works
  • Indigenous Perspectives on Nature in Literature
  • Environmental Ethics in Literary Discourse
  • Flora and Fauna in Environmental Literature
  • Environmental Justice and Literature
  • Posthumanism and Nature in Literary Contexts
  • Landscapes and Identities in Environmental Writing
  • Ecolinguistics and Language in Environmental Literature
  • Sustainable Living in Literary Narratives
  • Environmental Catastrophe in Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • Evolution of the Environmental Movement in Literature
  • Biodiversity and Conservation in Literary Texts
  • Waterscapes and Maritime Literature in an Environmental Context
  • Rewilding and Restoration in Environmental Narratives
  • Rural vs. Urban Perspectives in Environmental Literature

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Mythology and Folklore in Literature

  • Comparative Analysis of Creation Myths Worldwide
  • Heroic Archetypes in Mythological Epics
  • Role of Trickster Figures in Folklore Narratives
  • Mythological Symbolism in Modern Literature
  • Goddesses and Feminine Archetypes in Mythology
  • Folklore and Oral Tradition Preservation in Literature
  • Supernatural Entities in Folklore Narratives
  • Mythological Influences on Fantasy Fiction
  • Mythical Creatures and Beasts in Literature
  • Cultural Significance of Mythological Heroes
  • Transformational Journeys in Mythological Tales
  • Sacred Texts and Mythological Interpretations
  • Shamanism and Mythology in Literature
  • Mythological Motifs in Children’s Literature
  • Folklore Rituals and Ceremonies in Literary Contexts
  • Mythological Retellings in Contemporary Fiction
  • Folklore Adaptations in Theater and Performance Arts
  • Archetypal Patterns in Mythological Stories
  • Mythological Elements in Poetry and Songs
  • Comparative Study of Mythical Lands in Literature

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Gothic Literature

  • Psychological Themes in Gothic Literature
  • Gothic Elements in Victorian Novels
  • The Supernatural in Gothic Fiction
  • Gothic Architecture and Settings in Literature
  • Female Gothic and Gender Dynamics
  • Gothic Literature and the Sublime
  • Madness and Mental Illness in Gothic Texts
  • Gothic Romanticism and Love Themes
  • Gothic Literature: Villains and Antiheroes
  • Death and Decay in Gothic Novels
  • Gothic Influence on Contemporary Horror
  • Gothic Revival in Modern Literature
  • Religion and the Occult in Gothic Stories
  • The Role of Nature in Gothic Fiction
  • Gothic Tropes in Mystery and Suspense
  • Gothic Literature: Fear and Terror
  • Gothic Elements in Graphic Novels
  • Gothic Symbolism and Imagery
  • Female Empowerment in Gothic Novels
  • Gothic Subculture and Its Literary Impact

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Children’s Literature

  • Evolution of Fairy Tales in Children’s Literature
  • Moral Lessons in Classic Children’s Stories
  • Representation of Gender Roles in Children’s Books
  • Picture Books and Visual Storytelling for Children
  • Diversity and Inclusion in Contemporary Children’s Literature
  • Coming-of-Age Themes in Young Adult Fiction
  • Education and Learning in Children’s Literature
  • Animal Characters in Children’s Stories
  • Adventure and Quests in Children’s Fantasy
  • Psychological Development in Children’s Books
  • Folklore and Folktales for Young Readers
  • Environmental Themes in Children’s Literature
  • Humor and Wit in Children’s Stories
  • Historical Fiction for Young Readers
  • Multicultural Perspectives in Children’s Literature
  • Friendship and Relationships in Kids’ Books
  • Empowerment and Resilience in Children’s Stories
  • Ethical Dilemmas and Decision-Making in Children’s Fiction
  • Fairy Tale Retellings in Contemporary Children’s Literature
  • Literary Adaptations for Children’s Theatre

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Literature of the Harlem Renaissance

  • Effect of the Harlem Renaissance on African American Literature
  • The Role of Jazz and Music in Harlem Renaissance Literature
  • Harlem Renaissance Poetry: Themes and Innovations
  • Political and Social Commentary in Harlem Renaissance Writing
  • Harlem Renaissance Novelists and their Contributions
  • The Influence of Langston Hughes in the Harlem Renaissance
  • Artistic Expression and Visual Arts in the Harlem Renaissance
  • Women Writers and Feminist Perspectives in the Harlem Renaissance
  • Harlem Renaissance and the Great Migration
  • Literary Magazines and Publications of the Harlem Renaissance
  • The Impact of Harlem Renaissance on American Culture
  • Harlem Renaissance Playwrights and Theater Productions
  • Harlem Renaissance and the Evolution of African American Identity
  • Folklore and Oral Traditions in Harlem Renaissance Literature
  • Critiques of Racial Injustice in Harlem Renaissance Texts
  • Harlem Renaissance Short Stories: Themes and Techniques
  • LGBTQ+ Themes and Identities in Harlem Renaissance Literature
  • Harlem Renaissance and the Birth of the New Negro Movement
  • Harlem Renaissance and the Exploration of African Heritage
  • Harlem Renaissance Legacy in Contemporary Literature

Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Asian Literature and Cultural Influences

  • Themes of Tradition and Modernity in Asian Literature
  • The Influence of Buddhism on Asian Literary Works
  • Confucianism and Its Impact on Asian Literature
  • Women’s Voices in Asian Literature
  • The Role of Nature in Asian Literary Traditions
  • Comparative Analysis of East Asian Literary Movements
  • The Impact of War on Asian Literary Narratives
  • Folklore and Mythological Influences in Asian Literature
  • Postcolonial Perspectives in Asian Literary Works
  • Representations of Cultural Identity in South Asian Literature
  • The Role of Family and Community in Asian Literary Texts
  • Diasporic Narratives in Asian Literature
  • Indigenous Perspectives in Asian Literary Traditions
  • Religious Syncretism in Asian Literary Themes
  • Urbanization and Changing Landscapes in Asian Literature
  • LGBTQ+ Themes in Contemporary Asian Literature
  • Magical Realism in Asian Literary Contexts
  • Exploring Colonial Legacies in Asian Literature
  • Environmental Concerns in Asian Literary Narratives
  • Asian Literature in Global Contexts

Exploring these diverse literature research paper topics offers a gateway to endless possibilities. Your journey through these themes and ideas isn’t just about writing papers it’s about discovering new worlds and perspectives. Take what you’ve learned and let it fuel your curiosity even further. Share your insights with others, start discussions, and inspire curiosity in those around you. 

Remember, literature isn’t confined to books; it’s a reflection of our world, our history, and our dreams. So, as you conclude this exploration, consider how these topics have broadened your horizons and continue seeking the stories that resonate with you. Keep exploring, keep learning, and keep the magic of literature alive.

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221 Awesome Literary Research Paper Topics To Choose From

literary research paper topics

Are you looking for the best literary research paper topic or wondering how to choose a topic for a literary research paper? You are at the right place. The hardest part of doing research is getting an ideal topic. Once, you get a great topic you are good to go.

We have a great number of best-rated expert writers that can provide well-done professional papers. As students in college, we understand that high payment rates can be frustrating, that’s why we offer cheap prices for high-quality work. We offer the best help with research papers to get top grades. Browse through this variety of topics to find the best fit for you.

Literature Research Topics

Getting an ideal literature research paper topic can consume a lot of time. In this category, you will get some of the best literature research topics.

  • Discuss the American dream in literature.
  • How do religion and literature correlate?
  • Discuss the “stream of consciousness” style of literature.
  • Examine artificial languages in literature.
  • How is mythology termed in literature?
  • Discuss why Harry Potter became that popular.
  • Is it advisable for literature to be gendered?
  • Evaluate between utopian and dystopian literature.
  • Discuss the work of Shakespeare.
  • How can you rate the feminist literature – does it have a ground?
  • Evaluate the impact of the work of Shakespeare.
  • Can fan fiction be considered an independent part of literature?
  • How do clichés work in literature
  • How are the Byronic characters in literature?
  • Discuss the good and evil of studying literature.
  • The literary work during WWI
  • Evaluate the portrayal of war and peace by George Orwell.

Interesting Literature Topics

Did you know that there are interesting literature topics? They deal with the evolution of literature and how it has grown till the present time. Thinking of literature topics for research paper is challenging, so here are some more options.

  • How can you term irony and sarcasm in literature?
  • How can literature be termed as an instrument of propaganda?
  • Discuss madness in literature.
  • The influence of trickster characters in literature.
  • Discuss travel writing in the 20 th century.
  • Evaluate narrative nature and verse since 1900.
  • How has city living changed since 1900?
  • Evaluate literature as part of modern culture.
  • How are social issues exposed in literature?
  • The relation between literature and psychology.
  • The influence of European culture in the Midwest literature.
  • The differences between the literature of different countries.
  • The effect of European culture on modern literature.
  • The impact of feminism on modern culture.
  • Evaluate Japanese literature in the 20 th century.

Literature Topics for a Research Paper

In this category, you will get a wide variety of literature topics that you can use for your research. A well-written research paper will help you get top grades.

  • What can you term as the cultural production of Latina writers?
  • Discuss the representation of Ethics in literature.
  • Evaluate the famous work of Ernest Hemingway.
  • Expound on the invented languages in literature.
  • Why do you think “Harry Potter” has become so popular?
  • How is the Image of death represented as a character in literature?
  • The impact of literature on kids.
  • Is there an appropriate gender in literature?
  • Evaluate the Victorian literature.
  • Elaborate on the complete work of William Shakespeare.
  • Discuss whether fanfiction is independent literature.
  • Which are the Byronic characters in literature.
  • Elaborate irony versus sarcasm in literature.
  • How can literature be used as an instrument of propaganda?

Literature Research Paper Topics

In this category of research paper topics, you get to relate one phenomenon with the other. They are also based on some well-known novels. When thinking of literary topics for research paper, consider your scope of knowledge and interest in the topic.

  • The correlation between psychology and literature.
  • How is the construction of social identity?
  • How can you describe the settler nationhood and the wilderness in North American poetry?
  • Why does place matters to a poet?
  • Evaluate travel writing in the 20 th century and 21 st century.
  • The influence of animals in children’s literature.
  • Evaluate the importance of humor in children’s literature.
  • Discuss the best children’s novels from 1900.
  • How does young adult literature represent disability?
  • How to read to under five years old children to develop relationships and imaginations?
  • Evaluate the modern novel and psychology.
  • Define the cross-disciplinary boundaries between archaeology and English literature.
  • Evaluate the 19 th -century novel and science.
  • Evaluate how history is important in deciphering modern literature.
  • How is philosophy important to literature.

English Literature Research Paper Topics

In English literature, it focuses on how various novels, classics, or books are written to explain a certain phenomenon. Here are some literature topics that you can start with:

  • Evaluate the methods of teaching English literature.
  • Investigate modern Indian literature in English translation.
  • Evaluate women writers and the survey of English literature.
  • Investigate the impact of the Bible on English literature.
  • Evaluate the impact of the Classics on Literature.
  • Define the scope of English literature in Educating people.
  • Explain the influence of Darwin on Literature.
  • Explain medieval English literature.
  • Examine Women studies and Feminism in India.
  • Evaluate the short history of the Norton Anthology of the English language.
  • Evaluate the English Renaissance study.
  • Investigate medieval feminism in middle English Studies.
  • Evaluate women in Indian English Literature.
  • Discuss feminism and modern Indian literature.
  • Discuss the evolution of English in North America.

Topics in Literature

Literature requires full concentration to get to the bottom of a certain phenomenon. We have simplified the topics to make it easier for you to do your assignment in college.

  • Discuss Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet based on Male melodrama.
  • How as black lives matter movement influenced black literature?
  • Evaluate the contemporary refuge literature.
  • Investigate post-colonialism and climate change in literature.
  • Discuss tradition and modernity through the lens of Tagore Gora.
  • Investigate the relation between pre-independence and post-independence in Indian literature.
  • The role of African literary responses to Racism.
  • The literature on homosexuality.
  • The significance of Literature in the modern world.
  • Feminism growth in the twentieth century.
  • The effects of fairy tales perceptions in the modern era.
  • Correlation between pre-independence and post-independence Indian literature.
  • Discuss the novel, “To kill a Mockingbird from 1960”.
  • The significance of Shakespeare in the world of Literature.
  • How did the artistry of writing novels start?
  • The character analysis of Emy and Rebecca in Vanity Fair.
  • The Depiction of vampires in the 19 th and 21 st -century literature.

Research Topics in English Literature

In this category, there are comparison topics that you can analyze for your research. These are based on well-known books and novels in English.

  • Evaluate the diversity of Chaucer’s genres in tales of Canterbury.
  • The accuracy of historical novels in the document happenings.
  • How has the role of a woman changed in twentieth-century literature?
  • What effect does Milton’s paradise lost have on 17 th -century literature?
  • How have James Joyce and William Burroughs done their novels?
  • What is our modern perspective about 19 th -century novels and the general public and similar perspectives when they were first published?
  • Evaluate the less-known work of well-known writers.
  • Examine why adults find Lord of the Rings appealing.
  • How does the work of Maya Angelou play a role in African literary responses to racism?
  • Recognizing the unconscious in modernist literature.
  • Evaluate the representation of Hindu and Buddhist thought in Modern Literature.
  • The representation of abortion in British Literature.
  • Profess poetry in terms of style and faith in Hopkins.
  • Evaluate the evolution of literature in the twentieth century.
  • Describe the writing nature in the age of chemical countryside.

Literature Topics for Research Papers

These are some of the best literature topics for research papers. They require minimal effort to submit a well-written research paper.

  • The roles of gender in modern literature.
  • The importance of having animals in children’s literature.
  • Analysis of the first world war.
  • How accurate is History as described in historical novels?
  • The difference between literature in the US and Great Britain.
  • Analyze the 19 th -century poetic imagination.
  • Examine the 19 th -century poetic imagination based on astronomy.
  • How is quantum physics applied in literature?
  • What is the most important work written by William Shakespeare?
  • The Female masculinities in old English Literature.
  • The difference between modernism and realism.
  • Critical analysis of First World War poetry.
  • The analysis of the meaning of fairy tales in literature.
  • The influence on literature during the renaissance era.
  • The historical analysis of children’s literature.
  • The idea of death in Renaissance literature.
  • The historical background of Duma’s novels.

Literary Topics for a Research Paper

Literary topics are diverse. This can make it hectic to choose an appropriate one for your research paper.

  • Discuss the most important work of Shakespeare.
  • Describe the gothic novel’s gender representation.
  • The effect of social media language on learners.
  • The travails of the African woman.
  • The utilization of language activities in teaching and learning of English Language.
  • Discuss women in nation-building and influence on literature.
  • The relevance of folktale in the learning of literature.
  • The significance of drama and poetry in literature.
  • Factors affecting the choice of language in a multilingual society.
  • Comparative study of morphological processes in English.
  • Comparative study of Achebe’s “Things fall apart”.
  • The significance of proverbs in literature.
  • The influence of politics in the building of literary texts.
  • The analysis of speech in literature.
  • The analysis of threat in literature.

Research Topics in Literature

These research topics are based on various societal aspects and impacts on the world. They also deal with people’s emotions and behaviors in different contexts.

  • The nativization of English in African literary texts.
  • An analysis of the Asian theatre and influence on modern literature.
  • The examination of leadership in literature.
  • The relevance of literature in the world.
  • What is the need to study literature?
  • Evaluate the evolution of literature from the start till now.
  • Analyze the methods used in creating styles in the literature.
  • What are some of the feminist criticism of some selected Feminist works?
  • The importance of fiction in literature.
  • The relevance of emotion and narration in novel writing in literature.
  • Discuss how conflicts are brought out in literary novels.
  • What is the effect of language diversity on the development of a country?
  • Discuss the relevance of music and revolution.
  • The challenges of language on national development.
  • What is the communication medium used in literature?

Literature Paper Topics

Here are some of the best literature paper topics that you can use for your research. As long as you narrow down the research topic, getting relevant information will be easy.

  • The difference between linguistic and grammatical theories.
  • The problems related to tenses in literature.
  • The evaluation of word formation in literature.
  • The significance of poems in literature.
  • The evolution and levels of modern literature.
  • The personal happiness versus societal norms in Victorian literature.
  • The sentence structure of English literature.
  • Does the native language of a person influence adoption of a second language?
  • An analysis of problems associated with learning a second language.
  • The manifestation of non-standard usage of English among University Students.
  • The influence of rituals, music, songs, and dances in literature.
  • The poetic language and influence on the expression.
  • How can literature be termed as the vehicle for social change?
  • The syntactic problems associated with English usage.
  • The influence of society on students’ performance in literature.
  • Teaching and learning strengths in literature.

American Literature Research Paper Topics

Finding an ideal research paper topic in America’s context can consume a lot of time. Here you will find simplified topics for your research paper.

  • Discuss contemporary American Literature.
  • The African Realism and influence in Literature.
  • How did colonization influence modern literature?
  • Define 20 th -century Latin American literature.
  • Evaluate African Americans and their fight for equality in American Literature.
  • Define realism, naturalism, and modernism in African American literature.
  • Evaluate Allen Ginsberg and American Protest literature.
  • Examine American literature and society.
  • Analyze American literature in Post-World War II.
  • American Literature in the 20 th and 21 st century.
  • American literature and religious ideologies.
  • Anne Bradstreet’s contribution to American Literature.
  • The influence of Asian American literature.
  • Evaluate the color interpretations in the great Gatsby.
  • The common themes in American Literature.

Literature Research Paper Topics for College Students

Are you a college student looking for an ideal literature research paper? Here are some topics for you!

  • Provide your understanding of censorship in American Literature.
  • Evaluate black American women writers and their influence on the world.
  • Architectural imagery in 20 th century African American literature.
  • How do characters lose their innocence in literature?
  • The different modes of communication in literature.
  • The conversation of American Sign Language in literature.
  • How are dialects and death shown in literature?
  • How does Literature portray American culture?
  • How does self-verification occur in African American Literature?
  • The generational divide and impact on modern literature.
  • The establishment of traditional excellence.
  • Explore the modern literature.
  • How can you define masculinity in literature?
  • The impact of World War I on American literature.
  • The significance of African American literature addressing the black experience.
  • The male and female characters in Beowulf.
  • The relationship between mother and daughter in Beloved.

Literature Review Topics Examples

Do you know how to do a literature review on various topics? Try any of this and see your proficiency in the sector.

