You should consider many different factors when writing your essay on British literature. Authors from the Middle Ages, such as Chaucer, had different beliefs and opinions than Renaissance writers like Shakespeare.
Capturing the specific circumstances and important contexts of a work is critical to a British literary analysis essay. As such, you should conduct extensive research into the creator’s biography, especially during the period when he or she wrote the piece.
With that said, the numbers of potential ideas and connections can be overwhelming and difficult to organize. For this reason, you should create an outline before starting work in earnest.
The outline serves as the structure that ensures that your paper remains coherent and logical. To create it, you should first write down every concept that comes to mind when you think about the topic.
Next, try to eliminate some of the results by including them into another, broader category or deciding that they are not viable. Organize the remainder in an order that represents a progression. For example, you should put influences that affected the author at the time of writing before their expressions in the work.
Here are some tips you should use to write an excellent outline:
Try making your titles and subtitles concise but informative. The matter that is discussed in a section should be evident from its name.
Select your topics so that they have a connection instead of trying to find one afterwards.
Try to support each outline point with at least one piece of evidence. In doing so, you guarantee that you will have valid material that you can discuss.
Be sure to visit IvyPanda for British literature research topics, British literature essay examples, and other useful samples!
Introduction The novels Robinson Crusoe and Pride and Prejudice by Daniel Defoe and Jane Austen respectively, share a lot. Characterization and themes that the two novels portray are drawn from the medieval British society. This implies that the two novels use huge amounts of realism as a technical element that facilitates their themes. At the […]
Introduction In the Miller’s tale, both Nicholas’ tricks and Absolon’s speeches do not appear plausible especially when told by Miller, a violent thug. However, when looked from the narrator’s point of view, Chaucer himself, the concepts become clearer to the reader. In particular, Lambdin and Lambdin note that two ideas, viz. the ‘ernest’ and ‘game’, […]
Introduction Lady Anne Clifford’s lineage had a profound influence on her life course. She was the only child of Countess Margaret Russell and George Clifford. Anne’s father was the Earl of Cumberland; the Clifford properties were under his name, and he had the right to bequeath them to whomever he saw fit. However, when making […]
William Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest” provides an in-depth description of the extent to which humans have subjected their fellow humans to injustices. One of the most well described forms of injustice is slavery. Throughout the play, the theme of servitude is shown by the inability of various characters to obtain personal freedom. However, Acts III […]
Introduction James Bond refers to a fictional character that was created in 1953 by one of the renowned writers Ian Fleming. James Bond featured in twelve novels and an additional two short stories. Since the original author died in 1964, other writers have taken over the authorship of James Bond novels, including Christopher Wood and […]
Introduction Why do many ghost stories involve an encounter between the higher and the lower social orders? Why is prostitution the last resolution to survival? Several theoretical perspectives can be used to respond to the above questions. One of such perspective is the Marxist theory. Marxism is an idea that includes a number of different […]
The novel Heart of Darkness was written in 1899 by Joseph Conrad but published in 1903. The novel is considered to be among the greatest books in English language. The book is a dreamlike tale that relates adventure and mystery in central Africa. It also tells a story of man’s journey which is symbolic in […]
In the preface to An Essay on Man, Alexander Pope says, “If I could flatter myself that this Essay has any merit, it is in steering betwixt the extremes of doctrines seemingly opposite.” The “doctrines” that Pope talks of are the seeming contradiction in human mind that, there exist, “not many certain truths in this […]
Introduction The very title of the Narayan’s ‘The Guide’ is ambiguous since the main character, Raju, is a tour guide. But he is also believed to be a spiritual guide, ‘believed’ because the readers and even Raju himself know he is not. But that statement is debatable when the whole story has been read. Implicit […]
This essay presents a review of the book ‘The Social Life of Information,’ by J Brown and Paul Duguid. People expect numerous changes to take place in their lives due to advancements in technology and the advent of information age. The manner in which human beings perform their activities has changed significantly due to technology. […]
Introduction Falling angels is the third novel of Tracy Chevalier, an American born writer. It began in January 1901, which marked a new epoch since Queen Victoria had died. Her son, Dandy King Edward became an emperor. This novel presumes a wide cultural focus, looking at death and burial as shown hundred years ago. This […]
David Lodge’s novel ‘Author, Author’ is one of the most common novels used by many teachers and students of literature studies due to its unique presentation that moves it far from other literature pieces. The author has embraced the use of various styles to develop and advance several themes and any reader will not compromise […]
The Romantic era/ Romanticism The Romantic era of art and literature is a movement which started in Europe at the end of the 18th century, peaking around the time between 1800 and 1840. Its main proponents were keen on showing that emotion was a fundamental origin of all beauty, and in this regard, deep-seated feelings […]
Introduction Prynne, Barry and Veronica stand out as some of the poets who exhibit or rather demonstrate characteristics of contemporary poets. Although they feature different opinions and styles in their poems, most of their views and poetic works rhyme taking on similar characteristics. Proponents of these poets commend positively on the different approach and styles […]
