“Oliver Twist” a Book by Charles Dickens
In the background, we see the astonishment on the rest of the boys' faces and the turmoil caused by Oliver's plea.
British Literature Essay Examples and Topics
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!
“Shame” Autobiography by Jasvinder Sanghera
Trapped by the Indian culture into a marriage she objected, Jasvinder's sister had to endure the suffering without sympathy from the parents. The title of the book symbolizes the story of a girl who caused [...]
“Before the Birth of One of Her Children” by Anne Bradstreet
The poem is written as a couplet because most of the lines are of the same length that makes it melodic, pleasant to read, and easy to perceive.
Literary Devices in “The Monkey’s Paw” by Jacobs
The author is talking about fate and magic at the same time, and also tries to show the way people surround mythical things with beliefs that make it easy for the believers of such things [...]
Victorian Poetry and Its Characteristics
One of the most prominent traits of Victorian poetry was that most poems portrayed the themes of isolation, alienation, and the distinction between love and life.
Multiculturalism in “White Teeth” by Zadie Smith
The narrative observes past and present events that assist in understanding the specific problems faced by the main characters of the novel.
“The Romance in the Forest” by Ann Radcliffe
Ann Radcliffe's "The Romance in the Forest" explores the relationship between Adeline and the men in the book. Adeline is the lead character in the book, and she is supposed to exemplify the strength of [...]
“To the Lighthouse” a Novel by Virginia Woolf
In such a case, it shows that Friedman perceives the imagery of water as a part of change according to which one surrenders to the process of accomplishing the wouldouble vision'.
Loyalty in “Hard Times” by Charles Dickens
For instance, the author ridicules this blind loyalty to Gradgrind's philosophy and outlines various ways it has affected the lives of his children and people that surround him.
Satire in “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift
Moreover, it is known that he published it anonymously to ensure that the reader is not aware of what to expect from this proposal.
Word Choice in “The Curse” by Arthur C. Clarke
When I read the story for the first time, it hardly drew my attention to the words chosen by the author to depict this scene. And why earlier in the text the author used the [...]
Jane Austen’s Novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’
The current study explores the link between romance with the natural, the supernatural, and emotion versus reality to understand romanticism characteristics in the novel.
Morality and Free Will in “Daisy Miller” by James
Later on that evening, Daisy suggests to Winterborne about her wish to ride on the lake and willingly overlooks the appropriateness of the time.
“Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus” by Shelley
He studied in Ingolstadt where he discovered the secrets of life, which he uses to create a monster. He does this in secret since he is aware of the dangers of his experiment.
“High Fidelity”: Hornby’s Novel and Frears’s Film
The paper focuses on the main themes of both versions and the way they are delivered, the techniques and methods employed by the authors of both the film and the novel in order to get [...]
Surprising Effect in Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”
From the very beginning, the writer expressed his concern for the plight of the poor, which was central to the whole story.
“The War of the Worlds” a Novel by Herbert Wells
1 The ongoing process of Globalization, which is being aimed at elimination of national borders, and the rise of Internet as a form of virtual reality, which makes possible to instantly transmit huge amounts of [...]
Loneliness and Solitude in the Western Literary Tradition
The most useful kind of isolation is the latter because not only does it allow one to come to terms with all the complexities that one has undergone in one's life but it also provides [...]
Social Inequality in “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte
At the same time Jane Eyre symbolizes the struggle of the social classes in 19th century England. The story traced the development of the ten year old child as a hapless prey in an oppressive [...]
Tales of Beowulf: Theme’ Analysis
Considering the peculiarities of Beowulf, the paper aims at exploring particular themes such as family, fame and shame, changes and cycles, and the theme of religion present in the poem to show how the interpolated [...]
“Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens
Although he survives after the death of the mother, he is forced to lead a life full of hardship following an unexplained disappearance of the father.
“The Jungle Book” by Rudyard Kipling
Devoted to the description of the life of a human being, the book, though, manages to combine this description with the visions of nature of the jungle and the laws according to which animals live [...]
Macbeth: an Analysis of the Play by Shakespeare
Macbeth's treachery springs from his reliance to the witches who gave him prophecy that results in his endless creation of enemies.
William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”
According to Wyke, the play explores the dramatic structure of Julius Caesar's ambition to take to the throne of the Roman Empire.
Stylistics of Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
The name of the main character of the novel, who has created the living monster from the insentient substance, became a special sign that in a course of time widened its meaning.
Ethical Issues in the Novel “Frankenstein” by Shelley Mary
The paper looks at the ethical issues that the author highlights in her paper, such as the promotion of artificial life to help in the development of the discussions of this paper. Victor Frankenstein is [...]