  • A literature review on rational and rationality.
  • A literature review on dependence and development.
  • A literature review on resource scarcity in the modern world.
  • A literature review on pop culture.
  • A literature review on Feminist international relations.
  • A literature review on complex organizations and regimes.
  • A literature review on censorship in TV shows.
  • A literature review on global warming and its influence on mankind.
  • Literature review on why children’s books are popular.
  • A literature review on how authors choose writing styles.
  • The use of artificial language in literature.
  • How education affects literature per era.
  • The most effective villains in literature.
  • How does Shakespeare inspire modern authors?
  • Propaganda and literature in the modern world.
  • Toni Morrison’s views on the civil way
  • The concept of war in the book; a fable by Faulkner.

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What kinds of topics are good ones?

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

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

How do I start research?

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

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

How do I use the information I find?

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

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

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

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

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

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

200 Compelling Literary Research Paper Topics to Explore

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Literary research holds the key to unlocking the power of knowledge and education. But what makes a research paper truly impactful? It all starts with selecting a fascinating topic. This blog post presents 300 handpicked Literary research paper topics that will ignite your scholarly pursuits. From cutting-edge trends to unexplored territories, these topics promise to fuel your intellectual curiosity and make you write like a professional  writing services  provider. So, let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Comprehensive Lists of Impressive Literary Research Paper Topics

Be it anything you want to research related to Literary, our comprehensive lists of topics have you covered. So, without further ado, let’s begin with our first list.

American Literature Topics for Research

Picking up a topic from this list will allow you to uncover hidden narratives, analyze iconic works, and more. Here you go with the list.

  • A Study of Domestic Gothic and postwar architectural culture in Shirley Jackson’s House Trilogy
  • Anti-racism Resistance in American Literature
  • Political and ideological agendas are reflected in American Literature
  • American Literature from a feminist point of View
  • Leonard Cohen’s Psalms or the demons of Tradition: the Book of Mercy and the Psalms of Leonard Cohen
  • An Overview of Spanish Literature Written in the United States
  • Correlations and contrasts between postmodernism and American Literature: A study of their relationship
  • Poetic Hybridity in American Poetry: existing and Resisting through Its Hybridity
  • Bram Stoker’s Dracula depicts vampires in what can be considered a realistic fashion
  • Comparison between Stephanie Meyer’s vampires vs. L.J. Smith’s vampires
  • How Bram Stoker’s Dracula differs from William Polidori’s The Vampire
  • Anne Rice vs. Stephanie Meyers: Different Approaches to writing supernatural Literature
  • Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Evolution of the Character with Time in Literature and Movies
  • Illustrations of Nosferatu, the first vampire character to appear on a screen in Literature
  • The relation between intertextuality and social space
  • Depiction of La Lorna and other supernatural elements in American Literature
  • Contemporary literary figures of Orality: ruptures and Continuity
  • What is the fascination with supernatural imagery in American Literature and popular culture?
  • Writings in English about refugee camps in Contemporary Literature
  • Taking a comparative look at contemporary theater stages
  • Comparing The Crucible with the actual Salem witch trials

Literary Research Paper Topics Related to English Literature

Pick a topic from this list and brace yourself for an awe-inspiring journey, illuminating the profound impacts of English literature on our hearts. Here’s the list.

  • What is Shakespeare’s contribution to classic English Literature?
  • Comparison and contrast of Shakespeare and Marlowe
  • Shakespeare and Marlowe: busting myths
  • Historical and Political Analysis of English Literature during the Middle Ages
  • The Elizabethan Era and English Literature
  • An Understanding of Victorian Literature from a political perspective
  • Comparing Edwardian Literature with its predecessors, what makes it unique?
  • English Literature at its Zenith
  • Greek Influence on English Literature: the history of English Literature
  • Comparing women’s Literature to classical English literature in terms of literary and social issues
  • An Overview of British Fiction from the 19th Century
  • Women in Classic English Literature: their portrayal and Characterization
  • Arab civilizations influenced Literature in the early English period
  • A collective analysis of English Poetry from the 19th to the 20th Century
  • The Impact of Modernism on English Poetry
  • The Social and political history of Victorian England as Portrayed through English Literature
  • Literary explorations of British colonial slavery during the 18th and 19th centuries
  • Adaptation to postcolonial cultures, neo-Victorian Culture, and Postcolonial Literature
  • Literature of the postcolonial period versus Literature of the British period
  • The history of books and publishing in the 20th-21st Century in British fiction
  • Emotional expression and perception, semantics, lexical semantics
  • A History of Ideas and Literature from the 18th Century
  • An overview of the history of publishing and books
  • Aspects of Race and Ethnicity, popular culture, and Politics
  • Britain’s Revolutions and the Rise of Socialism: Literature that influenced them
  • Actors of Shakespeare’s time, the role of the Elizabethan theater
  • Literature’s contribution to understanding British politics and society today

Postcolonial Literary Research Paper Topics

Dig into stories that question the effects of colonialism and look into issues of identity, resistance, and decolonization. Get inspired by the captivating stories that are reshaping the history of colonialism with these topics.

  • A Study of Heart of The Darkness from an analytical perspective
  • Heart of the Darkness: Conrad’s Treatment of Africans in the Story
  • Achebe’s stance against the design of Heart of Darkness
  • Heart of Darkness vs. Things Fall Apart: Comparisons and Contrasts
  • A Look at the Treatment of Africans in Things Fall Apart
  • Concept of native society in Things Fall Apart
  • A Study of the indigenous culture of Africa in Light of Things Fall Apart
  • Postcolonial Literature Compared to British Literature
  • Literature is written in the French language dealing with postcolonialism
  • The Analysis of Postcolonial Literature Written in India after the End of Colonialism
  • Ahmed Ali’s Works as Part of the postcolonial movement: a critical analysis
  • An Analysis of Twilight in Delhi as a postcolonial novel through the Lens of critical theory
  • Depiction of the colonized races in British Literature
  • Conrad’s treatment of negros and the accusation of racism
  • A Critique of Orientalism from the Perspective of Edward Said
  • Elements of Postcolonialism Twilight in Delhi
  • The elements belonging to the narrative framework of the postcolonial theory
  • Understanding Postcolonialism with Edward Said’s Orientalism
  • An Introduction to Postcolonial Theory: Concepts and Definitions
  • The Evolution of the Woman within Postcolonial Literature
  • An Overview of Algerian Postcolonial Literature
  • British Literature, with its treatment of African nations
  • Postcolonial and Feminine Resistance in Algerian and Sahrawi States
  • Postcolonialism: An Effort to search its history
  • Identity, alterity, and Hybridity in postcolonial states
  • Introduction to postcolonial theory

Arabic Topics in Literature

Discover the fascinating world of Arabic Literature and explore its cultural heritage, poetic stories, and social dynamics. Here you go with the list.

  • Literature of the Arab World and its Influence on French Literature
  • The Influence of Arab Culture on Middle Ages Literature
  • Hayy Bin Yaqzan is the first novel by modern criteria
  • A collection of poetry by Shafi’i and historical, literary Analysis
  • A Study of Religious Literature in Arabian Civilization
  • Islamic Golden Ages were characterized by more significant progress in theological Literature
  • Poetry from the Arab world is the foundation of modern global poetry
  • Literature related to Mahdism in Islam
  • Arab-Islamic culture is significant in the Literature written in Arabic
  • The Evolution of Arabic Poetry and Literature
  • The Poetry of the Arab Diaspora and Nature’s Aesthetics
  • Ghazali’s literary works and acknowledgment of divine essence
  • A study of the relationship between Arabic poetry and music and song
  • Al-Gazzal’s two doors of knowledge through the heart
  • Iberian expansion as a cause of Islamic culture’s influence on Western Literature
  • Music and poetry from the pre-Islamic period in Arabic
  • Arab Literature and social criticism in the modern era
  • Aristotelian Philosophy and Greek Mythology in Modern Arab Literature
  • The culture and civilization of the Ottoman Empire were influenced by Arabic poetry and music
  • Arabic Literature’s Depiction of Morality and Politics
  • A Study of Arab Literature by Christian Authors
  • The philosophy of Islam is expressed and explained through Arabic culture
  • An Introduction to the History and Literature of Islam

Existentialist Literary Research Topics

Dig into the deep thinking, self-examination, and emotions of uncertainty that come with exploring the works of important writers trying to figure out life, independence, and more. Here’s the list.

  • The post-war emergence of existentialism
  • War-torn human characters reflect existentialist Literature.
  • What is the character of Godot in Waiting For Godot? How does Beckett explain what he is saying?
  • Existentialist Drama into 21st-Century of Western Literature
  • How does Beckett become an existential absurdist?
  • Samuel Becket’s Life from a contemporary perspective
  • The Reasons and inspirations behind Sartre’s Existentialism
  • Waiting For Godot is interpreted in real time and real life.
  • Considering Jean-Paul Sartre’s works from different perspectives.
  • The Existentialist Literature: a critical analysis
  • Horrors of War and Existentialist Literature After and About the Vietnam War
  • A Comparison of Absurdism and Existentialism in Western Literature
  • Theater of absurdity representation of existentialism
  • A 21st-century Take on absurdist theater as a significant part of British Literature
  • Existentialism: Is it Here to Stay? Getting rid of absurdity in a changing world
  • Does the search for meaning transcend modern man?
  • Existentialism in British Literature
  • “There is infinite hope in the universe, not for us.” How do you see Kafka as an existentialist? How does he differ from the philosophers of his field?

Literary Research Topics Related to Poetry

Check out our great research paper topics and how powerful poems can be!

  • Pioneers of European Literature in the realm of poetry
  • Inspiration for John Keats’ poetry by Fanny Brawne
  • The difference between Keats and his contemporaries
  • Analyzing John Keats’ Works from a historical perspective
  • The poetry of social protest in the early Renaissance
  • What makes the poetry of the Renaissance the most outstanding?
  • An early role played by Midland poets in the development of English poetry
  • Literature of the Highlands and its Contribution to English cultural development
  • The challenges of the development of English poetry
  • Geoffrey Chaucer, the father of English poetry
  • Poetry as a Pillar of Modern Literature
  • The Importance of legal vocabulary in a poetic context
  • Thinking about poetry as a critique from the Renaissance era
  • The genre and meaning of Auden’s poem
  • Poetry of Robert Frost: A study
  • Research on the poetry of William Shakespeare
  • Wordsworth as a pioneer of modern Literature
  • Poetry of Alfred Lord Tennyson: a historical analysis
  • A general study of the Poetry of Samuel Taylor Coleridge
  • A Look and Study of the Aubreys of Innocence by William Blake
  • Prose versus poetry in the early Renaissance
  • Story of Love and Death, by Edgar Allan Poe.
  • Emily Dickinson is one of America’s most famous poets
  • Maya Angelo’s struggle for civil rights and using poetry as a vector of fight

Literary Research Topics Related to Novel

Go deep into the story, getting to know the characters and thinking about the themes to unlock the timeless charm of this popular type of writing. Here’s the list.

  • A Study of the Gothic Novel in the British Isles
  • Publishing Literature the modern novel: conditions and Sources of Innovation
  • History and Fiction in African-American Women’s Literature
  • Toni Morrison is one of the pioneers of the American novel
  • Covenant: An American Novel of South African History
  • James Michener’s works in novels and different aspects of modern American society
  • Modern Literature in the Film and tv industry
  • Novels of Thomas Hardy, a critical analysis
  • What is the significance of Jane Austen as a pioneer of English literature? What are your thoughts on this?
  • A Comparison and Contrast of American dystopian novels
  • Supernatural novelists of English literature, between William Polidori and Bram Stoker
  • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is the first supernatural novel in the history of English literature
  • Children’s Literature written in British territories
  • Postcolonial novels from a 21st-century perspective
  • The Vampire Diaries, the pioneering novel for gen-z supernatural fascinations
  • Anne Rice vs. Stephanie Meyers: what is different and what is similar
  • Knowledge, Power, and Authority in Contemporary Fantasy
  • Tensions and Expression in the Modern American Novel
  • Political Depiction of Christianity in American Novels and Movies

Literary Research Topics Related to Drama

Check out these cool topics to write an amazing research paper your teacher is expecting of you. 

  • Shakespearean Drama from historical practices
  • Plagiarism allegations about Shakespeare
  • William Shakespeare vs. Christopher Marlowe: Contrasts and Comparisons
  • An overview of Shakespeare’s plays and how they formed modern theater and cinema
  • Waiting For Godot by Beckett, from a directorial and cinematic perspective
  • Elizabethan vs. Jacobean Drama: What makes them different?
  • Oscar Wilde as a playwright, from a modern perspective
  • Shakespeare as a pioneer of the European literature boom
  • Role of Queen Elizabeth I in the Promotion of English Drama and Theater
  • Stages of Transformation: at the Crossroads of Theater and abolitionist movements
  • Role of Drama in European Literature
  • The Drama of the 21st Century and how it differs from the Classics
  • Greek tragedy compared to Shakespearean tragedy
  • Greek Tragedy vs. Classical English Drama
  • Modern vs. Classical tragedy, essential comparative elements
  • Was European Literature initially focused on Drama? Why or why not?
  • The Importance of Being Earnest is one of the most beloved plays. Why?
  • Oscar Wild as a dramatist
  • Literature formed Freudianism, a psychoanalytical analysis of the plays that inspired Sigmund Freud
  • Mourning Becomes Electra and Oedipus Rex, how two tragedies formed the Basis of modern psychology
  • Literary Analysis of the Supernatural in the Plays of Marlowe
  • Classic vs. Modern Literature in the Area of Tragedy and Drama
  • Edward Bond, a playwright of hope or despair?
  • When does British Literature portray elements of World war
  • Literary devices used in early British literary works and Renaissance literature
  • Language diversity in historical novels in the Victorian literature era
  • European culture depicted in early American Literature
  • American literature contribution to Studies on Classical Literature
  • Literary Argument on literary works of the Renaissance in Comparison with Indian Literature

Interesting Literature Topics

These literary research topics can spark your interest, challenge your views, and help you appreciate Literature even more.

  • Travel writing for college students living the American dream
  • Use of poetic language and literary devices in Japanese literary works
  • Social identity in dystopian Literature that World War II inspired
  • Male and female characters in African American Literature
  • Literary novels in the genre of young adult literature
  • Literature paper on Japanese Literature depicting Post World War II modern culture
  • Literary Analysis of artificial language in Utopian and Dystopian Literature
  • The modern culture depicted in American and Asian culture
  • Literary Analysis of Harry Potter and novel writing for university students
  • Harry Potter is a significant literature contribution opening new doors to literary research.
  • Comparative Literary Analysis of travel writing vs. literary journalism
  • Literary Analysis of travel writing in Indian Literature
  • African literary responses to American Literature on world war in the Twentieth Century
  • How American Literature Differs from Modern Chinese Literature: Form and evaluate literature response on Written Literature

Hopefully, these lists of good topics for research papers have helped you pick a suitable subject and make a real difference in literary research. Remember that a good topic always plays a pivotal role in the paper’s success. If you are still trying to figure out how to proceed with your assignment , count on the professional expertise of  our writers .

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Literature Research Paper Topics in 2023

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Table of contents

  • 1 What is Literature Research?
  • 2 Tips on How to Select the Best Literature Research Paper Topic?
  • 3 Literary Research Topics for High School
  • 4 Literature Research Paper Topics for College Students
  • 5 Literacy Research Topics for Debate
  • 6 British Literary Research Topics
  • 7 American Literature Research Topics
  • 8 World Literature Research Paper Topics
  • 9 Modernist Literature Research Paper Topics

What is Literature Research?

Before choosing topics in literature, clarify the concept of literature research to understand the main purpose, structure, and features of writing this type of task.

Firstly, the student must consider the vision of the author of the work, the interpretation of his images, and their personification as the protagonists of the issues on the agenda of that time.

Next, the stylistic and semantic features of the work should be analyzed. Rhythm, speech style, and symbolic and compositional features are often difficult for inexperienced students. We recommend to buy literature review online to be sure of its quality, to get a high score, and have a sample for the future.

After that, the student must give his assessment of the text. Express your opinion about the main events in the book, their significance, and their impact on the further development of the plot.

Tips on How to Select the Best Literature Research Paper Topic?

After reading a text, you often get overwhelmed with impressions and thoughts and need help choosing literature topics for research papers. That is why we offer the following plan for students to select the best literature research topics for their paper:

Abstract from the main idea of the work and try to find topics that are not obvious at first glance. This advice will be especially useful for older students who, in addition to technically correct paper writing, want to stand out from their peers. This question often arises when writing dissertations or theses. If you thought: “How to write a good literature review for a dissertation with an engaging topic?” keep reading.

Select 3-4 topics that seem most interesting literature topics to you. Writing top research papers often takes several weeks. So make sure that during the whole time, you will desire to return to this task.

Choose a topic in which you will feel confident. Each of us has stronger and weaker areas of knowledge. Use your advantage and choose a topic you will understand better than others.

Literary Research Topics for High School

If you are a high school or university student and need to complete an assignment but still don’t know how to do it or lack time, we recommend you to buy college research paper from professionals to stay on the safe side. And for those, who want to see literature topics for research paper examples, we’ve listed 10 of them below:

  • Self-Sacrifice as a Manifestation of Cowardice or Courage: Examples in Medieval Ballads
  • Social Identity in Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes: the Madness of the Main Character as a Prototype of Humanistic Views
  • The Plot of “Painful Love” in William Shakespeare Plays as an Example of an Ideal Experience of Feelings
  • Lady Macbeth and Its Historical Prototype: Similarities and Differences
  • The Image of the Catholic Church in Dante Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy”
  • Why are Hemingway’s Works Still Important for the Development of Modern Society?
  • How Aztec Mythology Influenced the Literary Customs of American Prose
  • Contribution of African Americans to the Image of the “White Invader” in Books of the 20th and 21st Centuries
  • Viking Beliefs and their Echoes in European Literature: Examples from Renaissance Literature
  • Is it Possible to Create a Universal Artificial Language? How will it Affect Literature?

Literature Research Paper Topics for College Students

Students need to stand out from their groups when studying in college with unique and engaging papers. If you want to impress your classmates and teacher with an outstanding paper, check the list of these exciting literature topics.

