Literature Essay Examples and Topics

Essays on literature and languages usually follow stricter structural requirements than their equivalents in other disciplines. You have to show that you are a capable writer that knows the English language well and can create engaging passages.

At the very least, your essay should consist of three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. Each of these blocks has to follow exact requirements with regards to contents.

For example, the conclusion cannot add new information to the essay. You should learn and understand the basic structural guidelines if you want to submit an excellent paper.

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The introduction is where you describe the topic to the reader to provide some context. As was mentioned above, you should establish the position you are going to promote.

This part ends in a thesis statement, which explicitly describes the specific idea you are going to discuss. All of your arguments should be contained in the next part, the body. In the conclusion, you will sum up your ideas and make a closing statement that finishes your thought.

Here are some tips for writing literary essays:

  • You should be brief in your writing without leaving information out.
  • Nobody likes to read text that does not add anything of value!
  • The introduction and conclusion should both be one paragraph long. The body’s length may vary according to your needs.
  • You should begin your writing process by formulating a thesis. Each point you make has to connect to it directly.
  • Do not be afraid to write a lot in a literary analysis! The investigations of characters, ideas, plot, themes, and other essential components of a work can be long.

You can find language and literature extended essay topics, English literature introduction examples, literature essay examples, and other valuable samples for your essay at IvyPanda.

8930 Best Essay Examples on Literature

Beach Description Essay

4.4
These include; the plantation along the beach and inside the sea, the animals, the waters and the people found in the beach.
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 826

The Story of an Hour Critical Analysis Essay

4.2
Instead, she knew that though the husband was important to her, marriage had made her a subject to him. Mallard was not able to handle the swings in her emotions and this cost her life.Mr.
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1467

The Necklace Literary Analysis Essay

4.8
This is because she compares her poor life with that of her rich friend and she is filled with envy and jealousy because she can not afford to live like her friend and yet that [...]
  • Subjects: World Philosophy Literature
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2185
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The Relationship Between Eliezer and His Father Essay

4.6
Their experience at the concentration camp changes the relationship between son and father, and the despicable treatment by the Nazis helps Eliezer and his father develop a strong connection.
  • Subjects: Dramatic Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 842

Guy de Maupassant: “The Necklace” Essay

3.6
The writer takes the reader through the life of these characters and in particular, the poor family of Loisel and the rich family of Forestier.
  • Subjects: Dramatic Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 909
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Moral of “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

The main character of the story, Mathilde Loisel, and her husband had no financial possessions; she lacked clothing and jewelry. Once, Mathilde and her husband have decided to go to a ball to enjoy the [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 397

Imperialism in Shooting an Elephant: Symbolism & Themes

2
The story captures the violent reality of colonialism as the narrator unfolds the events of the actual shooting and the description of the slow and painful death of the elephant that seemed peaceful in hands [...]
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2481

Henry Wardsworth Longfellow and His Romantic Poems

Henry Longfellow composed poems, the themes of which echoed with the principles and cornerstones of that time. These ideas are depicted in the works of Longfellow of the 1830s throughout the interaction of man and [...]
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 893

Mark Twain’s “The Lowest Animal” Analysis

3.3
His work is full of irony in that man is the Supreme Being who has the ultimate authority to shape nature in the way he deems best. However, by a measure of his acts compared [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 813

“Half a Day” by Naguib Mahfouz

The period of the story is unrealistic because the narrator enters school as a young boy and leaves as an old man but the brief period captures the changes that occur in a person's life.
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 560

Doctor Faustus as a Tragic Hero Essay

4.4
Therefore, the tragic hero character is manifested at the end of the play where Faustus pleads with God to forgive him and liberate him from the hand of the devil.
  • Subjects: Dramatic Literature
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1468

Dust of Snow: Analysis & Critical Appreciation

3.6
However, in the poem, the very bird we hate shakes up the poisonous tree causing snow to fall on the poet. The setting of the poem is in a snowy landscape with a tree and [...]
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 909
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“The Fate of a Cockroach” by Tawfiq Al-Hakim

Still, it is difficult to decide whether the author wants to satirize all the vices of the people and Egyptian people in particular or it is the bright example of the introduction of absurd in [...]
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 853

A Good Man Is Hard to Find: Literary Critical Analysis Essay

4
The short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find" stands as the American Southern Gothic writer Flannery O'Connor's most disturbing work of fiction."A Good Man Is Hard to Find" is the title work of [...]
  • Subjects: Concepts in American Novels
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1263
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“Am I Blue” by Alice Walker: Analysis & Summary

3.5
In particular, the tale introduces a vivid comparison between the emotions of animals and those of humans. In the story, Walker pays attention to the eyes of the animal, noting, "...
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 608

Dramatic Irony in Macbeth Essay

5
Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to amuse the audience and to show the level of deception developed by the main character. The porter gives a clear picture of what is about to happen.
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2013