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness attracts a particularly harsh brand of criticism for its allegedly racist depictions of African blacks in the Congo at the turn of the 20th century. Certain critics, including Lennard J. Davis, consider removing the novel from the literary teaching canon, because of the “sadness and weariness” it evokes in students […]
Introduction This narrative begins by demonstrating an array of varied experiences and scenarios that affect the lives of people living in three different interlinking English social classes, but with unfavorable consequences. The two sisters, Margaret and Helen Schlegel, are the representative of the bourgeois class, which is financially independent. They are representatives of the intellectual […]
Introduction One of the most important, but often forgotten communities in the world histories is the Indian community, which has a remarkable history of evolution (Crinson 55). In the 1800s, the Indian community was still traversing the world and one of its destinations was Britain, even as the British people crossed to the Asian zones […]
While deliberating on the perception of childhood, Wordsworth’s poems focus on the power of real action and suffering. In particular, We Are Seven expresses “…the perplexity and obscurity which in childhood attend our notion of death, or rather our utter inability to admit that notion” (Lyrical Ballads xiii). Therefore, the poet reveals the reluctance of […]
Though often treated lightly as a mixture of social and political satire, the first two parts of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travel, in fact, conceals an array of references to the political controversies that surrounded the British Empire at the time, as well as contained numerous hints about the possible solutions to the conflicts erupting in […]
“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is an ancient poem that tells the story of the exchanges between Sir Gawain and a mysterious Green Knight. Sir Gawain is a blood relative of King Arthur and a brave knight while the Green Knight is a disguised character who sets out to test his opponent. “Sir Gawain […]
Introduction William Wordsworth’s vision of childhood is reflected in his poems “We Are Seven” and “Alice Fell or Poverty”, where he describes his childhood experiences. From the two poems, it is evident that these childhood experiences continue to influence him throughout his adult life (Moorman 81). For instance, both poems show the evidence of some […]
In his essay “Why I Write” (1946), George Orwell presents the discussion of his development as a writer. The essay is autobiographical. It can be divided into three parts. The author’s childhood is described in the first part of the essay. The author pays attention to his first experiences as a writer and notes that […]
Introduction The book The First World War by John Keegan is a historical book that narrates the situations before, during, and after the First World War. Therefore, this paper is an analysis of the whole book that explores different elements that have been brought out by the author as well as the goal that it […]
Following the publication of the scholarly works such as the Great War and Women’s Consciousness by Claire Tylee’s, other feminist scholars such as Angela K. Smith emerged to provide an expanded investigation and a critical assessment of various writings on the roles of women in the First World War authored by women scholars. While Women […]
John Keegan was an author of British war history books. Besides, he was also a lecturer and a journalist. He was born on 15 May 1934 and died on 2August 2012. His books cut across “the 14th to 21st century history of armed combats from air, maritime, land, and military warfare intelligences”1. His books reflect […]
Introduction The ‘NIGHTINGALE AND THE ROSE’ refers to a short story to which love features as the overall theme. In the story, we are introduced to a young student who has been promised a dance by the young beautiful lady that is the professor’s daughter. From the story, it is quite clear that the young […]
Introduction: Persuasion through the Prism of Time Talking about the impact that Jane Austen had on the English Romanticism takes hours. Jane Austin created a number of other works that touch upon not only personal, but also social and ethical issues. One of these works, Persuasion, is famous for the moral issues serving as the […]
Joanne Rowling’s books on adventures of Harry Potter in the magic world are discussed as perfect examples of literature for children. However, the series about Harry Potter is also actively read by many adults because a lot of philosophical questions are discussed in the books, and researchers are inclined to find different hidden meanings and […]
Evaluation of Frankenstein Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley is an exemplary written piece in English literature. The novel is influenced by many movements that were prominent in the period of romanticism. This paper evaluates the important motifs of the novel with its cultural roots to the concept of prejudice, character sketch of victor Frankenstein and […]
Introduction Written by George Eliot, ‘Silas Marner’ is a captivating tale published in 1861 and set in the beginning of the 19th century. It depicts Eliot’s attitude towards religion. Employing the elements of literature, Eliot uses characters like Silas Marner, a miser and a weaver, Godfrey Cass, Squire’s son, Eppie, Silas adopted girl, William Dane, […]
Introduction Dickens is regarded as the master of style because he has the ability to describe scenes in colorful detail thus making the scenes being described to come alive. The two pieces of work that will be the main area of concern in this analysis are ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ and ‘Oliver Twist’. Analysis […]
Introduction The story of Abraham in ‘The Ghost Road’ and ‘Regeneration’ epitomizes the theme of sacrifice in the novels. It is an overarching representation of what can occur when people prioritize their ideologies over their daily responsibilities, even towards their family and friends. Abraham in the books Any mention of Abraham in religious circles solicits […]