  • How do Authors Describe Madness in Literature?
  • Victorian Literature and Its Peculiarities: Structural, Compositional and Stylistic Features
  • The Contribution of the Arabic Verse System to World Poetics: Beyts, Rudakis, Rubai Poems
  • Protagonists Character Analysis of Moliere’s Play “The Nobleman”: the Main Features Inherent in the Heroes of Classical Works
  • The History of the Development of Speech and its Influence on the Works of Renaissance Authors
  • The Influence of the Catholic Church on Literature and Writing in the Middle Ages
  • Indian Literature Discuss – Structural and Compositional Design of Works, Stylistic Features and Metaphorical Images
  • West VS East: Comparative Description of the Main Characters’ System of Images & Behavior Patterns Using Examples of Modern Works (Optional)
  • The Policy of Imperialism and its Influence on Literary Variability in the Countries of North America
  • The Main Challenges in Studying Literary Discourse for Students. How to Deal with Them? Personal View

If you are struggling to come up with good literature research paper topics, PapersOwl can do a literature review for you and help you come up with ideas and new information. Our team of expert writers will research and find the most relevant topics and provide you with research material to get you going.

Literacy Research Topics for Debate

It is hard to find essay topics when everything is analyzed and researched many times. Moreover, students must remember that they should develop their literature to discuss subjects from the beginning of the introduction till the very last word of conclusion of research paper . We’ve prepared a list of engaging for the audience and interesting to explore for you literary topics for research papers.

  • Religion and Literature – Exploring the Similarity and Differences
  • Psychology and Literature. Do Authors of Psychology Books Aim to Help Society? Is it a Financial Plan?
  • War and Peace – Ideas of Hedonism even During Dark Times or Idealization of Violence by Giving Humanity to the Main Characters?
  • Screen Adaptations VS Printed Books: Eternal Confrontation of Preferences or Rejection of Modern Reality?
  • The Role of the Theory of Literary Studies in Applied Approaches to the Study and Processing of Medieval Novels
  • Can Ancient Writings on Tablets, Cave Walls or Papyrus be Considered Ancestors of Modern Literature? For and Against
  • The Culture of Mass Consumption and its Influence on Reducing the Circulation Interval of Books: is there a Direct Connection?
  • Postmodern Poetics: Main Rules and Canons. Do they Exist?
  • Can Prose Compete with Poetics in Lyricism: Examples of Francesco Petrarca Works
  • Do Mythological Knowledge and Ancient Legends Influence Modern Literature? Proving by Examples.

British Literary Research Topics

English literature has a great variety of themes to explore. That is why it is confusing for many students to come up with interesting British literary research topics. Thus, our team offers you unique and engaging English literature research paper ideas which you can use directly for writing or inspiration:

  • Ancient Literature in Britain: Connection and Influence of the Roman Literary Canon
  • Literature of the Knights Templar: Myth or Truth?
  • British Literature During the Reign of King Henry VIII: How was the Change of Religion Reflected in Literature?
  • Dirk Bogard – Biography and Contribution to the Literary Heritage of the United Kingdom
  • William Shakespeare’s Tragedies as a Consequence of the Era or the Playwright’s Misogynistic Views?
  • British Nobel Laureate in Literature: Rudyard Kipling. Author’s Creative Path and Outstanding Works
  • “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde as the Legalization of the “Low” Desires of Mankind
  • Byronism and its Influence on George Byron’s European Contemporaries-Colleagues
  • Why were Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Plays and Poems Overshadowed by his Detective Novels?
  • European Realistic Novel. The role of Daniel Dafoe in the Creation of this Genre.
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American Literature Research Topics

Often, teachers ask students to research a particular piece of American literature. This is a tricky task because a huge number of different directions, currents, and authors might seem confusing. Our team has prepared the top 10 American literature research paper topics that you can use to write an essay that will impress your teacher.

  • The Role of African American Literature Pieces in Modern Written Heritage
  • Early American Literature. Was there a Literature Culture among the Native Peoples of America?
  • The Uniqueness of the American Literary Style in the World Picture of Literary Heritage
  • Regional Features of the Use of Stylistic Means in the USA
  • Benjamin Franklin and his Address to the European Theme: Analysis of a Selected Piece
  • Rhetorical Heritage of the Puritans and its use in Works Based on the “Founding Myths of the United States”
  • The American Renaissance: What New Appeared in the Literature of American Authors in this Period?
  • Feminist Influence on the Number of Women Writers in Contemporary American Literature
  • Top 10 Masterpieces of American Literature that Never Became World Famous
  • The Influence of Printed Media on American Literature in the 80s of the Last Century.

World Literature Research Paper Topics

Choosing one subject of interest from world literature is the same as finding a perfectly-shaped grain of sand on the beach. We’ve selected the best ideas for your literary research paper to simplify your life.

  • The Spirit of Duende in Spanish-Language Literature
  • Postindependence Indian Literature – Comparative Characteristics with the Past
  • Influence of Japanese Literature on Modern Asian and European Literature
  • Western Literature in Comparison to Eastern Literature: Analysis of the Main Ideological Values and their Implementation in Plots
  • Social Stratification and Self-Identification of Indian people on the Example of the Novel “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts
  • Contemporary Literature of Mexico: Main Features Borrowed from American Literature
  • Highlighting the Problem of Violence in the Works of Modern Authors in American Literature
  • Why Mass Literature Displaces “Underground” Authors: Can We Stop this Process?
  • Literary Discourse of the Arab World: the Influence of Poetics on Prose
  • Agatha Christie and the Murder on the Orient Express: Was Hercule Poirot Contused rather than Genious?

Modernist Literature Research Paper Topics

The era of modernism affected every sphere of human life: the political organization of countries, changes in labor law, music, visual arts, and literature. This period is one of the most confusing and, at the same time, the most intriguing in the field of literature. That is why our team has prepared for students the 10 best research topics of the modernist era.

  • Tiffany Style: Detailed Overview of Features and Specific Details
  • Liberty Style in Italy: Theoretical Aspect of Emergence
  • P. Ranson and the Art Nouveau Style: Compositional Characteristics of Novels
  • “Stream of Consciousness” and the Depiction of New Forms of the Human Psyche by Modernists
  • Universalization of Artistic Techniques in the P.Bonner Works
  • “Jugend-Shtil”: Special Details of Trivial Everyday Life
  • “Philosophy of Order” in the Utopian Idea of the Way of Life in American Literature
  • Research the Subject’s Internal Individual Freedom at a Deeper Level of his Internal Isolation
  • Advantage of Creative Intuition over Classical Canons: Contemporary American Literature
  • Metalanguage and Myth-Making: Creation of a New Genre in Literature

Looking for interesting literature research paper topics? Look no further! If you’re having trouble finding inspiring ideas for your paper, PapersOwl writing service can provide you with the help you need. With its vast database of resources and experienced writers, PapersOwl can offer fresh and innovative topics to make your paper stand out.

All in all, literature discussion papers are challenging for many students. You need to dive into a text, analyze all its peculiarities, and give your own opinion. We hope our study research topics will simplify your task and will come in handy. Just remember to select the topic you are interested in and, of course, use our tips to write an outstanding paper. Good luck!

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Top 150 Literature Research Paper Topics For A Brilliant Essay

Choosing the best literature research paper topic is not an easy task for many learners. In case you are looking for some tips on how to choose a perfect topic for your essay, this post is right for you. Discover the hottest prompts on picking up the best topic for your academic paper, as well as explore the most popular ideas for creating an essay on literature.

How To Choose The Literary Topic For An Essay

There are several ways on how to pick up an idea for a successful academic paper. Feel free to choose the most fitting alternative from the list below.

  • Select a literature style as a topic for your paper. This is one of the most common ways to pick up an idea for your essay. You will need to determine the basic features of a chosen literature style, choose the masterpieces you are going to describe, and classify the literature works. However, it might be a bit difficult since there are many controversial literature examples that are not easy to analyze.
  • Choose an author as a topic for your academic paper. This way, you will describe the main ideas, concepts, and innovations created by a particular writer, as well as the impact of this personality on literature as a whole. Still, avoid turning your research paper into a biography.
  • Pick up a certain book as an essay topic. It is a good idea but it might appear to be difficult to add something new to the chosen field.

Top Literature Research Topics: Heroes And Characters

Many students believe that it is easier to write an essay about a certain person or character rather than a particular trend in literature. By the way, creating an academic paper about a hero requires being precise and sticking to the chosen topic.

  • Oedipus: An Essay Outline
  • The Tragic Hero In The World Literature
  • Reflection On Hamlet
  • Emma By Jane Austen: The Destiny Of The Main Heroine
  • The Bright Personality Of The Old Man And The Sea
  • The Classic Hero In Literature
  • The Features Of The Epic Hero
  • The Willing And Unwilling Heroes: The Main Differences
  • The Basic Concepts Of The Antihero
  • Stylistic Devices And Rhetorical Strategies In Literature
  • Beowulf: An Example Of The Scandinavian Hero
  • Pierre Beaumarchais: Figaro
  • For Whom the Bell Tolls: The Character of Robert Jordan
  • Abraham van Helsing from Dracula by Bram Stoker
  • Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  • Wilhelm Tell by Friedrich Schiller: The Legend
  • The Character Of Heathcliff From Wuthering Heights
  • Alice From The Alice In Wonderland
  • The Three Musketeers
  • King Arthur
  • Sherlock Holmes
  • Romeo And Juliet
  • Harry Potter
  • Sinbad The Sailor
  • Don Quixote

Literature Topics For Research Papers: Women In Literature

The role of women in society has been changing over time. The topics below will help you understand the basic issues a common woman faced in different centuries, as well as discover the most impressive literature masterpieces created by female writers.

  • The Aged Mother: Criticism Essay
  • The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin: Response Paper
  • La Estrategia De Chochueca by Rita Indiana Hernández: The Summary
  • Women And Children In Modern Literature
  • The Pride and Prejudice By Jane Austen
  • Charlotte Bronte And Her Role In The World History
  • J.K.Rowling As A Bright Example Of A Successful Female Writer
  • Harper Lee: To Kill A Mockingbird Summary
  • The Stories Of Virginia Woolf
  • Inspiring Female Writers And The Lessons They Teach Us
  • Gender Roles In Literature

The World Literature Research Paper Topics

There is nothing new that world literature research topics remain popular among students for years. These topics allow you to improve the knowledge of the global trends in literature, discover the masterpieces of the world literature, and understand the cultural processes in various countries in different centuries.

  • Barn Burning By William Faulkner: Loyalty And Blood Themes
  • Cliches In The Modern Literature
  • Critical Issues In Literature
  • The Social Issues In The Literature Of 20th Century
  • Modern Trends In Literature
  • The Difference Of Literature In Various Countries
  • The Influence Of Literature On The Society
  • Masterpieces In The Literature Of 18th Century
  • Masterpieces In The Literature Of 19h Century
  • Masterpieces In The Literature Of 20th Century
  • Reading Literature As A Modern Way Of Self-education
  • Greek Mythology And Its Role In The World Literature
  • The Impact Of Literature On Modern Culture
  • Literature Periods
  • The Role Of Comedies In The World Literature
  • The Role Of Tragedies In The World Literature
  • Psychological Trends In World Literature
  • Politics In The World Literature
  • Romance In Literature

The Best Literary Analysis Essay Topics

Literary analysis is one of the most common solutions for choosing easy-to-write research paper topics. The fact is that analysis is one of the inevitable steps of understanding the basic concepts of literature. Therefore, the analysis topics might become a perfect option for beginners in the world of literature. Moreover, you don’t need to be exceptionally creative when composing essays on analysis.

  • Car Crash While Hitchhiking: The Analysis Of The Literary Fiction Story
  • The Ethics Of Belief by Clifford: An Advanced Summary And Analysis
  • The Lesson By Toni Cade Bambara: Analysis And Summary
  • An Advanced Analysis Of Tree And Culinary Lesson
  • Mcwp 6-11 Leading Marines: The Analysis
  • My Native Land, My Home by Claude Mckay: In-Depth Analysis
  • Analysis Of Salvation By Langston Hughes
  • Preventive Corrective And Detective Controls
  • A Black Man Talks Of Reaping Analysis
  • Servant Leadership And Diverse Context
  • The Impact Of Literature Nowadays

Satire Topics Ideas For A Successful Essay

Satire has been the main trend in literature for years. But how did it change over time? What is the difference between satire and irony? What are the satire’s basic features? Writing an essay on these topics might be an excellent idea.

  • Ancient And Modern Satire
  • Trends In The Modern Satire
  • Literature Techniques In Writing Satire
  • Satires Of Rome
  • Satires Of Ancient Greece
  • Satire In Political Poems
  • Satire And Comedy: Common Features And Differences
  • English Satire
  • Satire In The 18th Century
  • Satire In The 19th Century
  • Shakespeare's Satire
  • World Famous Satirists
  • The Difference Between Anecdotes And Satire
  • The Motivation Of Satirists
  • Satire And History
  • Satire And Irony: The Main Differences
  • Humor And Satire In The Modern Literature
  • The Origins Of Satire
  • Radicalism And Satire
  • Black Humor And Satire

Controversial Topics In Literature Of All Times

In case you are looking for something contradictory to write about, the controversial literary research paper topic might be a nice option for your needs. The conflict of generations, formalism, and Franz Kafka are no longer the only alternatives to write about.

  • Is Modern Youth More Self Centred Than The Other Generations
  • Common Theme Between Xla And Faat Kine
  • Franz Kafka And His Role In The Literature
  • Formalism In Literature
  • Structuralism In Literature
  • The Parents And Children In Literature
  • Documentary In Literature
  • War And Peace Topics
  • The Role Of Family In The Modern Literature
  • The Conflict Of Generations

Western Literature Topics For A Brilliant Research Paper

Western literature holds a special place in the history of world literature. Wars, conflicts, riots, totalitarianism, technical progress, and other topics are all common for western literature.

  • Witches Loaves By O'Henry: The Lessons The Story Teach Us
  • Ernest Hemingway And The “Lost Generation”
  • Mark Twain And His Most Brilliant Characters
  • Welsh Literature
  • Latin American Literature Masterpieces
  • Oscar Wilde And His Impact On Literature
  • Trends In Celtic Literature
  • Trends In Icelandic Literature
  • American Dream In Literature
  • Death In Western Literature
  • Identity In Literature
  • Imperialism In Literature
  • Race Issues In Literature
  • Travel In Western Literature
  • Utopian Literature

Most Popular European Literature Topics

The literature of the Renaissance and the Middle Ages has lots of masterpieces many students admire. The development of the culture can be also easily studied by creating an essay on the European literature research paper topic.

  • The Use Of Setting And Atmosphere In Dracula By B Stoker
  • Theme Of Power In Othello By William Shakespeare
  • French Literature
  • German Literature
  • Spanish Literature
  • Finnish Modern Literature
  • Danish Modern Literature
  • Polish Modern Literature
  • Latvian Modern Literature
  • Renaissance Literature
  • Medieval Literature
  • Realism And Symbolism Trends
  • Political Poems And The Role In The World History
  • Postmodernism Trends
  • Latin Literature Trends
  • The literature of the 17th century

Eastern Literature Research Paper Topics For Diligent College Students

Eastern literature covers lots of periods and countries. You can write about Japan, China, Egypt, Ancient East, or Mesopotamia, as well as explore the cultural trends in different countries.

  • Turkish Literature
  • Arabic Literature
  • Sanskrit Literature
  • Famous Arabic Poets
  • Persian Literature
  • The Main Trends In Modern Chinese Literature
  • The Main Trends In Modern Japanese Literature
  • Confucianism
  • Famous Chinese Fiction
  • The Topic Of Death In Eastern Literature
  • The Topic Of Honor In The Eastern Literature
  • The Issues In The Eastern Literature
  • Saint Pachomius
  • Khalil Gibran
  • Anthony Of Egypt
  • Philosophy In Ancient Chinese Literature
  • Metaphor In Japanese Literature
  • Masculinity In Arab Literature
  • War In Persian Literature
  • Wisdom In Eastern Literature

How To Create A Brilliant Paper On Literature Topic

Choosing a suitable and easy-to-write topic for your essay is only half of the job you need to do. The most challenging thing is to create a concise, precise, fresh, and understandable academic paper with no mistakes. So, here is what you need to do to get the highest score for your essay:

  • Create an attractive and catchy introduction
  • Pick up the most interesting ideas for your paper
  • Create an outline
  • Point out the most important facts in the body of your essay
  • Choose only reliable and up-to-date sources
  • Create a paper in a proper voice and tone
  • Complete the paper with a fitting conclusion
  • Make your paper look solid
  • Avoid any grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes, as well as typos
  • Use proper formatting

As far as you can see, creating a successful paper is not as easy as it might seem from first glance. In case you feel this task is unaffordable for you, you can get professional help with creating a winning academic paper according to your needs for a reasonable cost. Buying an essay is as simple as 1-2-3, while the entire job of creating an academic paper will be done by professional writers.

REFERENCES:

  • Research tips for students
  • Basic facts about literature
  • The literature of ancient China
  • The literature of ancient Rome
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Literature Research Paper Topics

Last updated on: May 13, 2024

200+ Engaging and Novel Literature Research Paper Topics

By: Donna C.

12 min read

Reviewed By: Chris H.

Published on: Mar 27, 2024

literature research paper topics

Ever found yourself trapped in the never-ending cycle of bland literature topics? 

Picture this: drowning in a sea of boring ideas, feeling the weight of monotony with every potential topic. The struggle is real, and the prospect of writing yet another dull paper can be a major buzzkill for any student.

But fear not! 

Get ready because we've got the perfect guide for the best research topic about literature. 

We will provide you with a list of literature research paper ideas that are not only engaging but also match your interests!

So, let’s get into it!

literature research paper topics

On this Page

Good Literature Research Paper Topics for Students

Getting started on a research paper is exciting, but picking the right topic can be a bit tricky. We want to make this journey easy for you. 

So, let's explore some cool and interesting literature research project topics that not only make your paper look good but also make the whole process a lot more fun. 