Marxist Criticism on The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Essay

3.2
Moreover, the location of the lottery at the town square between two buildings- the post office and the bank represents the political and economic power of the government and those in power such as Mr. [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 657

W.B. Yeats: Writing Style & Poetry

4
The specific characteristics of his type of poetry originality come from the spontaneous nature of the poem, and the use of alteration and substitution.
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 551
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The Importance of Literacy Essay (Critical Writing)

4.3
Literacy is a skill that is never late to acquire because it is essential for education, employment, belonging to the community, and ability to help one's children.
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 908

King Lear Themes, Characters, & Analysis Essay

As explained by Al Zoubi and Al Khamaiseh, during the ceremony, Goneril and Regan, the oldest and the middle daughters, use flatter and insincere speech to prove their love to the father.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1124
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Essay on Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

3
This essay contains the analysis of the novel, including the summary, description of the main characters and themes, personal opinion about the narrative, and conclusion that summarizes the main points of the essay.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1204

“Hell Heaven” Summary & Analysis Essay

The narrator's family is not socially stable and her mother, Boudi, falls in love with Pranab, a stranger that the family has taken in as a friend. The major characters in the story are the [...]
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 888

Why Should Shakespeare Be Taught in School Essay

3.4
For instance, his works are very rich in the English language and are a good source of learning the language. The dramas are not in the same category as Shakespeare who is clearly in a [...]
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 1068

What Is American Literature Essay

5
The paper will discuss the background of American Literature and how it has came about, the writing style of American authors and what makes the American text different and unique from other national literatures and [...]
  • Subjects: Aspects of American Novels
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1248

The Cask of Amontillado

5
The use of irony Poe uses three types of irony in the story as a literary tool that facilitates the readers' understanding of the friendship that exists between Montresor and Fortunato.
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1693

A Doll’s House Stage Design: Set & Costumes Analysis

One of the foremost characteristics of Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House is that its plot appears linearly defined, which, in turn, explains the semantic realism of play's overall sounding.
  • Subjects: World Philosophy Literature
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1880

Symbolic Elements in Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado”

3
The name Fortunato is a symbol of the genesis of Montresor's plan for revenge. The attire is also symbolic of the sacrificial element that applies to Montresor's revenge.
  • Subjects: American Novels Writing Style
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1917

Betrayal in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”

The betrayer, Macbeth betrays the King, friend and other subjects in the kingdom. However when Macbeth is told he has just been chosen as the Thane of Cawdor, scenes of the possibilities of him as [...]
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 887
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“Goodbye to All That” by Joan Didion

5
Didion was experiencing the emptiness and meaninglessness of her life in New York, the city that kept disappointing her, not because it was a bad place to live but because it was not the place [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 478

Robert Frost’s Writing Style Essay

3
The leading theme of the poem is the non-conformist ideas of the author, the problem of life choice, and the dilemma in making the right decision.
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1216
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Tom and Gatsby: Compare and Contrast Essay

3.5
In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald pays attention to the relationships between both Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan and Daisy Buchanan. Scott Fitzgerald's book is mainly focused on the relationship of Daisy with Gatsby and Tom, [...]
  • Subjects: Themes in American Novels
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 828

Tennyson’s Ulysses Poem Essay

4.5
Most of the lines end midway in what Shapiro calls "enjambment"."Once the structure of this epic is revealed, the meaning of the episodes become intelligible as part of the narrative structure".
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1144
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The Handmaid’s Tale Literary Analysis

4.5
The complex nature of the setting, therefore, influences the direction of the story in that it helps the author to sufficiently blend historical and futuristic ideal in a way seen as still relevant to the [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2158

William Shakespeare and the Renaissance Period

3.6
These people noticed that the few people of the upper class were using the law and religion to their advantage, which led them to benefit more from the available resources as compared to the other [...]
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1140

“How to Talk to Girls at Parties” by Neil Gaiman

The present paper shows that the theme of coming of age is developed in the short story through the parallelization of girls to aliens and through the growth of the main characters' understanding that the [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 740

The Boy Who Cried Wolf: Analysis of Story by Aesop

The locals tried several times to save the sheep and the boy from the wolf, but the boy only laughed. When the wolf appears at the end of the story, no one believes the boy [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 292
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“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” Symbolism

5
In the context of the "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", the pentangle brings together the influence of "the five virtues, the five wounds of Christ, the five senses, the five joys of Mary the [...]
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1873

The Yellow Wallpaper

5
Throughout the story, the narrator, together with the rest of the women trapped in the wallpaper, is desperately trying to break loose from the function that the society has assigned for them.
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1720

This is what it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona

The title of the story itself hints at the fact that the journey undertaken by Victor and Thomas is not one that elaborates on the decline of the Native American culture but is rather indicative [...]
  • Subjects: Concepts in American Novels
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1129

Satire in Parts 3-4 of Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”