Joseph Conrad’s Novel “Heart of Darkness”
In the Congo, he is clearly not in favor of the Africans but as a portrayal of how Africans needed the whites to salvage them from the darkness they were living in.
Iago and Othello Relationships
With the help of relationships between Iago and Othello, Shakespeare conveyed the idea that good and evil have to coexist for the sake of the world balance.
Narrator’ Role in “Orlando: A Biography” by Virginia Woolf
With a couple of bright original metaphors, a writer helps a reader to understand a character's emotions, to imagine setting with the minor details, and to feel the atmosphere of the moment.
The Evolution of Dragons in Fantasy Fiction
One of the most significant figures among the range of the animals inhabiting the land of fantasy is a dragon, the symbol of wisdom and power.
The Tempest and Wonder by Anthony Esolen Literature Analysis
In this talk, Professor Esolen discusses the importance of wonder as one of the main themes in Shakespeare's play The Tempest.
“The Tempest” by William Shakespeare Literature Analysis
This is one of the main arguments that can be put forward. In particular, Ferdinand discovers that he can be committed to the needs of another person.
What Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Say About Community?
Hyde was not eager to become a part of the community and he tended to avoid communication with members of the society he lived in.
“The Remains of the Day” a Novel by Kazuo Ishiguro
The difference between the Americans and the English and between the peculiarities of their cultures is expressed on the example of the two owners of the Darlington Hall.
Animal Farm by George Orwell: Literary Analysis
Providing the title for the work, Orwell seems to ask the questions about the differences in the regime of the Soviet Union and irrational rule of animals at the farm.
Social Conflicts in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
This is the only way for the animals to establish equality and create a flourishing, happy and wealthy society."Animal Farm" by Orwell is a description of the metamorphoses that happen within a freedom movement turning [...]
Chapter 21 of “A Clockwork Orange” by A. Burgess
The analysis of the overall philosophy of Burgess and the meaning of the novel reveals that the twenty-first chapter plays a crucial role in delivering the main message of the possibility of moral evolution and [...]
Orwells’ The Road to Wigan Pier: Sentence Analysis
According to the results of the examination, the first paragraph contains a range of key terms, which underline the general idea of the abstract.
The Novel “The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro
One of the reasons why the novel The Remains of the Day is being commonly referred to, as such, that represents a high literary value, is that the themes and motifs, contained in it, do [...]
“Romeo and Juliet” and “The Winter’s Tale” Comparison
Because of the importance of the role of plants and trees in the two abovementioned plays, it would be reasonable to consider each of the plays in detail.
The Poem “Model Village” by Carol Ann Duffy
The language used in the poem sound like, an adult is explaining the details of a model village to a child and the voices in the poem represent a village community.
“Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell” a Book by Susanna Clarke
In this, case I am inclined to state that those people who feel and follow God's grace have this grace in themselves as a kind of the power which leads them to see the truth, [...]
“The Heart of Darkness” a Novel by Joseph Conrad
As its mission, the European imperialism had the "civilization" of the world and expansion of the Christianity over the conquered nations through the forced introduction of the European administrative powers and its culture.
“Shooting the Elephant” a Story by George Orwell
The young narrator takes note of the fact that a tamed elephant is a revered asset in the country because it helps natives perform many difficult tasks.
“New Atlantis” an Utopia by Francis Bacon
Therefore, it is possible to state that Francis Bacon's New Atlantis is aimed at criticizing the use of reason as the central principle for creating an intellectual utopia as the practice shows that the possession [...]
Meditative and Passionate Responses in the Play “Hamlet”
This is seen in his soliloquy "to be, or not to be: that is the question; /Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer?
“Bitter Lemons of Cyprus” a Book by Lawrence Durrell
The book tells the story of Cyprus in the mid-1950s. The book highlights the experiences on the island and the individuals he met during his stay.
“Rime of the Ancient Mariner” a Poem by Samuel Coleridge
In this poem, some of the elements that capture the Gothic traditions include terrifying weather, the spirit, the female known as Life-in-Death and Death, snow, the Albatross, the strange speech of the mariner, deaths, and [...]
The Novel “A Passage to India” by Edward Morgan Forster
The reason for this is that the themes and motifs, contained in it, reveal the hidden reason why, throughout the course of Britain's colonial rule in India, the socio-economic dynamics in this country never ceased [...]
“Richard II” a Play by William Shakespeare
Hence, the movie review interprets the performances of Fiona Shaw and Ben Whishaw in the third scene in the third act, where they act as King Richard II in the play, Richard II.
“Burnt Shadows” a Book by Kamila Shamsie
Although Kim agreed to help Abdullah cross the Canadian border to escape from the FBI because of the tries to overcome biases and state justice, the woman decided to inform the police about the escape [...]