Literature Research Topics for High School 

  • The Role of Friendship in Classic Novels
  • Symbolism in Short Stories: A Comparative Analysis
  • Portrayal of Social Issues in Young Adult Literature
  • Exploring Themes of Love and Loss in Shakespearean Sonnets
  • Narrative Techniques in Modern Short Stories
  • The Impact of Nature in Romantic Poetry
  • Comparing Heroic Journeys in Epic Poems
  • The Influence of Fairy Tales on Modern Literature
  • Depiction of Family Dynamics in Classic Plays
  • Satirical Elements in Comedy Plays: A Study

Literature Research Topics for College Students

  • Metafiction in Postmodern Novels: A Comparative Analysis
  • Gender Roles and Identity in Contemporary Literature
  • The Intersection of Science and Literature in Speculative Fiction
  • Magical Realism Across Cultures: A Global Perspective
  • Existential Themes in Modern Drama: An In-depth Exploration
  • Postcolonial Perspectives in Caribbean Literature
  • The Influence of Mythology on Modern Fantasy Novels
  • Narratives of Displacement and Exile in Immigrant Literature
  • Literary Representations of Mental Health: A Critical Study
  • Eco-criticism in Environmental Literature: Current Trends

Literature Research Topics for University

  • Postmodern Narratives and Metafiction: A Critical Examination
  • The Impact of Postcolonial Literature on Global Literary Discourse
  • Modernist Poetry and Its Influence on Contemporary Verse
  • Ecocriticism in 21st-Century Environmental Literature
  • Exploring the Intersection of Science and Literature in Speculative Fiction
  • Gender Identity and Representation in Contemporary Novels
  • Literary Responses to Trauma: A Comparative Study
  • The Role of Magical Realism in Latin American Literature
  • Colonialism and Its Effects on Indigenous Voices in Literature
  • Satire and Social Critique in Contemporary Novels

Literature Research Topics for Master’s and Ph.D.

  • Poststructuralist Analysis of Contemporary Poetry
  • Eco-critical Perspectives in 21st Century Environmental Literature
  • The Intersection of Literature and Cognitive Science: A Neuro-literary Approach
  • Queer Theory and LGBTQ+ Representation in Modern Novels
  • Globalization and Its Impact on Narrative Techniques in Postcolonial Literature
  • Posthumanism in Science Fiction: Redefining Humanity in Literature
  • Comparative Study of Magical Realism in Latin American and African Literature
  • Deconstructionist Reading of Classical Literary Texts
  • The Ethics of Postmodern Narratives: A Critical Examination
  • Modernist Aesthetics in Graphic Novels: A Visual Literary Analysis

Research Topics For English Literature Students

  • The Portrayal of Mental Health in Contemporary English Literature
  • Exploring the Themes of Identity and Belonging in Postcolonial English Novels
  • An Analysis of Symbolism in the Works of William Blake
  • The Representation of Gender Roles in 19th Century English Literature
  • Examining the Role of Folklore in Modern English Fiction
  • Postmodern Elements in Contemporary English Poetry
  • The Intersection of Science and Literature in English Romanticism
  • A Comparative Study of Tragedy in Shakespearean and Modern English Drama
  • Environmental Concerns in 21st Century English Literature
  • The Evolution of the Antihero in English Literature

Research Topics In English Literature For MA

  • The Representation of Mental Illness in Contemporary English Literature
  • Postcolonial Identity in the Novels of Salman Rushdie
  • Gender and Power Dynamics in Victorian Society
  • The Role of Folklore in the Works of Angela Carter
  • Deconstructing Cultural Hybridity in Postcolonial English Novels
  • The Evolution of the Gothic Novel in 19th Century England
  • Comparative Analysis of Shakespearean Tragedies and Modern Drama
  • Modernist Poetry: T.S. Eliot’s the Wasteland
  • Ecocriticism and Environmental Themes in 21st Century English Literature
  • Intersectionality and Feminist Themes in Postmodern English Fiction

Children's Literature Research Paper Topics

  • The Influence of Fairy Tales on Child Development
  • Diversity and Representation in Contemporary Children's Literature
  • Impact of Interactive Picture Books on Early Literacy
  • The Role of Animals in Children's Stories
  • Exploring Moral Values in Classic Children's Literature
  • Gender Stereotypes in Children's Books
  • The Evolution of Illustrations in Children's Literature
  • Cultural Themes in Global Children's Stories
  • Fantasy vs. Reality in Children's Literature
  • The Importance of Humor in Children's Books

Simple Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Exploring Friendship in Classic Novels
  • An Analysis of Symbolism in a Selected Short Story
  • Depiction of Social Issues in Contemporary Young Adult Literature
  • The Role of Setting in Gothic Literature
  • Examining Satirical Elements in a Comedy Play
  • Narrative Techniques in a Modern Short Story
  • Themes of Love and Loss in Shakespearean Sonnets
  • Analyzing the Coming-of-Age Theme in a Novel

World Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Mythology and Its Influence on World Literature
  • Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Global Poetry
  • Magical Realism: A Comparative Study Across Cultures
  • The Role of Oral Tradition in African and Indigenous Literature
  • Classical Epics: A Comparative Analysis of Homer and Other Cultures
  • Transcultural Narratives in the Novels of Isabel Allende
  • Folklore and Traditional Storytelling in Asian Literature
  • Postcolonial Themes in Latin American and African Novels
  • Comparative Analysis of Shakespearean Plays in Different Cultural Contexts
  • Existential Themes in World Literature: From Camus to Murakami

American Literature Research Paper Topics

  • The Harlem Renaissance: Artistic Expression in African American Literature
  • Nature and Wilderness in Early American Literature
  • The Portrayal of Women in American Literature Throughout Historical Context
  • Modernism and Its Influence on American Literature
  • Postcolonial Perspectives in Contemporary American Literature
  • Social Critique in the Works of Mark Twain
  • Literature of the Civil Rights Movement
  • Environmental Themes in Contemporary American Fiction
  • The Role of Immigration in Shaping American Literature
  • Native American Literature: Voices and Narratives

Early American Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Puritan Literature: Exploring Religious Themes and Values
  • Native American Oral Traditions: A Comparative Study
  • The Role of Women in Colonial American Literature
  • The Influence of European Enlightenment on Early American Writing
  • The Rhetoric of Revolution: Political Pamphlets in the Colonial Period
  • Benjamin Franklin and the Art of Autobiography
  • Exploration of Nature and Wilderness in Early American Literature
  • Religious Tensions in the Salem Witch Trials: Literary Perspectives
  • Narratives of Captivity and Slavery in Early American Writing
  • The Concept of the American Dream in 18th-Century Literature

British Literature Research Paper Topics

  • The Role of Nature in British Romantic Poetry
  • Social Class and Its Portrayal in Victorian Literature
  • The Influence of Mythology in British Literature
  • Shakespearean Tragedy: Themes and Impact
  • Modernism in British Literature: A Break from Tradition
  • Gothic Elements in British Literature
  • Feminist Perspectives in British Novels
  • Literature of the Elizabethan Era: Politics and Culture
  • British War Literature: Reflections on Conflict
  • Postcolonial Themes in Contemporary British Fiction

African American Literature Research Paper Topics

  • The Harlem Renaissance: Literary Technique of African American Culture
  • Representation of Slavery and Freedom in African American Literature
  • Identity and Self-discovery in the Works of Toni Morrison
  • Jazz and Blues as Cultural Motifs in African American Poetry
  • The Evolution of the Black Female Protagonist in Novels by Alice Walker
  • Langston Hughes and the Influence of the Blues on Poetry
  • Afrofuturism in Contemporary African American Science Fiction
  • The Impact of the Civil Rights Movement on African American Literature
  • The Role of Oral Tradition in African American Folklore
  • Intersectionality in the Novels of James Baldwin

European Literary Research Paper Topics

  • The Concept of Romantic Love in European Poetry
  • Existential Themes in European Post-War Novels
  • Social Realism in 19th-Century European Fiction
  • Surrealism and Magical Realism in European Literature
  • Comparative Analysis of Gothic Elements in European Novels
  • Nationalism and Identity in European Literature of the 19th Century
  • Feminist Perspectives in European Modernist Novels
  • The Impact of World War I on European Literary Expression
  • Exploring Symbolism in European Theatre of the 20th Century
  • European Literary Responses to Colonialism and Postcolonialism

English Literature Research Paper Topics

  • The Role of Women in Early English Literature
  • Allegorical Elements in Medieval English Literature
  • Shakespearean Tragedies: Themes and Characters
  • The Influence of Renaissance Humanism on English Literature
  • Romantic Poetry: Nature and Emotion
  • Social Critique in Victorian English Literature
  • The Gothic Novel: Themes and Settings
  • Modernist Literature in English: Breaking Traditions
  • Postcolonial Perspectives in English Literature
  • Contemporary British Literature: Trends and Themes

Ancient Literature Research Paper Topics 

  • The Epic Hero in Ancient Greek and Roman Literature
  • The Role of Fate and Free Will in Ancient Tragedies
  • Comparing the Themes of Love and War in Ancient Epics
  • The Representation of Women in Ancient Literature
  • Philosophical Elements in Ancient Greek and Roman Dialogues
  • The Concept of Justice in Ancient Philosophical Texts
  • Religious and Mythological Motifs in Ancient Mesopotamian Literature
  • Ancient Egyptian Poetry: Themes and Structures
  • The Use of Symbolism in Ancient Chinese Poetry
  • Exploration of Ancient Indian Epics: Mahabharata and Ramayana

Modernist Literature Research Paper Topics

  • The Impact of World War I on Modernist Literature
  • Stream of Consciousness Technique: A Stylistic Analysis in Modernist Novels
  • The Role of Urbanization in Modernist Poetry
  • Surrealism and Magical Realism in Modernist Literature
  • Modernist Women Writers: Breaking Literary Norms
  • Fragmentation and Dislocation in Modernist Texts
  • The Influence of Freudian Psychoanalysis on Modernist Literature
  • Harlem Renaissance: Modernist Expression in African American Literature
  • The Relationship between Modernist Literature and Visual Arts
  • Modernist Plays: Reinterpretation of Dramatic Form

Renaissance Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Humanism in Renaissance Literature: A Comparative Analysis
  • The Influence of Classical Literature on Renaissance Writers
  • Courtly Love and Petrarchan Sonnets in Renaissance Poetry
  • Machiavelli's 'The Prince': Political Philosophy in Literature
  • The Role of Women in Renaissance Drama and Poetry
  • Chivalry and Knightly Virtues in Renaissance Romances
  • Shakespeare's Tragedies: Exploring Themes and Characters
  • The Impact of Printing Press on the Spread of Renaissance Literature
  • Religious Themes in Renaissance Literature: A Comparative Study
  • The Italian Sonnet Tradition and Its Adoption in English Literature

War Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Trauma and Recovery in Post War Memoirs
  • Depictions of PTSD in Contemporary War Fiction
  • War and Identity: Exploring Personal Transformation in Literature
  • The Role of Women in War Literature
  • Representations of War in Graphic Novels and Comics
  • Comparative Analysis of World War I and World War II Literature
  • War Poetry: A Cross-Cultural Exploration
  • The Impact of Technology on the Portrayal of War in Literature
  • Narratives of Exile and Displacement in War Literature
  • The Ethics of War in Modern Fiction

Literature Research Topics Across Time and Genre

  • Spiritual and Physical Union in John Donne's Poetry
  • Cultural Critique in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' and 'Lord Jim'
  • Allegory and Symbolism in Spenser's 'Faerie Queene'
  • Totalitarianism and Surveillance in Orwell's '1984'
  • Female Independence in Bronte's 'Jane Eyre'
  • Themes of Romance and Chivalry in Medieval Courtly Love
  • Love and Revenge in Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights'
  • Stream of Consciousness in Woolf's 'To the Lighthouse'
  • Existential Despair in Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot'
  • Colonialism and Moral Ambiguity in Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'
  • Political Satire in Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels'

Controversial Literary Research Paper Topics

  • The Representation of Gender and Sexuality in Classic Literature
  • Censorship and Banning of Books: Examining Controversial Cases
  • Cultural Appropriation in Literature: Critique and Impact
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Narratives of War and Conflict
  • The Use of Trigger Warnings in Literary Education
  • The Controversy Surrounding Authorship: Ghostwriting and Collaboration
  • Exploring Taboo Themes in Young Adult Literature
  • Literature and Social Justice: The Responsibility of Authors
  • The Influence of Political Correctness on Literary Expression
  • Controversies in Literary Criticism: Interpretation and Bias

How to Choose a Literature Research Paper Topic?

Choosing a topic for your literature research paper is an important step. Here's a simple guide to help you pick an outstanding research paper topic :

  • Pick What You Like: Start by thinking about what you enjoy reading.  Do you like stories from a certain time or about specific things? Your interest will make your research more enjoyable.
  • Look at What's Popular Now: See what people are talking about in literature today.  It could be new ideas or themes. Choosing something current can make your research more relevant.
  • Focus on Details: If you have a big topic in mind, try to narrow it down.  For example, pick a specific author, place, or theme. This makes your research more specific and interesting.
  • Keep Flexibility in Mind: Be open to adjusting your topic as your research progresses.  Sometimes, new discoveries or shifts in your perspective may lead to a more refined and compelling focus. 

In conclusion, choosing a literature research paper topic involves a combination of personal passion, academic relevance, and practical considerations. 

In this blog, we have provided you with a wide range of literature research topics. Make sure to choose one that matches your interests! 

If you feel overwhelmed by research paper writing or even choosing the topic, hire professional help from SharkPapers.com

Our write my research paper service will help with every step of writing and editing a paper, till you are satisfied! 

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Donna C.

Marketing, Literature

Donna writes on a broad range of topics, but she is mostly passionate about social issues, current events, and human-interest stories. She has received high praise for her writing from both colleagues and readers alike. Donna is known in her field for creating content that is not only professional but also captivating.

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275 Good Literature Research Paper Topics & Ideas

  • Icon Calendar 17 May 2024
  • Icon Page 2641 words
  • Icon Clock 12 min read

Literature research paper topics span a vast range of themes, diving deep Into diverse cultural expressions of humanity encapsulated in texts. They may include examining the role of gender, race, or class in seminal works, deconstructing narrative strategies used by specific literature authors, or probing historical and social contexts that influenced particular literary movements. Comparative literature studies offer fascinating insights by contrasting different authors, periods, or cultures. Literary theories, like postmodernism, feminism, or post-colonialism, provide additional lenses to interpret texts critically. On a more granular level, an analysis of symbols, motifs, or character development in a single literature work can yield rich discussions. The impact of digital media on literature is another progressive angle. With the vast scope and depth, literature research paper topics invite the exploration of multi-faceted dimensions.

Top Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Modern Interpretations of Shakespeare’s Female Characters
  • Comparative Analysis of Magic Realism in Latin American and African Literature
  • Gender Stereotypes in Classic “Fairy Tales”: A Feminist Reading
  • Postcolonial Discourses in Salman Rushdie’s Novels
  • The Portrayal of Mental Health Issues in Young Adult Dystopian Novels
  • Tragic Elements and Morality in Ancient Greek Drama
  • Medieval Literature: A Deep Dive Into Chivalric Codes
  • Depictions of Nature in Romantic Poetry: Keats and Wordsworth
  • Satire as a Political Tool in Jonathan Swift’s Works
  • Insights Into Victorian Society through Charles Dickens’s Novels
  • Analysis of Irony in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”
  • Existential Themes in Albert Camus’s “The Stranger”
  • Reading Into Metaphysical Elements in John Donne’s Poetry
  • Gothic Tropes in Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights”
  • Exploration of Race Relations in Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”
  • Mapping Journey Motifs in Homer’s “Odyssey”
  • Postmodern Narrative Techniques in Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five”
  • Elements of Surrealism in Gabriel García Márquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude”
  • Unraveling Childhood Innocence in J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”
  • Deciphering Symbolism in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”

Good Literature Research Paper Topics & Ideas

Simple Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Love Themes in “Romeo and Juliet”
  • “Pride and Prejudice”: A Study of Class Differences
  • Symbolism in Classics: “The Old Man and the Sea”
  • Epistolary Style in “Dracula”: Advantages and Limitations
  • Human Nature in “Lord of the Flies”
  • Nature Imagery in Wordsworth’s Poetry
  • Dualism in “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
  • Portrayal of Women in “The Handmaid’s Tale”
  • Morality in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
  • Shakespeare’s Use of Soliloquy in “Hamlet”
  • Dystopian Elements in “1984”
  • Heroism in “Beowulf”: An Analysis
  • Innocence and Experience in Blake’s “Songs of Innocence and of Experience”
  • Significance of Dreams in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”
  • Children’s Perspective in “The Secret Garden”
  • Comparing Bronte Sisters: Themes in “Jane Eyre” and “Wuthering Heights”
  • Post-War Reality in “The Catcher in the Rye”
  • Survival and Humanity in “The Road”
  • Animal Imagery in Orwell’s “Animal Farm”

Interesting Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Dystopian Projections in Margaret Atwood’s “Oryx and Crake”
  • Magical Elements in Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children”
  • Challenging Class Systems in Dickens’s “Great Expectations”
  • Existential Concerns in Kafka’s “The Trial”
  • Depicting Childhood Trauma in Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner”
  • Exploitation Themes in Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle”
  • Steinbeck’s Critique of Capitalism in “Grapes of Wrath”
  • Illusion and Reality in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
  • Cultural Collision in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
  • Decoding Ecofeminism in Barbara Kingsolver’s “Prodigal Summer”
  • The Symbolism of the Mississippi River in Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
  • Questioning Morality in Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment”
  • Loss and Regret in Ian McEwan’s “Atonement”
  • Feminist Undertones in Virginia Woolf’s “To the Lighthouse”
  • Violence and Rebellion in Anthony Burgess’s “A Clockwork Orange”
  • Exploring Oppression in George Orwell’s “1984”
  • Unveiling Transcendentalism in Thoreau’s “Walden”
  • Interpreting Paradox in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland”
  • Understanding Antiheroes in Bret Easton Ellis’s “American Psycho”
  • Power Dynamics in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”

Literature Research Topics for High School

  • Tracing Gothic Themes in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
  • Unmasking Symbolism: Interpreting Imagery in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
  • Exploring the Concept of Heroism in J.R.R Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings”
  • Feminist Perspectives in Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre”
  • Satirical Elements in Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
  • Dystopian Societies: A Comparative Study of George Orwell’s “1984” and Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”
  • Postmodernist Techniques in Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five”
  • Southern Gothic and Memory in William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”
  • Cultural Displacement and Identity in Amy Tan’s “The Joy Luck Club”
  • Manifestations of the American Dream in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
  • Interpretation of Dreams and Reality in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland”
  • Analysis of Autobiographical Elements in Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”
  • Divergent Perspectives of Time in Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway”
  • Intersection of Art and Life in Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
  • Native American Mythology in Louise Erdrich’s “Tracks”
  • Human Morality and Ethics in Albert Camus’ “The Stranger”
  • Parallels Between War and Chess in Stefan Zweig’s “The Royal Game”
  • Cross-Cultural Relationships in Jhumpa Lahiri’s “The Namesake”
  • Stream of Consciousness Technique in James Joyce’s “Ulysses”
  • Understanding Death Through Emily Dickinson’s Poetry

Literature Research Topics for College Students

  • Examination of Heroic Archetypes in Homer’s “Odyssey”
  • Exploring Cultural Identity in Jhumpa Lahiri’s “The Namesake”
  • Decoding Magical Realism in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude”
  • Inquiries Into the Absurd in Albert Camus’s “The Stranger”
  • Dissection of Class Conflict in Charles Dickens’s “Hard Times”
  • Understanding Transcendentalism through Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essays
  • Manifestations of Fate and Destiny in Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of the D’Urbervilles”
  • Delineation of Feminine Strength in Jane Austen’s “Persuasion”
  • Satire as a Societal Mirror in Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”
  • Unveiling Symbolism in Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
  • Assessment of Postmodern Elements in Thomas Pynchon’s “The Crying of Lot 49”
  • Dissecting Racism in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”
  • Extrapolating Environmental Themes from Ernest Callenbach’s “Ecotopia”
  • Demystifying Magic Realism in Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children”
  • Journey Motif in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”
  • Analyzing Dual Personalities in Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
  • Tragic Love in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
  • Portraying Madness in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • Uncovering Utopian Ideas in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”

Literature Research Topics for University

  • Decoding Stream of Consciousness Technique in Virginia Woolf’s “To The Lighthouse”
  • Assessment of Existentialism in Jean-Paul Sartre’s “Nausea”
  • Deconstruction of Racism in Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”
  • Investigating Trauma in Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried”
  • Dissection of Consumerism in Bret Easton Ellis’s “American Psycho”
  • Examining Gender Norms in Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women”
  • Inquiry Into Surrealism in Haruki Murakami’s “Kafka on the Shore”
  • Tracing Familial Ties in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude”
  • Interrogating Nihilism in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Notes from Underground”
  • Exploration of Spirituality in Hermann Hesse’s “Siddhartha”
  • Deconstructing Masculinity in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises”
  • Deciphering Nature Imagery in William Wordsworth’s Poetry
  • Delineation of Social Status in Edith Wharton’s “The Age of Innocence”
  • Analysis of Post-Colonial Themes in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
  • Investigation of War Commentary in Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22”
  • Exploration of Existential Crisis in Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”
  • Dissecting Rebellion in George Orwell’s “1984”
  • Examination of Love and Loss in John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars”
  • Tragic Themes in Sophocles’s “Oedipus Rex”
  • Unveiling Modernism in James Joyce’s “Ulysses”

Literature Research Topics for Master’s and Ph.D.