The present paper argues that in Part 3, the author displays satire through the characters of Laputa's desperate rulers and Lagado's gifted scientists, who waste their time for useless experiments, and senile, envious immortals, whereas [...]
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1961

Character of Kurtz in Heart of Darkness

The quote is indicative of the loneliness that Kurtz experiences and depicts the intensity of his emotions in being away from his homeland. The character of Kurtz conveys symbolism that is important in understanding his [...]
  • Subjects: Dramatical Novel
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 845
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Social Status in “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

Through reading and writing works of literature, people get to think about the world they live in, about the presuppositions and traditions we come to know, the wondrous and unexpected, as well as that which [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 12
  • Words: 3496

Historical Parallels Between George Orwell’s 1984 and Today

5
Perhaps that is clearly illustrated by the quote that presupposes that whoever can control the past, has power to control the future; while whoever has the ability to control the present, wields the right to [...]
  • Subjects: Themes in American Novels
  • Pages: 12
  • Words: 3364

“Fiesta” a Short Story by Junot Diaz

The author tries to show that deceit is abhorrent to a person and that only socialization makes him/her more tolerant to this kind of behavior.
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1171
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Naturalism in “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane

Stephen Crane's The Open Boat revolves around four shipwrecked men: the captain, the cook, the correspondent, and the oiler. Thus the danger of the wind and the waves natural forces are so awesome that without [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 1177

Rich Dad Poor Dad Essay

5
The author tries to bring to the attention of the users how basic knowledge of finances is very vital in any business undertaking and how corporations can contribute to the rich becoming even richer.
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1277

The Epic Ramayana by Valmiki

5
Her loyalty is seen in the book again, when she is abducted by the demonic Ravana, who is king of Lanka, to avenge his demon sister's disfiguring.
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 829

The Cinderella Essay

3.3
After reaching the palace, the prince invited her to the next ball in which Cinderella lost her glass slipper. The story begins with the birth of Cinderella which is followed by the death of her [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 706

How The Necklace Story Relate to You?

Towards the end of the story, Mathilde Loise decides to tell the truth to Madame Forestier concerning the necklace and the misery that she had undergone.
  • Subjects: Themes in American Novels
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 818
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Main Themes in the “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

In Girl, Jamaica Kincaid seeks to highlight the themes of the traditional mother-daughter relationship, the dangers of being a woman, and the transformative power of domesticity using the symbols of food, cloth, and folksongs as [...]
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1957

“On the Subway” Poem by Sharon Olds

It should be stressed that the author strived to disclose the atmosphere of fear and silence not through the characters, but through the title; the subway is not described in the poem, but all its [...]
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 834

Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple”: The Analysis

After Celie's marriage, her younger sister, Nettie, gets the opportunity to leave her father's household and move to Mr. In the end, Celie reunites with her sister, who returns from Africa with her husband Samuel [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1139

Symbolism in “The Tin Drum” by Gunter Grass

Overall, the analysis of The Tin Drum novel suggests a conclusion that the symbols of the red and white drum, Oscar's ability to control growing, and his strange life course reflect the events of German [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 827

Examples of Hospitality in The Odyssey by Homer: Review

4.2
While the tale has various mythical and magical motifs in the form of Gods, Goddesses, nymphs, witches, and magic; one of the most interesting and a rather unusual aspect of the story was the astounding [...]
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2463
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Critical Analysis of The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

4.8
The main subject of the novel is the family relations and problem of a person's worthiness in the society. The author explores and analyses such social problems as a person's worthiness and the ills of [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1754

“A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns

5
Therefore, the poet's intention is to foreground the element of time in love relationship and show the ambiguity inherent in it. The greatness of the poem is in its literariness.
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 653

Silver & Gold: Color Symbolism in The Great Gatsby

4.3
Although the color palette presented in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is rich, the problem of differing social status is most vividly described in the novel through the use of golden and silver colors that stand [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 880
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“The Swamp Dwellers” by Wole Soyinka

1
The swamp dweller "talks about the urban and remote society, the confrontations between the older and younger people, the battles between the old and the new in the society, love for modernism, the existence of [...]
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1123

Defamiliarization in Literature: Examples

3.5
Defamiliarization is one of the helpful stylistic techniques of such kind, and this essay shall analyze examples of defamiliarization and the benefits of its usage.
  • Subjects: Dramatic Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 580

“The Lady with the Pet Dog”: Oates & Chekhov [Analysis]

3
As aforementioned, the plot of the two versions of this story is the same; the storyline of the two versions carries a clandestine love affair between Anna and Gurov with a happy conclusion where the [...]
  • Subjects: Comparative Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 883

The Clock as a Symbol in “The Great Gatsby”

By incorporating metaphorical elements that allude to the fleeting nature of time, "the Great Gatsby" emphasizes the idea of the futility of life and the inescapability of the past and its mistakes.
  • Subjects: Concepts in American Novels
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1187
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