Social Discriminations in “Mansfield Park”by Jane Austen
The main character, Fanny Price, is in the middle of the social situation that dominates Austen's book. Fanny is a constant target of discrimination from several members of the Bertram family and this treatment can [...]
Shakespeare’s Play “Twelfth Night” and Its Double Plot
The major plot involves the courtship and love dilemmas of Duke Orsino, Lady Olivia, and Viola. In a conversation with the captain, she learns of the courtship between Orsino and Olivia.
Robin Hood and His Organisation’ Issues
The organisation is running out of funds because the clients, viz.the wealthy travellers, have started avoiding the Sherwood Forest after learning of the existence of Merrie Men. Therefore, Robin faces the threat of the Sheriff [...]
Postcolonial Theories in “Overland Mail” by Rudyard Kipling
The object of the poem is the definitive extoling of the British Queen who is seen as the vehicle of advancement and modernity in India, which is described as a "Jungle".
The Poem “Manfred” by George Byron
Thus, till the end of the whole poem, the main character is not able to embrace peace and forget about the guilt. Manfred is guilty and he is not able to get rid of tortures.
Kazao Ishiguro and His Story “A Family Supper”
The participation of Japan in the World War II led to the introduction of new rules that threatened to upset the familiar Japanese culture.
“Henry IV Part One” a Play by William Shakespeare
Henry IV Part One is a play about to the story of the heir of King Henry IV Prince Hal. The character of Prince Harry is central in the play Henry IV Part One.
A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning by John Donne
It is also necessary to mention that Donne chooses a very specific realm of the spiritual to show the links between the idea of pure, platonic love and its ore down-to-earth equivalent.
“Family Supper” by Kazuo Ishiguro
Father felt that he was not able to raise the children properly, and he thinks that it is extremely shameful. The best way to interpret this story is that the father has made a decision [...]
The Twelfth Night by Shakespeare
The Twelfth Night, for instance, concentrates on such issues as love, friendship, relationships between the man and the woman as well as the distribution of gender roles in the society.
Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Psychological View
As a fact, based on the way the author strategically presents various characters, psychological critics have suggested that some characters in the A Midsummer Night's Dream can be seen as representations of the ego, the [...]
“Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen
Moreover, the actions of Colonel Brandon have to be evaluated, as he remains one of the main characters in the Sense and Sensibility.
George Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language”
Meyer refers to the concept of information overload, which shifts the historic power of the press and alters the ways, in which the community responds to it.
The Poem “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold
At the beginning of the poem, Arnold has used the sight of sea scenery, where the reader is introduced to a 'calm and relaxing sea'.
Portrayal of Hamlet in Shakespeare’s Play and Zaffirelli’s Film
In fact, Mel Gisbon's power as an act does not provide a sufficient understanding of his ability to penetrate to Shakespeare's world and reach the ideas in the play.
Hamlet in the Film and the Play: Comparing and Contrasting
There is a certain discrepancy in the way Shakespeare's Hamlet and Gibson's hero unveil the tragic style of the play. This assumption is justified by the scenes from the movie because many of the dialogues [...]
The Birds and Other Stories by Daphne Du Maurier Literature Analysis
In the story The Birds, Du Maurier posits, "The birds had been more restless than ever this fall of the year". In addition, the story is more believable as compared to the movie.
Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations Literature Analysis
The events leading up to the final scene in the film and in the novel with the initial ending are the same.
“Anthem for Doomed Youth” by Wilfred Owen Literature Analysis
The events of the past still haunt some of the countries, the relics of the war are still being found in the places of former battlefields, the veterans are being honored and the films about [...]
“Death be Not Proud” by John Donne Literature Analysis
He wanted to talk about his perception of death and framed the poem in a way that seemed like he was talking to death.
Shakespeare Literature: Prophecy and Macbeth Morality
The divination made by the witches pushes Macbeth further into immorality as he is made to believe that he deserves the position of king. In addition, Macbeth abandons reason and morality so as to make [...]
Literary Analysis of “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare
They are the symbolic image of Hamlet's father the ghost of the King, the flowers and Ophelia, the skull, and the grave of Yorick.
“Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold Literature Critique
The first line of the poem creates a picture of the nature around the man: "The sea is calm to-night". The author wants to describe the nature and the place of humans in this world.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Play by William Shakespeare
The scene divulges the heightened parody presented by Shakespeare where there is bafflement and confusion among the young lovers. The scene sets the stage for confusion in and bickering among the young friends.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day”
The subject of the present paper is argumentative analysis of poetry, hence one of the most famous Shakespeare's sonnets "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day" will be subject to analysis and argumentative response [...]