  • Cultural Displacement Analysis in Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children”
  • Nietzschean Perspectives in Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment”
  • Autobiographical Influence in Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar”
  • Subversion of Gender Norms in Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando”
  • Psychoanalytic Reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s Short Stories
  • Investigation Into Metafiction in Italo Calvino’s “If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler”
  • Identity Negotiations in James Baldwin’s “Go Tell It on the Mountain”
  • Sartrean Existentialism in Albert Camus’s “The Stranger”
  • Deconstruction of Colonial Narratives in J.M Coetzee’s “Waiting for the Barbarians”
  • Utopian Idealism in Thomas More’s “Utopia”
  • Questioning Morality in Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go”
  • Feminist Readings of Simone de Beauvoir’s “The Second Sex”
  • Analysis of Symbolism in William Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury”
  • Investigation of Absurdism in Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot”
  • Dissecting Magical Realism in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude”
  • Tracing Mythological Allusions in Dante Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy”
  • Comparative Study of Tragic Heroes in Shakespeare’s Tragedies
  • Exploration of Trauma in Art Spiegelman’s “Maus”
  • Conceptions of the Self in Marcel Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time”
  • Analyzing Paradox in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland”

English Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Cultural Criticism in Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales”
  • Deconstructionist Readings of John Milton’s “Paradise Lost”
  • Analyzing Gender Dynamics in Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights”
  • Colonial Discourse in Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”
  • Comparative Study: Shakespeare’s Comedies vs. Tragedies
  • Psychoanalytical Interpretation of Characters in D.H. Lawrence’s “Sons and Lovers”
  • Religious Allusions in George Herbert’s Poetry
  • Depiction of Victorian Society in Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of the D’Urbervilles”
  • Exploration of Feminist Themes in George Eliot’s “Middlemarch”
  • Romanticism and the Sublime in William Wordsworth’s Poetry
  • Subversion of Gothic Conventions in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
  • Satirical Elements in Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”
  • Examining Narrative Structure in Laurence Sterne’s “Tristram Shandy”
  • Critiquing Imperialism in Rudyard Kipling’s “Kim”
  • Identity Politics in Zadie Smith’s “White Teeth”
  • Analyzing Trauma in Pat Barker’s “Regeneration”
  • Metaphysical Elements in John Donne’s Poetry
  • Modernism and Stream of Consciousness in Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway”
  • Inquiry Into Postmodernism in Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses”

World Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Comparative Analysis of Magical Realism in Gabriel García Márquez’s Work “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children”
  • The Interplay of Irony and Satire in Voltaire’s “Candide”: An In-Depth Study
  • Existentialism in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment”: A Philosophical Inquiry
  • Politics of Gender in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
  • Power of Storytelling in “Arabian Nights”: A Narrative Examination
  • Tragic Elements in Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”: A Dramatic Analysis
  • Influence of Historical Context in Dante’s “The Divine Comedy”
  • Modernist Themes in James Joyce’s “Ulysses”: An In-Depth Analysis
  • Postcolonial Perspectives in J. M. Coetzee’s “Disgrace”
  • Examination of Symbolism in Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”
  • Unraveling Surrealism in Federico García Lorca’s “Blood Wedding”
  • Quest for Identity in Wole Soyinka’s “Death and the King’s Horseman”
  • Peculiarities of Bildungsroman in Thomas Mann’s “The Magic Mountain”
  • Melodrama and Sentimentality in Leo Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina”
  • Postmodern Techniques in Italo Calvino’s “Invisible Cities”
  • Religious Motifs in Yukio Mishima’s “The Temple of the Golden Pavilion”
  • Deconstruction of the Hero Archetype in “Beowulf”: An Analytical Study
  • Decoding Mythology in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “Love in the Time of Cholera”
  • Gothic Elements in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”: A Comprehensive Analysis
  • Semiotics of War in “The Iliad” by Homer: A Deeper Look

American Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter”: A Deeper Understanding
  • Modernist Elements in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
  • Decoding the Racial Landscape in Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
  • Examination of the Feminine Voice in Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening”
  • Nature and Wilderness in Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden”: A Thorough Analysis
  • Existential Themes in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
  • Gothic Tropes in Edgar Allan Poe’s Short Stories: An Analytical Approach
  • Subversion of Romantic Ideals in Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick”
  • Postmodern Experimentation in Thomas Pynchon’s “The Crying of Lot 49”
  • Humanism and Individualism in Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass”: A Comprehensive Study
  • Interrogating Social Issues in John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath”
  • Absurdity and Alienation in Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”
  • Motifs of Feminism in Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar”
  • Unraveling Magical Realism in Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”
  • Tracing Violence and American Dream in Cormac McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian”
  • Discourses of Power in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
  • Investigating Racism and Injustice in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”
  • Exploration of Gender and Class in Edith Wharton’s “The House of Mirth”
  • Southern Gothic Elements in William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”

Early American Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Revisiting Puritan Ideology in John Winthrop’s “A Model of Christian Charity”
  • Interrogating Witchcraft in Cotton Mather’s “Wonders of the Invisible World”
  • Colonial Discourse in John Smith’s “A Description of New England”
  • Unearthing Abolitionist Rhetoric in Phillis Wheatley’s “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral”
  • Narrative Structures in Mary Rowlandson’s “The Sovereignty and Goodness of God”
  • The Dichotomy of Faith and Reason in Jonathan Edwards’ Work “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
  • Tales of Captivity: An Analysis of Olaudah Equiano’s “The Interesting Narrative”
  • Puritan Ethics in Anne Bradstreet’s “To My Dear and Loving Husband”
  • Exploration of Moralism and Feminism in “Charlotte Temple” by Susanna Rowson
  • Sentimentality and Revolution in Hannah Webster Foster’s “The Coquette”
  • Mourning and Memorial in Edward Taylor’s “Preparatory Meditations”
  • Decoding the Political in Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”
  • Unraveling Utopia in Francis Bacon’s “New Atlantis”
  • Intersections of Religion and Ecology in William Bartram’s “Travels”
  • Slavery and Autobiography in “The History of Mary Prince”
  • Examining Native Representation in James Fenimore Cooper’s “The Last of the Mohicans”
  • Investigation of Transcendentalism in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance”
  • Deconstruction of Gothic in Charles Brockden Brown’s “Wieland”
  • Manifest Destiny and Conquest in Washington Irving’s “A Tour on the Prairies”
  • The Interplay of Autobiography and Identity in Benjamin Franklin’s “The Autobiography”

Modernist Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Stream of Consciousness Portrayal in Virginia Woolf’s “To the Lighthouse”
  • Decoding Symbolism in T. S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land”
  • Mythical Allusions in James Joyce’s “Ulysses”
  • Questioning Identity in Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot”
  • Exploration of Absurdism in Albert Camus’ “The Stranger”
  • Unraveling Dystopia in George Orwell’s “1984”
  • War Imagery in Ernest Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms”
  • Discourses of Power in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”
  • Interrogating Alienation in Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”
  • Confronting Colonialism in Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”
  • Critique of Consumerism in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
  • Religious Symbolism in William Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying”
  • Time and Memory in Marcel Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time”
  • Revisiting Surrealism in André Breton’s “Manifestoes of Surrealism”
  • Constructing Feminine Voice in Djuna Barnes’ “Nightwood”
  • Melancholia and Desire in Thomas Mann’s “Death in Venice”
  • Tracing Revolution in John Dos Passos’ “The 42nd Parallel”
  • Racial Tensions in Richard Wright’s “Native Son”
  • Examination of Silence in Eugene O’Neill’s “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”

Renaissance Literature Research Paper Topics

  • Interrogating Love in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
  • Humanism in Thomas More’s “Utopia”
  • Religious Symbolism in John Donne’s “Holy Sonnets”
  • Examining Power in Christopher Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus”
  • Quest for Knowledge in Francis Bacon’s “The Advancement of Learning”
  • Nature and Desire in Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress”
  • Comparative Analysis of Metaphysical Poetry: John Donne and George Herbert
  • Petrarchan Influence in Edmund Spenser’s “The Faerie Queene”
  • Tragedy and Revenge in Thomas Kyd’s “The Spanish Tragedy”
  • Decoding Allegory in John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress”
  • Courtly Love in Sir Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte d’Arthur”
  • Exploration of Colonial Discourse in Richard Hakluyt’s “The Principal Navigations”
  • Interrogating Femininity in Aphra Behn’s “Oroonoko”
  • Carnival and Power in Rabelais’ “Gargantua and Pantagruel”
  • Satirical Elements in Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”
  • Renaissance Humanism in Pico della Mirandola’s “Oration on the Dignity of Man”
  • Political Machinations in Niccolò Machiavelli’s “The Prince”
  • Deciphering Madness in Robert Burton’s “The Anatomy of Melancholy”
  • Rhetoric and Persuasion in Thomas Hobbes’ “Leviathan”
  • Imagery and Metaphor in Sir Philip Sidney’s “Astrophil and Stella”

Literature Review Research Paper Topics

  • Synthesis of Feminism in Contemporary Women’s Literature
  • Historical Contexts of Postcolonial Literature: A Critical Examination
  • Deconstruction in Postmodern Literature: A Comprehensive Analysis
  • Comparative Review of Magical Realism in Latin American Literature
  • Understanding Trauma Narratives in Holocaust Literature
  • Unveiling Dystopia in Contemporary Young Adult Fiction
  • Identity Politics in Post-Apartheid South African Literature
  • Power Dynamics in Dystopian Science Fiction Literature
  • Dialogues of Ecocriticism in Environmental Literature
  • Subversion of Narrative Structures in Experimental Literature
  • Poe’s Gothic Tradition: An Analysis Across Multiple Works
  • Discourse of Mental Illness in Modernist Literature
  • Comparative Analysis of Existentialism in European Literature
  • Review of Cyberpunk Tropes in Contemporary Literature
  • Revisiting Chivalry in Medieval Arthurian Literature
  • Metamodernism in 21 st -Century Literature: A Critical Review
  • Investigation of Spiritualism in Transcendentalist Literature
  • Tracking Satire in 18 th -Century British Literature
  • Review of Queer Themes in LGBT+ Literature
  • Understanding Cultural Hybridity in Diasporic Literature

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100 best literary research paper topics for 2023.

literary research paper topics

Did you know that your professor will most likely award you bonus points simply because you came up with the most literary research paper topics? Or that writing essays on the best literary research paper topics is quicker than writing about other topics? Our list of literary analysis topics, literary analysis research paper topics and English literature topics is exactly what you need. All the topics are completely free to use and entirely original. We are working hard to update the list periodically to make sure we can help as many students as possible.

The Ultimate Literary Research Paper Topics List

Stop searching all over the Internet for excellent literary essay topics. Take a look at our list of literary topics and pick the one you like right now. We have plenty of topics for literary analysis split into different categories, so high school and college students can easily find what they are looking for, not matter if it’s rhetorical analysis essay or a paper related to specific period in literature. In addition, our literature topics are fresh. In other words, they are a great option in 2023. Get the best topics in literature in mere minutes right here (literary debate topics included).

Top 10 Literature Topics

Take a look at our list of the best 10 literary analysis essay topics ever and select the one you like. Remember, all these topics are original (at the time of writing):

  • Describe literature as a part of the modern culture.
  • Daoism in modern Chinese literature.
  • Feminism in contemporary literature.
  • Don Quixote’s most important personality traits.
  • How did literature help advance human culture?
  • 21st century poetry.
  • Charles Dickens and picture in the Victorian period.
  • Gender issues in European literature.
  • Difference between villains and antiheroes in modern literature.
  • Psychology and its link to literature.

British Literature Research Paper Topics

Are you interested in writing something interesting about British literature? If so, you may be interested in some of our amazing British literature research paper topics:

  • Cultures influenced by British literature.
  • Describe the peculiarities of the Orphans theme.
  • Compare two characters from 2 British literary works.
  • Utopian civilization in British literature.
  • Gender issues in British literary works.
  • What makes a book a classic?
  • Lake Poets and the Romantic Movement in British literature.
  • Oliver Twist: individualism and collectivism.

Interesting Literature Topics

Did you know that if you manage to surprise or impress your professor, you will most often get some bonus points? To achieve this, just choose one of these interesting literature topics:

  • Macbeth and the supernatural theme.
  • Social issues in modern literature.
  • Describe two masterpieces of contemporary literature.
  • Ethnicity in modem literature.
  • What is formalism in literature?
  • An in-depth Solomon Northrup biography.

Easy British Literature Essay Topics

We know, you want to write an interesting essay about British literature but don’t want to spend 4 days on it. Here are some easy British literature essay topics you will surely appreciate:

  • Discuss the Harry Potter books.
  • The loss of innocence motif (Lord of the Flies by William Golding)
  • Detective novels and their rise in popularity.
  • Analyze the three witches in Macbeth.
  • Describe the theme of class demarcation.
  • World War I: the use of violent imagery in novels.

Research Topics in English Literature

Do you want some of the best research topics in English literature on the Internet? You are in luck. We have some fresh topics that would work great in 2023:

  • Compare two of your favorite classis books.
  • What makes your favorite book so interesting?
  • Describe your favorite character in a book.
  • The best 5 authors in modern times.
  • Why has Harry Potter became so important?
  • Describe your favorite poet.

Western Literature Topics

Writing about Western literature can be a thrilling experience. Here are some topic ideas to choose from:

  • Compare and contrast 3 literary devices.
  • Artificial language in The Lord of the Rings.
  • The Bildungsroman genre: what is it?
  • Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner: Top 3 themes
  • Discuss the novel Tom Jones by Henry Fielding.
  • Paradise Lost’s influence on the modern novel

Literary Argument Topics

If you want to write a literary argument but don’t know where to start, we recommend you select one of these easy literary argument topics and start writing the paper today:

  • The Genesis myth in literature of the 17th century.
  • Analyze the poems by Thomas Hardy and identify the love and loss motifs.
  • Describe the peculiarities of rustic writing.
  • Gender in gothic novels.
  • Space age in literature of the 21st century.
  • Effects of mass print on Renaissance literature.

American Literature Research Paper Topics

Don’t postpone writing the American literature essay. We know you don’t know where to start, so we have put together a list of awesome American literature research paper topics just for you:

  • In-depth analysis of Colonial-period literature.
  • Puritan themes in Jonathan Edwards’ sermons.
  • Analyze Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence.
  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: The power of education.
  • Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea: unbreakable spirit
  • James Weldon Johnson’s The Creation: God’s humanity

Easy American Literature Topics

In case you want to write an essay about American literature but don’t want to spend too much time on it, we have some very interest and very easy American literature topics for students:

  • Discuss Latin American literature.
  • Top three literary devices in Moby Dick.
  • Discuss the main theme in Hamlet.
  • Eastern and Western literature: Similarities and differences
  • Discuss the contemporary literary theory.
  • Peculiarities of the personality of Don Quixote

Literary Analysis Paper Topics

Let’s face it: writing literary analysis essay can be a very difficult thing to do, especially if you don’t have academic writing experience. To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of original literary analysis paper topics:

  • Analyze your favorite book.
  • Contrast two characters in your favorite literary work.
  • Analyze the historical context of your favorite book.
  • Analyze the main idea of a literary work of your choice.
  • An in-depth analysis of the cultural context of a book.
  • She significance of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy.

European Literature

Are you interested in European literature? Don’t worry, we have some excellent topic ideas you can choose from right now:

  • Discuss Henrik Ibsen.
  • The peculiarities of Medieval European literature.
  • Analyze major divisions in literature in Europe.
  • The impact of European literature on modern literature.
  • Discuss The Epic of Gilgamesh
  • Discuss symbolism in European literature.

American Literature Research Topics for College

College students should pick more complex topics to write their essays about. Our skilled writers managed to create a list of American literature research topics for college students that are entirely original:

  • Compare American and European literature.
  • Compare American and Asian literature.
  • Women in American literature.
  • Critical issues in American literature.
  • Comedy in American literature.
  • War and peace in American literature.