One of the most common forms of storytelling is the personal narrative. According to experts “a personal narrative contains the following elements: abstract; orientation; complicating action; evaluation; resolution; coda” (Bell 1996, p.4). The abstract is basically the summary of the main points of the story. The orientation set the scene and deals with the four […]
Sarah Waters’ novel Tipping the Velvet enables the readers to better understand the Victorian society with its values and norms. To a great extent, this work focuses on gender distinctions and behavior patterns that were considered to be appropriate for men and women. The main female characters try to evade and violate these norms by […]
Much ado about nothing is a romantic intriguing comedy written by William Shakespeare. By focusing on relationships, the author of the play highlights the impact of deception to unity, love and happiness. Deceitfulness is the device the characters use to either destroy or improve each other’s lives. The love relationships are either build or destroyed […]
Introduction The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is an investigation into the duality in human character. The novel demonstrates the duality in personality of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde through the conflict between the good and evil side of human personality. Dr. Jekyll, a scientist, brews a potion […]
As “Contemplations” was written in the 1660s, it was not included in the first edition of The Tenth Muse, and it became known to the reader only in 1678, after the author’s death (Gatta 40). It is possible to suggest that Bradstreet did not publish the poem earlier because she was not ready to share […]
Introduction Masculinity is a term used to categorize human behave that uses a lot energy and force. Baker (164) explains that masculinity refers to the ‘manliness’ of a character. A female who exposes male qualities is identified as threatening to the society. Masculinity may explain the character of the forceful male or the threatening female […]
Time Machine by H.G. Wells is a famous science fiction novel that discusses dystopian future and adventures in time. It also focuses on various social and economic factors that are interpreted in a fictional context. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to define how these factors, including depiction of humanity and equality, criticism of […]
Herbert George Wells, a prominent English writer, published his The Time Machine in 1895. At that time, the writer was 29 years old, and probably already had his outlook and ideas about the human race existence formed. During his student years, Wells studied biology and economics, and was making a research related to the theory […]
This novel is an ardent satire on the ethical and social evils that inundated the English society in the 18th century. Fielding has used his characters to satirize his novel as a genre. In this novel, readers read about a chameleonic society that often alters its appearance to satisfy personal lusts/desires of different kinds. It […]
Introduction In several parts of the world, immigrants have in most cases been perceived to be in competition with indigenous communities over one thing or the other. This has at times created a feeling of not being wanted among the communities within which they are living. However, the situation has conspicuously changed over time especially […]
Introduction Background The treatment of women in Shakespeare’s plays has been a subject of debate for a long time. Some scholars have criticized his portrayal of women as unbalanced while others praise his deep understanding of human nature, which is apparent in his characters. Whichever way one looks at it, most of the female characters […]
Introduction Austen uses gardens to advance the themes of class, love, parental relationships and family honor. She also reveals Elizabeth’s, Darcy’s and other people’s character through the gardens. Significance of gardens in the novel The novel “Pride and Prejudice” does not rely heavily on symbolism because it has more dialogues than descriptions. Nonetheless, certain physical […]
Introduction A “visit to Grandpa’s” is a story by Dylan Thomas, featured in the “Harrap book of modern short stories,” published in 1956. It portrays the artist as a child, and the close relation he develops with the country side of Wales, at an English village, characteristic with the twentieth century literature. The book also […]
The novel, Buddha of Suburbia, was set in a period when the British society was experiencing several social dilemmas regarding how to handle intercultural influences in the post-colonial period. In fact, BBC explains that the novel is as much about Amir’s personal experiences (to find his true identity) as it is Britain’s struggle to accept […]
Jamila is the most vivid female character in Hanif Kureishi’s The Buddha of Suburbia. The young girl belongs to the family of Indians who live in England, and she is the second-generation immigrant. This aspect is significant for understanding her opinion on the question of her personal and cultural identity. In spite of the fact […]
Marie de France wrote this wonderful piece of literature in the late 12th century. The author is considered one of the earliest French woman poets but she was probably active in England. This trivia provides an insight as to why she wrote about her hero as someone who is an outsider because Marie de France […]
The novel is a literary work whose roots can be traced to the eighteenth century. It came as a break from the traditional prose fiction of the Greeks and the French. Earlier novelists such as Defoe, Richardson and Fielding whose contribution to writing is seen as one that came accidental and also one that was […]
Karim Amir is the protagonist of Hanif Kureishi’s The Buddha of Suburbia, and all the situations and characters of the story are presented from Karim’s perspective. Hanif Kureishi discusses a lot of significant social issues in his novel such as racism and interactions with the representatives of different social classes with references to the characters’ […]
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