“The Tiger” and “The Lamb” by William Blake Literature Analysis
Despite the fact that human beings have a passion for understanding God's mind, their minds cannot fathom the puzzling creation of a lamb and a tiger."The Lamb" and "The Tiger" are two poems written by [...]
Thomas Hardy’ Literature: Portraits of Country Life
At first Hardy could not find the community for his poetry work but one novelist by the name George Meredith advised him to write a narrative and by this he first wrote the novel "The [...]
“Silas Marner” by George Elliot
Though Silas becomes an outsider following the false accusations said against him by his church, he is later the most trusted and the beloved insider of the village following his adoption of Eppie, a girl [...]
“Saturday” by Ian Mc Ewan Literature Analysis
On his way to the squash game, the reader realizes that there is a big protest going on in the street, and this is when one comes to know about the political views of Perowne.
“The World is too Much with us” and “When, in Disgrace with Fortune and Men’s Eyes”
But, no matter how strange, awful and bitter it seems, the poet admits that people fail to see that beauty and lose the sense of nature, unity with it completely: "For this, for everything, we [...]
“The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” by D. H. Lawrence
The storyline is romance and love; however, after Jack saves Mabel, the story transitions dramatically and defies all the expectations of such a story."Lawrence cuts through the romanticism inherent in such a plot line to [...]
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll Literature Analysis
In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis introduces a collection of puzzles that fulfill a human life, make people move and think about the past, present, and future as a one whole, and turn the majority [...]
“The Mills of the Floss” a Tale by George Eliot
Moreover, within a tale is a message that aims to influence an audience in a certain way."The Mill on the Floss" contains the message that comes from the teller, which is a reality of the [...]
Mary Shelley’ “Frankenstein” Story Analysis
The creation is not a monster because it has human habits and affection. From the start of the story, Frankenstein's creation is misjudged due to the way it looks.
Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Dramatic Irony
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.
Unchecked Ambition in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
However, in Act 1, scenes 1 to 4, the audience is introduced to Macbeth's increasing fear and the developing desire to be the king. It appears that the desire to be the king overrides his [...]
Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare
The author expresses his affection to a person he does not name, yet it is suspected that the mysterious object of the poet's admiration who is mentioned in most of the other sonnets is a [...]
Events in the 1984 by George Orwell
This paper explores the similarities and dissimilarities between the book's events and the occurrences of contemporary society in 2014. Orwell's accounts in the book 1984 strike many similarities with the events happening in contemporary society.
Female Character in the Shakespeare’s Othello
It appears that the primary role of women in the play is for them to act as a basis on which men are evaluated.
Psychiatric Analysis of Hamlet Literature Analysis
However, he tells the doctor that he is not actually aware of the reasons that are taking him to his death.
“Othello” a Play by W. Shakespeare Literature Analysis
Consequently, Othello seeks to distance himself with the misconstrued stereotypes of a 'Moor.' This essay seeks to prove that the main character's sense of identity leads to his self-destruction.
Mary Shelley’s Monster in Frankenstein Literature Analysis
Statement of the Research The underlying principle of this research undertaking is to examine the character traits of Frankenstein as a monster.
Mary Shelley’s Fears in “Frankenstein”
Mary Shelley's creation is often spoken about as a philosophical work telling about the influences of industrialization and technological progress on the society and the ideas about the values of life and death, the argument [...]
“The Buddha of Suburbia” by Hanif Kureishi
The age of the British Empire has doubtlessly left a memorable trace in the world history, shaping the lives of millions of people and defining the evolution of both the domestic and the foreign policy [...]
Virginia Woolf’s Novel Mrs. Dalloway
The story is a portrait of a middle-aged woman that Woolf paints utilizing Clarissa's thoughts and actions that eventually help her convert the ideology of life of the English middle class and describe the cultural [...]
“Educating Rita” by Willy Russell Literature Analysis
The author presents a solution to this question by demonstrating through the main character, Rita, that education can upgrade the diminished position and status of women in society. Education is Rita's expedition of self-realization to [...]
William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 73” Literature Analysis
Throughout this sonnet, the speaker attempts to explain to his friend the challenges of old age. Therefore, the structure of the quatrains and images contribute to the overall efficiency of this sonnet.
The White Collar Book by C. Wright Mills
The aim of this essay is to compare and contrast two pieces of prose included in the book: The World of the Small Entrepreneur and The Rhetoric of Competition.
Reading Response: “The Martyred” by Richard E. Kim
The chapters from 21 to 29 in the book "The Martyred" by Richard Kim introduce the idea of sacrifice and the reasons of why people may be eager to hide the truth and contribute their [...]