Literary Journalism Topics

Interested in writing about literary journalism? We will make things as easy as possible for you. Just select one of these unique literary journalism topics and start working on your paper in minutes:

  • Adventure as a form of creative nonfiction.
  • Write a story about a famous crime.
  • Write the biography of your favorite writer.
  • Write a sporting story.
  • Discuss a political event.
  • Write about the history of an important invention.

World Literature Research Topics

It can be pretty tough to write a great essay on one of the many world literature research topics. Fortunately for you, we have some interesting ideas that don’t require extensive research:

  • Compare Chinese and Japanese literary works.
  • The differences between European and Chinese literature.
  • Similarities between Iliad and Odyssey,
  • Compare two Indian anti-British literary works.
  • How did Marx and Engels influence European literature?
  • Supernatural and spirituality in American literature.

Poetry Topics

Do you like poetry? If you do, you are most likely interested in writing an essay about it. Here are some great ideas that will get you started (all poetry topics are 100% original):

  • Discuss Sylvia Plath’s poems.
  • The Flowers of Evil by Charles Baudelaire
  • What is prose poetry?
  • Interesting features of the Sonnets (Shakespeare)
  • Allen Ginsberg’s influence on poetry
  • Allusions in modern poetry.

Eastern Literature

Eastern literature has some unique traits that you won’t find anywhere else. If you are intrigued about this and want to write about Eastern literature, pick one of the topics below:

  • A biography of Khalil Gibran.
  • Discuss peculiarities of Jewish literature.
  • Turkish literary devices.
  • Motifs in Aladdin.
  • Daoism philosophy in Chinese works.
  • Compare Arabic and Chinese poetry.

Need More Help?

We know that some students want even more interesting topics. Or perhaps you want some complex topics that will surprise your professor. Our writers are here to help you with anything you need. We can send you another list of literary research paper topics in no time. Each and every topic will be original, so you can safely use any of them without having to worry about plagiarizing anything.

In addition to literature research topics, we can help you with all sorts of writing, editing and proofreading services. Our experienced academic paper writers have written thousands of academic papers in any format and on any topic you can imagine. We have the skills and the experience to help you find complex literary topics for research paper and write an essay that will get you the A+ you need.

art research paper topics

PERSPECTIVE article

This article is part of the research topic.

Feminist Methodologies in Research on Violence, Displacement, and Power

Bringing Rigor in Contextual Objectivity: Lessons from Applying A Feminist Lens in Scoping the Evidence on Girlhood Studies in Indonesia Provisionally Accepted

  • 1 Center on Child Protection and Wellbeing at Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia
  • 2 School of Culture and Communication, Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne, Australia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

This perspective paper contemplates the nuances of engaging with literature ethically in conducting a scoping review based on the researchers' project on girlhood studies in Indonesia. We assert that the ethical perspective extends beyond conventional primary data collection from human participants, further emphasizing the essence of a feminist methodology in this scholarly investigation. We discuss the interplay between the role of rigor and the dynamics of power relations in research, shedding light on reconciling between the pursuit of facts and acknowledgment of biases in knowledge production. This reflection offers insights into the methodological process and the researcher's role, contributing to the broader discourse on how research can effectively address issues of gender equity and social inclusion. Through this paper, we underscore the necessity of an intentional approach in unifying the domains of science and advocacy because only then can we truly catalyze transformative change. In doing so, we seek to foster a more comprehensive, objective, and empathetic understanding of the researched: in this case, the experiences of girls and young women -and, by extension, marginalized individuals in Indonesia and beyond.

Keywords: Girlhood, Feminist methodology, Scoping review, advocacy, Indonesia

Received: 16 Nov 2023; Accepted: 15 May 2024.

Copyright: © 2024 Kusumaningrum, Tieken, Adhi, Nisa, Sari and Beta. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Mx. Shaila Tieken, Center on Child Protection and Wellbeing at Universitas Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia

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AI-assisted writing is quietly booming in academic journals—here's why that's OK

by Julian Koplin, The Conversation

AI-assisted writing is quietly booming in academic journals—here's why that's OK

If you search Google Scholar for the phrase " as an AI language model ," you'll find plenty of AI research literature and also some rather suspicious results. For example, one paper on agricultural technology says,

"As an AI language model, I don't have direct access to current research articles or studies. However, I can provide you with an overview of some recent trends and advancements …"

Obvious gaffes like this aren't the only signs that researchers are increasingly turning to generative AI tools when writing up their research. A recent study examined the frequency of certain words in academic writing (such as "commendable," "meticulously" and "intricate"), and found they became far more common after the launch of ChatGPT—so much so that 1% of all journal articles published in 2023 may have contained AI-generated text.

(Why do AI models overuse these words? There is speculation it's because they are more common in English as spoken in Nigeria, where key elements of model training often occur.)

The aforementioned study also looks at preliminary data from 2024, which indicates that AI writing assistance is only becoming more common. Is this a crisis for modern scholarship, or a boon for academic productivity?

Who should take credit for AI writing?

Many people are worried by the use of AI in academic papers. Indeed, the practice has been described as " contaminating " scholarly literature.

Some argue that using AI output amounts to plagiarism. If your ideas are copy-pasted from ChatGPT, it is questionable whether you really deserve credit for them.

But there are important differences between "plagiarizing" text authored by humans and text authored by AI. Those who plagiarize humans' work receive credit for ideas that ought to have gone to the original author.

By contrast, it is debatable whether AI systems like ChatGPT can have ideas, let alone deserve credit for them. An AI tool is more like your phone's autocomplete function than a human researcher.

The question of bias

Another worry is that AI outputs might be biased in ways that could seep into the scholarly record. Infamously, older language models tended to portray people who are female, black and/or gay in distinctly unflattering ways, compared with people who are male, white and/or straight.

This kind of bias is less pronounced in the current version of ChatGPT.

However, other studies have found a different kind of bias in ChatGPT and other large language models : a tendency to reflect a left-liberal political ideology.

Any such bias could subtly distort scholarly writing produced using these tools.

The hallucination problem

The most serious worry relates to a well-known limitation of generative AI systems: that they often make serious mistakes.

For example, when I asked ChatGPT-4 to generate an ASCII image of a mushroom, it provided me with the following output.

AI-assisted writing is quietly booming in academic journals—here's why that's OK

It then confidently told me I could use this image of a "mushroom" for my own purposes.

These kinds of overconfident mistakes have been referred to as "AI hallucinations" and " AI bullshit ." While it is easy to spot that the above ASCII image looks nothing like a mushroom (and quite a bit like a snail), it may be much harder to identify any mistakes ChatGPT makes when surveying scientific literature or describing the state of a philosophical debate.

Unlike (most) humans, AI systems are fundamentally unconcerned with the truth of what they say. If used carelessly, their hallucinations could corrupt the scholarly record.

Should AI-produced text be banned?

One response to the rise of text generators has been to ban them outright. For example, Science—one of the world's most influential academic journals—disallows any use of AI-generated text .

I see two problems with this approach.

The first problem is a practical one: current tools for detecting AI-generated text are highly unreliable. This includes the detector created by ChatGPT's own developers, which was taken offline after it was found to have only a 26% accuracy rate (and a 9% false positive rate ). Humans also make mistakes when assessing whether something was written by AI.

It is also possible to circumvent AI text detectors. Online communities are actively exploring how to prompt ChatGPT in ways that allow the user to evade detection. Human users can also superficially rewrite AI outputs, effectively scrubbing away the traces of AI (like its overuse of the words "commendable," "meticulously" and "intricate").

The second problem is that banning generative AI outright prevents us from realizing these technologies' benefits. Used well, generative AI can boost academic productivity by streamlining the writing process. In this way, it could help further human knowledge. Ideally, we should try to reap these benefits while avoiding the problems.

The problem is poor quality control, not AI

The most serious problem with AI is the risk of introducing unnoticed errors, leading to sloppy scholarship. Instead of banning AI, we should try to ensure that mistaken, implausible or biased claims cannot make it onto the academic record.

After all, humans can also produce writing with serious errors, and mechanisms such as peer review often fail to prevent its publication.

We need to get better at ensuring academic papers are free from serious mistakes, regardless of whether these mistakes are caused by careless use of AI or sloppy human scholarship. Not only is this more achievable than policing AI usage, it will improve the standards of academic research as a whole.

This would be (as ChatGPT might say) a commendable and meticulously intricate solution.

Provided by The Conversation

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This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue:

Published on 17.5.2024 in Vol 26 (2024)

Reporting of Ethical Considerations in Qualitative Research Utilizing Social Media Data on Public Health Care: Scoping Review

Authors of this article:

Author Orcid Image

  • Yujie Zhang 1, 2 * , MD   ; 
  • Jiaqi Fu 1, 2 * , MD   ; 
  • Jie Lai 1, 2 * , MD   ; 
  • Shisi Deng 1, 2 , MD   ; 
  • Zihan Guo 1, 2 , MD   ; 
  • Chuhan Zhong 1, 2 , MD   ; 
  • Jianyao Tang 1, 2 , MD   ; 
  • Wenqiong Cao 1 , BSc   ; 
  • Yanni Wu 1 , PhD  

1 Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

2 School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

*these authors contributed equally

Corresponding Author:

Yanni Wu, PhD

Nanfang Hospital

Southern Medical University

No 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North

Baiyun District, Guangdong Province

Guangzhou, 510515

Phone: 86 02061641192

Email: [email protected]

Background: The internet community has become a significant source for researchers to conduct qualitative studies analyzing users’ views, attitudes, and experiences about public health. However, few studies have assessed the ethical issues in qualitative research using social media data.

Objective: This study aims to review the reportage of ethical considerations in qualitative research utilizing social media data on public health care.

Methods: We performed a scoping review of studies mining text from internet communities and published in peer-reviewed journals from 2010 to May 31, 2023. These studies, limited to the English language, were retrieved to evaluate the rates of reporting ethical approval, informed consent, and privacy issues. We searched 5 databases, that is, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Embase. Gray literature was supplemented from Google Scholar and OpenGrey websites. Studies using qualitative methods mining text from the internet community focusing on health care topics were deemed eligible. Data extraction was performed using a standardized data extraction spreadsheet. Findings were reported using PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines.

Results: After 4674 titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened, 108 studies on mining text from the internet community were included. Nearly half of the studies were published in the United States, with more studies from 2019 to 2022. Only 59.3% (64/108) of the studies sought ethical approval, 45.3% (49/108) mentioned informed consent, and only 12.9% (14/108) of the studies explicitly obtained informed consent. Approximately 86% (12/14) of the studies that reported informed consent obtained digital informed consent from participants/administrators, while 14% (2/14) did not describe the method used to obtain informed consent. Notably, 70.3% (76/108) of the studies contained users’ written content or posts: 68% (52/76) contained verbatim quotes, while 32% (24/76) paraphrased the quotes to prevent traceability. However, 16% (4/24) of the studies that paraphrased the quotes did not report the paraphrasing methods. Moreover, 18.5% (20/108) of the studies used aggregated data analysis to protect users’ privacy. Furthermore, the rates of reporting ethical approval were different between different countries ( P =.02) and between papers that contained users’ written content (both direct and paraphrased quotes) and papers that did not contain users’ written content ( P <.001).

Conclusions: Our scoping review demonstrates that the reporting of ethical considerations is widely neglected in qualitative research studies using social media data; such studies should be more cautious in citing user quotes to maintain user privacy. Further, our review reveals the need for detailed information on the precautions of obtaining informed consent and paraphrasing to reduce the potential bias. A national consensus of ethical considerations such as ethical approval, informed consent, and privacy issues is needed for qualitative research of health care using social media data of internet communities.

Introduction

Social media are web-based computer-mediated tools to collaborate, share, or exchange information, ideas, pictures, or videos in virtual communities and networks such as message boards, communities, chat rooms, forums, Twitter, and Facebook [ 1 ]. Moreover, patients and researchers can use internet communities to provide health care and disseminate health information [ 2 , 3 ]. Health care refers to the efforts made to improve or maintain physical, mental, or emotional well-being, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and other physical and mental impairments [ 4 ]. Currently, with 57% of the global population’s access to social media, more than 40% of the patients and caregivers worldwide utilize the internet community for health care information needs [ 5 ]. With diverse populations accessing internet communities and sharing information about health care topics, researchers have the opportunity to collect and analyze text about health care from a diverse range of participants in the internet community, which was unavailable previously [ 6 ]. Usually, quantitative data are derived from information extraction, which can be analyzed statistically, and the summary results presented cannot be directly linked to individual participants. In contrast, qualitative research within internet community analysis posts and comments qualitatively or thematically involves a more detailed and in-depth analysis and understanding of the full written content [ 7 ]. However, a controversial ethical problem has been raised about conducting qualitative research containing internet users’ verbatim quotes that could lead to traceability of the original post, thereby causing a threat to an individual’s privacy [ 8 ]. Additionally, a previous study investigated public and patients’ views regarding ethics in research using social media data and reported that internet users were aggrieved if they found any of their quotes cited in a medical research paper without obtaining their informed consent [ 9 ]. Further, besides the privacy breach caused by posts being traced, there is greater harm for special groups or vulnerable groups if we do not highlight the importance of the technical standards for text mining and privacy protection in health care. For instance, some unusual postings, abnormal pictures, and interactions that were expressed by individuals with mental disorders in social media can be detected by researchers by using text mining tools without obtaining their consent [ 10 ]. The publication of research on mental disorders, including quotes in posts, can result in a high risk of information harm, which can lead to personal information being revealed and further stigmatization of the condition or disease [ 11 ]. Since 2001, ethical concerns have been debated for decades about ethical approval, informed consent, and how to ensure anonymity and preserve data privacy and confidentiality in qualitative research in the internet community [ 12 - 14 ].

With the rapid development of social media and internet research, some ethical guidelines or standards have been published to ensure that research based on internet communities is conducted ethically. The Association of Internet Researchers (internet research ethical guidelines 2.0 and 3.0) showed that researchers working without the direct approval of ethics review boards would have additional challenges to face, and obtaining informed consent is obviously impracticable in several big data projects. However, with the ethical issues about privacy breaches and harms of risk of discrimination, the Association of Internet Researchers recommended reserving the acquisition of informed consent to the dissemination stage by asking for informed consent from specific participants before publication of their quotes [ 15 , 16 ]. Furthermore, researchers should take responsibility for information confidentiality and anonymity according to the internet research ethics criteria prepared by the National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities guidelines, which recommend a basic research ethic norm for the analyses, reports, and evaluations that apply to all research [ 17 ]. Moreover, the National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities guidelines contain more details about the demand for legal consent and privacy standards imposed by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation. The General Data Protection Regulation is a European Union–wide regulation targeting the project of personal data processing. The General Data Protection Regulation defines personal data as any information relating to an identifiable person (data subject), including name, online identification number, location data, and other factors related to personal, physical, physiological, mental, or social identity [ 18 ]. The General Data Protection Regulation recommends using anonymous data and deleting identifiable information to ensure the confidentiality of the data. Consent should be obtained from the individual for use in scientific research [ 18 , 19 ]. The British Psychological Society guideline does not explicitly refer to the internet community but suggests that researchers may consider paraphrasing the verbatim quotes to reduce the risk of being traced or identified in qualitative research [ 20 ]. When paraphrasing, steps must be put into place to ensure that the original meaning of the message is maintained. Currently, there is no widespread consensus on ethical considerations by social media researchers.

Some researchers have tried to explore the reporting of existing ethical considerations in research papers using social media data. For instance, Sinnenberg et al [ 6 ] reported that only 32% and 12% of the papers mentioned acquiring ethical approval and informed consent, respectively, by utilizing multiple analysis methods, including surveillance, intervention, recruitment, engagement, content analysis, and network analysis with Twitter data before 2015. Thereafter, Takats et al [ 21 ] conducted an updated examination based on Sinnenberg et al’s [ 6 ] study. They found that of 367 studies using different methodological approaches, including sentiment mining, surveillance, and thematic exploration of public health research using Twitter data between 2010 to 2019, 17% of the studies included verbatim tweets and identifiable information about the internet users [ 21 ]. Similarly, Lathan et al [ 22 ] reviewed papers, including both qualitative and quantitative methods, by using Facebook data to explore public health issues and reported that only 48% and 10% of the papers obtained ethical approval and informed consent, respectively. Furthermore, in a study on research using YouTube data or comments, Tanner et al [ 23 ] found that only 26.1% of these studies sought ethical approval, only 1 paper (0.08%) sought informed consent, and 27.7% contained identifiable information. These findings indicate widespread neglect of ethical issues such as ethical approval, informed consent, and privacy issues in research papers using social media data.

Our study focuses on the ethical challenges of qualitative studies utilizing social media data. First, social media can be considered as sources for qualitative data collection because of the low cost, vast amount of available sources about health information, and users’ health behaviors, experiences, and attitudes. Second, qualitative research is context-dependent and mainly contains quotations and written content to support the viewpoint. It is acknowledged that quote materials from social media would potentially be traced back to the original posts and threaten the users’ privacy [ 24 ]. This is supported by findings reported by Ayers et al [ 25 ] who found that online searches of verbatim Twitter quotes in journal papers described as “content analyses” or “coded Twitter postings” can be traced back to individual internet users 84% of the time. Furthermore, Lathan et al [ 22 ] identified that 46% of the studies with verbatim or paraphrased quotes could be traced to the original posts in 10 minutes. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the extent to which ethical oversight is reported in qualitative studies using social media data. Moreover, qualitative research often involves personally sensitive data about health conditions and diseases; hence, anonymity and proper deidentification would be more important for researchers [ 26 , 27 ].

Previous studies have reviewed the ethical challenges and methodological use of social media platforms such as Twitter [ 6 , 21 ], Facebook [ 22 ], and YouTube [ 23 ] for health care research in both qualitative and quantitative studies. Although there is plenty of qualitative data pouring into social media such as blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and Weibo, evidence is lacking on the investigation of ethical considerations targeting qualitative data in different software and web-based discussion forums to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the ethical issues. To address the ethical considerations in qualitative research of different internet communities and draw the attention of researchers and publishers to ethical issues, we conducted this study to evaluate the ethical practices and ethical considerations of qualitative studies on health care by using data of internet communities. This review aims to (1) assess the rates of reporting institutional review board (IRB) approval and informed consent in studies focused on mining text in the internet community and social media, (2) compare these rates according to the year of publication, country conducting the research, website included in the study’s analysis, and journal’s guidelines about ethical approval for the type of study, and (3) describe whether the studies used anonymized/deidentified data.

Research Design

We conducted a scoping review to investigate how qualitative research mining social media data handles ethical approval, informed consent, and confidential issues. We performed this study according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. The completed PRISMA-ScR checklist is provided in Multimedia Appendix 1 .

Search Strategy

All published qualitative studies from 2010 to March 31, 2023, focusing on mining text from online community and social media sources about health care in the following databases were included in this study: PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Embase. A standardized search string containing Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and non-MeSH entry terms was used in the search strategy. In addition, the reference lists of the retrieved papers and citation tracking were manually searched as a supplement to database searches to improve comprehensiveness. Gray literature was also identified through internet searches in Google Scholar and OpenGrey websites. The search strategies are represented in Multimedia Appendix 2 .

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

We divided the criteria into 2 parts. First, we limited the inclusion and exclusion criteria used at the title and abstract screening stage eligible for (1) studies mining existing text and posts from the internet community and social media data focusing on health care topics, (2) studies using qualitative methods or available qualitative parts in mixed methods studies to analyze data, and (3) studies only written in English. Ineligible studies were those related to investigating the use and dissemination of social media in health care, using social media or internet community as an intervention tool, and using social media to conduct web-based interviews, surveys, or focus groups. We also excluded studies published as reviews, case studies, conference abstracts, commentaries, policies, guidelines, and recommendations. Second, at the full screening stage, the specific eligible inclusion criteria were studies focused on mining text about health care topics with full-text papers. Studies that did not have the full text after contacting the authors and that were not originally in the English language were excluded.

Study Selection

All results of the searches were entered into the EndNote library, and duplicates were removed. Two researchers reviewed the titles and abstracts based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria independently. Those studies that were irrelevant to the study topic were discarded, and then the full text was screened to select eligible papers. Any disagreements were discussed and resolved by consensus or a third person.

Data Extraction

Data were extracted between April 2023 and May 2023. Two researchers independently read the full text carefully, and the results were extracted using a standardized data extraction spreadsheet, including research type, first author, study objective, sample size, publication time, country where the research was conducted or country of the first author, website or internet community the studies focus on, type of data collected from social media, language of collected posts or data, privacy level of data (public or privacy posts), study design, research results, published journal, and information about the ethical considerations. Disagreements were resolved by consensus of a third person. The information about ethical considerations was analyzed to investigate the rates of reporting ethical approval, informed consent, and privacy issues: whether IRB review was reported (IRB approval, IRB exemption, unnecessary, not mentioned) and the reason for not requiring IRB approval; whether informed consent was obtained from participants or the websites’ administrators, consent types (digitally informed consent or written informed consent, informed consent is not required, consent was waived by IRB), and the methods used to obtain consent in each study; and whether quoting a post in papers could lead to the identification of internet users in each study. The description of users’ posts (verbatim quote, paraphrase) was recorded. We also analyzed if posts were paraphrased to maintain the original meaning, if actions were taken to deidentify the internet users, and if the posts contained other identifying information (ie, usernames, photos, links, hashtags) attached to the post. As every journal would provide publication ethical considerations and requirements, we also searched the submission guidelines and editorial policies of each journal submission website to check whether the journal contained any ethical guidance targeting studies using data from internet community and social media platforms. Additional information was included about the details of ethical approval, informed consent, and privacy, for example, whether individuals can withdraw their quotes if they want to be excluded from the study at any time without any reprisal and whether the quotations were tested for deidentification via search engines. There was excellent agreement on the primary outcome between the 2 researchers (k>.95 for all).

Data Analysis

Data were analyzed using SPSS software (IBM Corp). The chi-square test or Fisher exact tests (when cell size was less than 5) were used to test for differences between the rates of informed consent and ethical approval according to publication year, website, and different countries. All P values were 2-sided, and P values <.05 indicated significance.

Study Selection for the Review

We reviewed 4674 papers after removing the duplicates. After screening the titles, abstracts, and full-texts, we reviewed 108 eligible papers ( Figure 1 ). The full list of the included papers and all the extracted information are incorporated in Multimedia Appendix 3 [ 28 - 135 ]. Of the 108 studies reviewed, 73 (67.6%) were qualitative studies and 35 (32.4%) were mixed methods studies. All papers had text mined from internet communities or social media for qualitative analysis. The sample size ranged from 32 to 392,962. Approximately 82.4% (89/108) of the studies were published after 2018, and there was a sharp increase in the number of studies from 2019 to 2022. Moreover, nearly half of the studies (55/108, 50.9%) were published in the United States. Regarding the websites for mining text, the most widely used social media platform was Twitter (42/108, 38.9%), followed by Facebook (17/108, 15.7%).

literary topics for research paper

Ethics Approval in These Studies

Our results indicated that of the 108 studies, 78 (72.2%) reported ethics approval. Of the 78 studies, 31 (40%) explicitly stated that ethics approval was obtained before the study was undertaken, 33 (42%) reported that the ethics approval was granted through exemptions by the local IRB, and 14 (18%) explicitly demonstrated that approval by the ethics committee was not required because publicly available data were collected from internet communities and social media platforms. However, 30 (27.8%) of the 108 studies did not mention about obtaining IRB approval ( Table 1 ).

Based on our exploration of the ethical guidelines of each journal to determine whether there were ethical requirements for studies mining social media data, only 36.1% (39/108) of the studies were published in journals that required ethical considerations for studies gathering data from social media platforms by using internet and digital technologies. Of the 39 studies published in 19 journals, 27 (69%) were published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research and its sister journals. The submission guidelines of the Journal of Medical Internet Research state that authors of manuscripts describing studies of internet, digital tools, and technologies are required to verify that they have adhered to local, national, regional, and international laws and regulations, and are required to verify that they complied with informed consent guidelines. Moreover, 2 journals also provided a specific requirement, that is, when researchers interact with individuals or obtain privacy information gathered from social media platforms, they should obtain ethics approval prior to conducting the study and informed consent from anyone who could potentially be identified. Surprisingly, there were no significant differences in the ethics approval reportage between journals with ethics approval guidelines and those that did not have ethics guidelines for researchers gathering data from social media platforms ( P =.08). Notably, the rates of reporting ethics approval were different between different countries ( P =.02). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the rates of reporting ethical approval and different websites or publication years (all P >.05) ( Table 2 ).

Informed Consent

Of the 108 studies, 59 (54.7%) showed that they did not include any information about informed consent and 49 (45.3%) mentioned informed consent. Of the 49 studies that mentioned informed consent, 14 (13%) demonstrated that informed consent was waived by local institutional boards, and 21 (19%) reported that informed consent was not required because this information is publicly available in websites or did not involve human participants. We interpreted this as not seeking informed consent. Only 14 (12.9%) of the 108 studies explicitly indicated that informed consent was obtained ( Table 1 ). Among the 14 studies, 2 (14%) only provided a generic statement that informed consent was obtained but did not report the process of how the informed consent was obtained, while 12 (86%) received digital informed consent. Of the 12 studies that reported receiving digital informed consent, 6 reported that they sought permission from the communities’ or groups’ administrators and by posting a statement of the research objective on the group’s wall, while 5 studies contacted the participants privately via email, commenting below the posts and software to gain consent, and 1 study reported that it had sent a digital version of the informed consent book. Furthermore, among the studies that had obtained informed consent, 7 studies included the statement that the individuals’ posts would be removed if they wanted to be excluded from the study, and they could withdraw from the study whenever they wanted. In addition, the rates of reporting informed consent showed no statistical significance between publication years, different countries, and different websites (all P >.05) ( Table 2 ).

Confidentiality of the Information

All data sources were obtained from anonymous websites or communities, and the majority (104/108, 96.3%) of the data sources did not contain usernames. Notably, only 3.7% (4/108) of the studies contained the participants’ usernames or pseudonyms. One study reported that pseudonyms like Sasha had been used instead of the real name. The other 3 studies contained the expression for usernames but did not state whether pseudonyms were used. Except for 9 studies that used nonnative language quotes and 3 studies that were transcribed into text via video, among the 108 included studies, 76 (70.3%) quoted at least one native language post in their reports. Additionally, 20 studies presenting aggregated analysis or composite accounts did not include any quotation or written content. Of the 76 studies containing internet users’ written content, 52 (68%) contained just verbatim-quoted participants’ posts and 24 (32%) contained paraphrased posts ( Table 1 ). Among the 52 studies containing direct and verbatim quotations, which are likely to be traced to the original posts from users, only 17 (33%) studies took measures to deidentify the users. The 17 studies mentioned that all names or usernames were removed and personal identifying information was removed to maintain privacy, while 42% (22/52) of the studies did not mention any measures that were taken to deidentify the users and maintain confidentiality. Approximately 32% (24/76) of the studies described that they paraphrased posts and removed any explicitly identified personal information to maintain confidentiality to reduce the likelihood of users being identified via search engines. Of the 24 studies, 20 (83%) reported that the quotations were slightly modified or summarized for readability, the symbol information was removed using “…”, and key identifiable information was removed to protect privacy while maintaining the meaning of posts. Four of the 24 (17%) studies did not report the methods and details of paraphrasing. Notably, only 3% (2/76) of the studies containing users’ written content showed that researchers intentionally entered each quote into search engines to ensure that every quote did not lead to the original posts. Moreover, of the 76 studies containing written content, 62 (82%) did not contain other types of identity information attached to the posts, while 14 (18%) included other identifying data (hashtags, emojis, geolocation, photos, links, screenshots) attached to the original posts for analysis ( Table 1 ). Of the 14 studies including other identifying information, 4 (29%) contained photos and screenshots associated with the website pages. Of the 52 studies that disclosed verbatim quotes and other identifiable information, 26 (46%) studies reported informed consent consideration, and only 8 (15%) obtained explicitly informed consent. Additionally, of the 77% (40/52) of the studies that mentioned IRB or ethical review, 38% (15/40) received IRB approval, and 63% (25/40) of the studies were granted exemption. The proportion of reporting ethical approval in studies containing users’ written content was modestly higher than that in studies not containing users’ written content (60/76, 79% vs 14/32, 44%; P <.001) ( Table 2 ).

Principal Findings and Comparison to Prior Work

In this scoping review, we included 108 studies ( Multimedia Appendix 3 ; [ 28 - 135 ]) that focused on mining text from internet community and social media data for health care research, and we reviewed the ethical consideration reportage and outcome reports in these studies. We found that the rates of reporting IRB approval and informed consent in qualitative research on health care utilizing social media data were 59.3% (64/108) and 12.9% (14/108), respectively. Our findings demonstrate that the key ethical considerations for qualitative research in online communities are insufficiently discussed and described. However, the reporting rates of ethical considerations in the papers in our scoping review were much higher than those reported in systematic reviews including multiple analysis methodologies on only 1 social media platform. For example, ethics approval and informed consent were reported in 48% and 10% of research studies using only Facebook data [ 22 ], 32% and 0% from 2006 to 2019 [ 21 ], 40% and 0.9% (only 1 paper) from 2015 to 2016 in public health research using only Twitter data [ 25 ], and 26.1% and 0.8% (only 1 paper) in researches incorporating only YouTube data [ 23 ], respectively. In fact, previous studies were limited to only a few selected websites such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. There is a lack of research that incorporates a variety of different social media data for comparisons. Differences in the reporting of ethical considerations may be attributed to the different methodologies adopted by studies. For example, Lathan et al [ 22 ] analyzed the ethical considerations in studies including predictive or model development, while our research focuses on the ethical considerations in qualitative studies.

Importantly, our findings indicate that there is a need to develop a standardized and apparent approach for the reporting of ethical considerations in qualitative research of data from social media and online communities. Our research demonstrates that the rates of reporting ethics approval are different in different countries ( P =.02). Specifically, a wide variety of national research ethics governing bodies and over 1000 laws, regulations, and standards provide oversight for human subjects research in 130 countries. Obviously, a guideline is needed for best ethical practices for qualitative research involving posts from social media platforms. Surprisingly, there were no significant differences between the rates of reporting ethical approval and those of journals specifying ethical requirements for studies involving text mining ( P =.08). This inconsistent result of publication guidelines and reports of ethical approval consent is similar to previous findings on the ethical standards in COVID-19 human studies [ 136 ]. Although there are journal publication guidelines for studies mining social media data, the reports of ethical approval and consent in the papers published in such journals do not exactly follow the guidelines. Consequently, this finding indicates that more ethical awareness is needed among researchers, editors, and reviewers for qualitative studies on data mining.

Besides the different legal and regulations in different countries, the inconsistency in the ethics approval in published papers may be because social media research is a highly interdisciplinary science, and computer science researchers may be less experienced or may pay less attention to the key ethical issues of protecting human subjects [ 137 ]. Medical and health science researchers may have considered some ethical concerns about gathering social media data but they may not be familiar with the relevant guidelines. For example, the Association of Internet Researchers has a detailed ethical guideline targeting social scientists conducting digital research, while it may be less popular and less well-known among medical and health care researchers. At the institute level, Ferretti et al [ 138 ] noticed that institutionalized review committees, especially the individual IRB institutes for universities and health care systems lack knowledge about the methodology, text mining technical standards, data security, and ethical harms for studies using big data and social media as sources. Because of this lack of knowledge, institutional ethics committees may have inconsistent ethical criteria and perspectives about web-based projects using social media data [ 139 ]. Therefore, some ethics review committees exclude research on internet communities from ethical oversights because their ethics standards are confined only to medical fields. Above all, it is additionally challenging for ethical approval institutions because of the continuous development and dynamic change of studies using social media data. Furthermore, it is necessary for ethics committee members to be trained about the ethical issues in studies mining text from social media. Inviting interdisciplinary researchers to join in the approval process would be an appropriate method to increase the awareness of ethical considerations [ 140 , 141 ].

Interestingly, the reporting rate of obtaining informed consent for mining social media data in qualitative studies was unexpected. The most influential ethical reports such as the Nuremberg Code [ 142 ], Declaration of Helsinki [ 143 ], and the Belmont Report [ 144 ] have demonstrated the principle of informed consent in research involving humans. Our review shows that only 12.9% (14/108) of the studies explicitly obtained informed consent and 32.4% (35/108) of the studies reported that informed consent was exempted by IRB or was not required, as the information was available publicly in websites or did not involve human participants. Our results are similar to those of Wongkoblap et al [ 145 ] who reported that only 16.7% of the studies received informed consent from participants prior to data analysis on data mining of social network data on mental health disorders.

There are multiple reasons for the challenges in obtaining informed consent in an internet setting. First, it is impractical for researchers to gain individual informed consent from a large number of users in an internet community [ 146 ]. Second, members of ethics review boards lack consensus about the need for informed consent from an internet community for qualitative research under the current legal definition [ 147 ]. Moreover, there has been a debate on the criteria of human subject research in using social media data. The federal regulation recommends that if data in the studies are obtained from public social media websites, where data are identifiable and do not require interaction with individuals, such studies do not constitute human subject research, while studies involving the identification of private information or interaction with the individual can be considered as human subject research [ 148 ]. In contrast, some researchers believe that social media and big data research are not ethically exceptional and should be treated in the same manner and with the same rules as those for traditional forms of research [ 149 ]. There is ambiguity as to what is appropriate or should be standard practice for obtaining informed consent.

Currently, it is challenging to maintain privacy and protect the traceability of individuals posting content in the internet community. Our findings indicated that 70.3% (76/108) of the studies contained internet users’ written content, of which 68% (52/76) included verbatim quotations of users’ posts that could lead to identification, and 18% (14/76) of the studies included other identifiable information such as links, screenshots, and emojis linked to original posts, which are similar to the findings of Ayers et al [ 25 ] and Lathan et al [ 22 ]. Usha Lawrance et al [ 150 ] and Wilkinson and Thelwall [ 151 ] argued that using direct quotes to support findings would lead to the identification of users and breach users’ confidentiality in internet community data. Moreover, quoting social media posts or disclosing usernames violate the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors’ ethics standards, which state that identifying information such as written descriptions and photos should not be published unless the information is essential for scientific purposes and the participants give written informed consent for publication [ 152 ]. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that the proportion of studies containing users’ written content (both direct and paraphrased quotations) is higher than that of studies that do not include any quotation or written content (60/76, 79% vs 14/32, 44%; P <.001)——a tentative explanation is that some researchers realized that ethical reportage should be stricter for qualitative papers with quotations from social media posts due to privacy and security issues. This is supported by Boyd and Crawford [ 153 ] who stated that rigorous thinking about the process of mining and anonymizing big data is required for ethics boards to ensure that people are protected. Our findings show that 32% (24/76) of the studies intentionally paraphrased the quotes to ensure that users could not locate them, and 20 studies used aggregated data interconnected with anonymity. Moreover, it is recommended by Wilkinson and Thelwall [ 151 ], Bond et al [ 154 ], and Markham et al [ 155 ] that researchers should not directly quote and work with aggregate data sets and separate texts from their original context, which is more acceptable to participants. In addition, the British Psychological Society guidelines recommend that researchers consider paraphrasing any verbatim quotes to reduce the risk of these being traced to the source [ 20 ]. Notably, 13 of the 25 papers in this study showed that they did not report the precautions taken for paraphrasing. This may be due to the lack of detailed methodology and consensus about paraphrasing quotes to reduce bias and maintaining the original meaning.

Limitations and Strengths

Our scoping review has several limitations. First, our research was limited to qualitative studies and the qualitative parts in mixed methods studies on text mining from social media, and it is unclear whether ethical considerations are critical in quantitative studies among internet communities. Second, we were restricted to studies published in English language and those with the full text available, and therefore, we could be underestimating the number of relevant papers published in other languages. Third, the rates of reporting ethical approval, informed consent, and privacy of this research relied on self-reported data. Thus, it is possible that although certain studies did not report the process of ethical considerations, such considerations may have been followed during the research. Conversely, some studies may have mentioned about the ethical considerations but may not have conducted them in practice. Hence, there is a bias because of the lack of accurate documentation that must be considered.

Social media text mining can be a useful tool for researchers to understand patient experiences of health conditions and health care. However, as illustrated by the absence of ethical discourse in publications, our analysis indicates significant gaps in the ethical considerations and governance of qualitative research of internet posts. Therefore, a complete and consistent consensus guideline of ethical considerations in qualitative research of internet posts is needed to protect users’ data. With the continued advancing development of text-mining techniques, qualitative studies mining text from social media should be more cautious while using user quotations to maintain user privacy and protect the traceability of the internet users posting content. We suggest that authors should report their results by using aggregated findings or deidentified ways like paraphrasing instead of verbatim quotations, which can prevent internet users from being identified through search engines. In addition, authors should provide more detailed information about the precautions taken for obtaining informed consent and paraphrasing to reduce the potential bias. Furthermore, journals and editors should pay more attention to the reporting standards of ethical consideration and privacy issues in qualitative research involving social media data.

Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (72304131) and the Outstanding Youths Development Scheme of Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University (2023J005). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of this manuscript. We sincerely thank the funders of this study.

Data Availability

All data extracted and analyzed during this study are presented in this paper and in the multimedia appendices.

Authors' Contributions

YW was responsible for the protocol of the research and redrafted the paper critically. YZ and JF performed literature searches. YZ, JL, and WC performed study identification and screening. ZG, SD, CZ, and JT extracted and analyzed the data from the included journals. YZ and JL wrote the first draft of the paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Conflicts of Interest

None declared.

PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist.

Search strategy for each database.

Summary of included literature.

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  • Berkovic D, Ackerman IN, Briggs AM, Ayton D. Tweets by people with arthritis during the COVID-19 pandemic: content and sentiment analysis. J Med Internet Res. Dec 03, 2020;22(12):e24550. [ FREE Full text ] [ CrossRef ] [ Medline ]
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Abbreviations

Edited by T Leung, T de Azevedo Cardoso; submitted 02.08.23; peer-reviewed by E Zibrowski, J Scheibner; comments to author 06.10.23; revised version received 29.11.23; accepted 16.04.24; published 17.05.24.

©Yujie Zhang, Jiaqi Fu, Jie Lai, Shisi Deng, Zihan Guo, Chuhan Zhong, Jianyao Tang, Wenqiong Cao, Yanni Wu. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 17.05.2024.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.jmir.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.

World Literature Research Paper Topics

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World literature research paper topics are essential for students and scholars to understand the breadth and depth of the literary world across different cultures and time periods. This area of study encompasses a wide range of topics, from ancient literature to contemporary works, reflecting the interconnectedness of human experiences across the globe. Understanding world literature not only provides insights into the cultural and societal contexts of various regions, but it also reveals the common themes and motifs that unite us as humans. By exploring these topics, researchers contribute to a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the world’s literary heritage.

100 World Literature Research Paper Topics

Exploring the vast array of world literature research paper topics is pivotal for students and scholars to gain a comprehensive understanding of the diverse cultural, social, and philosophical narratives that have shaped the world. World literature serves as a reflection of the experiences, struggles, and aspirations of people from various civilizations to modern societies.

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Get 10% off with 24start discount code, ancient literature.

  • The evolution of epic poetry in different ancient civilizations
  • Depictions of deities in ancient literature
  • The impact of ancient Egyptian literature on subsequent cultures
  • Themes of love and loss in ancient Greek texts
  • The significance of tragedy in ancient Roman literature
  • Portrayals of heroes and heroines in ancient literary works
  • Representations of war and peace in ancient literature
  • The role of mythology in shaping ancient literature
  • The depiction of women in ancient literary texts
  • The development of narrative forms in ancient literature

Medieval Literature

  • The significance of chivalry in medieval literature
  • The impact of Christianity on medieval texts
  • Representations of monarchs in medieval literature
  • Themes of honor and betrayal in medieval works
  • Depictions of the supernatural in medieval literature
  • The role of allegory in medieval texts
  • The influence of troubadours and minstrels on medieval literature
  • Portrayals of love and courtship in medieval works
  • The significance of pilgrimage in medieval literature
  • The impact of Arthurian legends on medieval literature

Renaissance Literature

  • The influence of humanism on Renaissance literature
  • Depictions of nature in Renaissance poetry
  • The role of women in Renaissance literature
  • Themes of love and beauty in Renaissance works
  • The impact of the Reformation on Renaissance literature
  • The development of drama during the Renaissance
  • Representations of politics and power in Renaissance literature
  • The significance of pastoral literature during the Renaissance
  • The role of classical antiquity in shaping Renaissance literature
  • The influence of Italian Renaissance literature on other European literatures

Enlightenment Literature

  • The role of reason and rationality in Enlightenment literature
  • Depictions of society and social norms in Enlightenment works
  • The impact of the scientific revolution on Enlightenment literature
  • Themes of freedom and liberty in Enlightenment literature
  • The role of satire in Enlightenment literature
  • Representations of monarchy and authority in Enlightenment works
  • The influence of the Enlightenment on the development of the novel
  • The significance of travel literature during the Enlightenment
  • The impact of the Enlightenment on women writers
  • The role of the Enlightenment in shaping modern philosophy

Romantic Literature

  • The role of nature in Romantic literature
  • Depictions of the individual in Romantic literature
  • The influence of the French Revolution on Romantic literature
  • Themes of love and passion in Romantic works
  • The role of the supernatural in Romantic literature
  • Representations of history and the past in Romantic literature
  • The influence of Romanticism on music and art
  • The significance of Gothic literature during the Romantic period
  • The impact of Romanticism on nationalist movements
  • The role of Romanticism in the development of modern poetry

19th-Century Literature

  • The impact of industrialization on 19th-century literature
  • Depictions of society and social change in 19th-century works
  • The role of realism in 19th-century literature
  • Themes of alienation and isolation in 19th-century literature
  • The significance of the Bildungsroman in 19th-century literature
  • Representations of women and gender in 19th-century literature
  • The influence of 19th-century literature on the development of the modern novel
  • The role of colonialism and imperialism in 19th-century literature
  • The impact of 19th-century literature on the development of modern psychology
  • The significance of 19th-century literature in shaping modern political thought

20th-Century Literature

  • The impact of world wars on 20th-century literature
  • Depictions of modernity and urban life in 20th-century works
  • The role of existentialism in 20th-century literature
  • Themes of disillusionment and despair in 20th-century literature
  • The significance of modernism in 20th-century literature
  • Representations of race and ethnicity in 20th-century literature
  • The influence of postcolonial literature in the 20th century
  • The role of postmodernism in 20th-century literature
  • The impact of the digital age on 20th-century literature
  • The significance of feminist literature in the 20th century

Contemporary Literature

  • The impact of globalization on contemporary literature
  • Depictions of multiculturalism and diversity in contemporary works
  • The role of technology in contemporary literature
  • Themes of identity and belonging in contemporary literature
  • The significance of posthumanism in contemporary literature
  • Representations of migration and displacement in contemporary literature
  • The influence of contemporary literature on popular culture
  • The role of fantasy and science fiction in contemporary literature
  • The impact of social media on contemporary literature
  • The significance of environmentalism in contemporary literature

Comparative Literature

  • The influence of one literary tradition on another
  • Comparative analysis of themes across different literary traditions
  • The role of translation in the spread of world literature
  • Comparative analysis of literary forms across different cultures
  • The significance of intertextuality in comparative literature
  • Comparative analysis of representations of gender in different literatures
  • The influence of religion on literature across different cultures
  • Comparative analysis of the role of mythology in different literatures
  • The impact of colonialism on literature across different regions
  • Comparative analysis of the role of history in different literatures

Literary Theory

  • The influence of postcolonial theory on the interpretation of world literature
  • The role of feminist theory in shaping contemporary world literature
  • The impact of psychoanalytic theory on the interpretation of world literature
  • The significance of structuralism and poststructuralism in world literature
  • The role of deconstruction in the analysis of world literature
  • The influence of reader-response theory on the interpretation of world literature
  • The impact of intertextuality on the understanding of world literature
  • The role of queer theory in the analysis of world literature
  • The influence of eco-criticism on the interpretation of world literature
  • The significance of cultural studies in shaping the understanding of world literature

Delving into world literature research paper topics is a crucial academic exercise and a journey into the collective human experiences across time and space. Analyzing the different aspects of world literature, from ancient to contemporary texts, provides a deeper understanding of the cultures, societies, and philosophies that have shaped our world. It also allows us to reflect on the common themes and motifs that connect us as humans, despite our diverse backgrounds. Therefore, researching world literature is a vital step towards fostering global understanding and empathy.

World Literature

And the range of research paper topics it offers.

World literature is an expansive term that encompasses the totality of literary works, both ancient and contemporary, from different regions, cultures, and languages around the globe. It includes not only the canonical texts of the Western tradition but also the often overlooked or marginalized works from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. The study of world literature allows for a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of the human experience, as it examines the various ways in which different cultures have engaged with similar themes, narratives, and literary forms. This richness and diversity of world literature make it a fertile ground for a wide range of research paper topics.

The study of world literature research paper topics involves the analysis of various epochs of literature. From ancient civilizations, where literature was often orally transmitted or written on clay tablets and papyrus scrolls, to the medieval period, characterized by the production of manuscripts and the emergence of vernacular languages, and then to the Renaissance, Enlightenment, and Romantic periods, which saw the development of the printing press and the rise of the novel, drama, and poetry. Each epoch presents its unique set of literary works, themes, styles, and authors that have contributed to the development of world literature.

Furthermore, world literature involves the exchange of themes and styles across cultures. A theme common in one culture’s literature can often be found, with variations, in another culture’s literature. For example, the theme of love, which is prevalent in Western literature, can also be found in Persian, Chinese, and African literatures, albeit with different nuances and interpretations. Similarly, the style of magical realism, which is often associated with Latin American literature, can be found in works from other regions, such as Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children or Yann Martel’s Life of Pi . This exchange of themes and styles not only enriches world literature but also provides a plethora of research paper topics that can be explored.

Translations and adaptations also play a crucial role in world literature. They make literary works accessible to a global audience and facilitate the exchange of ideas, themes, and narratives across cultures. However, translation is not a straightforward process. It involves not only the conversion of words from one language to another but also the adaptation of cultural references, idioms, and nuances. This often leads to debates about the fidelity and authenticity of translations, as well as discussions about the role of the translator as a mediator between cultures. Moreover, adaptations, whether they are film, theater, or other literary works, often involve a re-interpretation or re-imagination of the original text, which can lead to new meanings, themes, or perspectives. These issues make translations and adaptations a rich area for research paper topics in world literature.

In conclusion, the study of world literature offers a diverse range of research paper topics that can be explored by students and scholars alike. From the analysis of various epochs of literature to the exchange of themes and styles across cultures, and the role of translations and adaptations, world literature is a vast and rich field of study that provides a deeper understanding of the global literary landscape. Furthermore, delving into world literature research paper topics is not only an academic exercise but also a journey into the collective human experiences that have shaped, and continue to shape, our world.

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COMMENTS

  1. 100+ Excellent Literature Research Paper Topics

    Literary research paper topics are among the most interesting to write about. Books are the best teachers for most learners. And, students love reading interesting literature books. But, when asked to write research papers, most students have difficulties choosing their topics. That's because many issues can be investigated and written about.

  2. 250 Literature Research Paper Topic: Literary Ideas for You

    Here is a list of English literature research paper topics for your perfect essay! Gender representation during medieval English literature. Colonialism's effects on British literary works during the 18th century. Influence of British writers on modern literature. The role of nature in 18th-century British novels.

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    Renaissance Literature Research Paper Topics. The era, characterized by a remarkable resurgence in culture, art, and intellectual pursuits, has impacted the trajectory of human civilization. Uncover the rich tapestry of the revival literary research topics for your literary research paper. Love in Shakespeare's Sonnets

  4. 1000 Literature Thesis Topics and Ideas

    This page provides a comprehensive list of literature thesis topics, offering a valuable resource for students tasked with writing a thesis in the field of literature.Designed to cater to a wide array of literary interests and academic inquiries, the topics are organized into 25 diverse categories, ranging from African American Literature to Young Adult Literature.

  5. Top 300 Engaging Literature Research Paper Topics

    Top 20 Research Paper Topics On Environmental Literature. Ecocriticism: Exploring Nature in Literature. Environmental Activism in Literary Works. Wilderness and the American Imagination in Literature. Climate Change Narratives in Environmental Literature. Nature Writing and the Natural World in Literature. Urban Ecology in Literary Works.

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    In a literature research paper, one can delve into numerous facets of this intricate art form, leading to an extensive range of topics for exploration. Literature comes in various forms, including novels, short stories, plays, and poems. Each of these forms has unique characteristics, providing ample research paper topics.

  7. English Literature Research Paper Topics

    This guide, centered on English literature research paper topics, serves as a comprehensive resource for students seeking to delve deep into the diverse epochs, authors, and themes that have shaped English literary tradition. Navigating the intricate tapestry of English literature offers scholars a multitude of avenues for exploration.

  8. 221 Literary Research Paper Topics To Inspire You

    Literary topics are diverse. This can make it hectic to choose an appropriate one for your research paper. Discuss the most important work of Shakespeare. Describe the gothic novel's gender representation. The effect of social media language on learners. The travails of the African woman.

  9. Literature Topics and Research

    A comparison/contrast of the choices different authors or characters make in a work. A reading of a work based on an outside philosophical perspective (Ex. how would a Freudian read Hamlet ?) A study of the sources or historical events that occasioned a particular work (Ex. comparing G.B. Shaw's Pygmalion with the original Greek myth of ...

  10. Explore the Lists of Amazing Literary Research Paper Topics

    Existentialist Literary Research Topics. Dig into the deep thinking, self-examination, and emotions of uncertainty that come with exploring the works of important writers trying to figure out life, independence, and more. Here's the list. The post-war emergence of existentialism.

  11. Best Literature Research Paper Topics [with Tips]

    British Literary Research Topics. English literature has a great variety of themes to explore. That is why it is confusing for many students to come up with interesting British literary research topics. Thus, our team offers you unique and engaging English literature research paper ideas which you can use directly for writing or inspiration:

  12. Research Topics in English Literature

    Ideas for Writing English Papers. Research topics on English literature initially start off broad and then narrow down and you come up with your thesis. Using any of the research topics listed (gender, comparisons, historical background, politics, and religion) can take you almost anywhere. Choose your general topic based on the literature ...

  13. Top 150 Literature Research Paper Topics For A Brilliant Essay

    Create an outline. Point out the most important facts in the body of your essay. Choose only reliable and up-to-date sources. Create a paper in a proper voice and tone. Complete the paper with a fitting conclusion. Make your paper look solid. Avoid any grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes, as well as typos.

  14. Choosing a Literary Topic

    To help you get started, we've come up with a list of common literary themes that you can apply to almost any literary work you read. Personal roles. Personal roles typically fall into four categories: gender, family, occupational, or socioeconomic roles. Perhaps the story challenges (or embraces) traditional gender or family roles.

  15. 200+ Engaging and Novel Literature Research Paper Topics

    Good Literature Research Paper Topics for Students. Getting started on a research paper is exciting, but picking the right topic can be a bit tricky. We want to make this journey easy for you. So, let's explore some cool and interesting literature research project topics that not only make your paper look good but also make the whole process a lot more fun.

  16. 275 Good Literature Research Paper Topics & Ideas

    Simple Literature Research Paper Topics. Love Themes in "Romeo and Juliet". "Pride and Prejudice": A Study of Class Differences. Symbolism in Classics: "The Old Man and the Sea". Epistolary Style in "Dracula": Advantages and Limitations. Human Nature in "Lord of the Flies". Nature Imagery in Wordsworth's Poetry.

  17. How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay

    Table of contents. Step 1: Reading the text and identifying literary devices. Step 2: Coming up with a thesis. Step 3: Writing a title and introduction. Step 4: Writing the body of the essay. Step 5: Writing a conclusion. Other interesting articles.

  18. 9.10-Sample Research-Based Literary Essay

    Sample Prompt. Assignment Description: The purpose of this essay is to effectively communicate a persuasive argument based on research and analysis of primary and secondary texts. For this assignment, you will engage in secondary research and close reading of a primary text to develop an original, nuanced argument about one of the play's we ...

  19. Top 100 Literary Research Paper Topics

    Take a look at our list of the best 10 literary analysis essay topics ever and select the one you like. Remember, all these topics are original (at the time of writing): Describe literature as a part of the modern culture. Daoism in modern Chinese literature. Feminism in contemporary literature. Don Quixote's most important personality traits.

  20. Literary Analysis Research Paper Topics

    When students engage with literary analysis research paper topics, they not only learn about literature but also embark on a journey to understand the multi-faceted nature of human existence. At the core of literary analysis lies the art of interpretation. Unlike mere reading, analysis demands a more meticulous, structured, and critical approach.

  21. How to Write a Literature Review

    A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources (such as books, journal articles, and theses) related to a specific topic or research question. It is often written as part of a thesis, dissertation, or research paper, in order to situate your work in relation to existing knowledge.

  22. American Literature Research Paper Topics

    100 American Literature Research Paper Topics. American literature, a vast and diverse field, encompasses a range of themes, styles, and epochs. From the colonial tales of the early settlers to the modern narratives of the 21st century, the U.S. literary canvas is as broad as the country's history. This comprehensive list offers a variety of ...

  23. Frontiers

    This perspective paper contemplates the nuances of engaging with literature ethically in conducting a scoping review based on the researchers' project on girlhood studies in Indonesia. We assert that the ethical perspective extends beyond conventional primary data collection from human participants, further emphasizing the essence of a feminist methodology in this scholarly investigation.

  24. AI-assisted writing is quietly booming in academic journals—here's why

    Many people are worried by the use of AI in academic papers. Indeed, the practice has been described as "contaminating" scholarly literature. Some argue that using AI output amounts to plagiarism ...

  25. A Narrative Review of LGBTQ+ Marketing Scholarship

    This paper reviewed LGBTQ+ research in marketing, focussing on whose voices are represented and how. There is a need for researchers in marketing to focus on LGBTQ+ people as the subject of the research and not just objects of the study. ... Additionally, the topics covered in the marketing literature reviewed often present LGBTQ+ participants ...

  26. Journal of Medical Internet Research

    Background: The internet community has become a significant source for researchers to conduct qualitative studies analyzing users' views, attitudes, and experiences about public health. However, few studies have assessed the ethical issues in qualitative research using social media data. Objective: This study aims to review the reportage of ethical considerations in qualitative research ...

  27. World Literature Research Paper Topics

    100 World Literature Research Paper Topics. Exploring the vast array of world literature research paper topics is pivotal for students and scholars to gain a comprehensive understanding of the diverse cultural, social, and philosophical narratives that have shaped the world. World literature serves as a reflection of the experiences, struggles ...