Choosing a dissertation topic in English literature can be both exciting and daunting. With a wealth of genres, historical periods, and critical approaches, the possibilities are vast. This comprehensive guide presents over 50 important dissertation topics across various themes and periods, helping you find inspiration for your research.
Explore the complexities of human nature, fate, and morality in plays like “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” or “Othello.” Analyze themes such as ambition, revenge, and madness.
Investigate the works of poets like John Donne, George Herbert, and Andrew Marvell. Focus on their use of metaphysical conceits, religious themes, and exploration of love and mortality.
Examine the representation of women in the works of male authors or explore the writings of female authors like Mary Sidney and Lady Mary Wroth.
Analyze Charles Dickens’ critique of social issues such as poverty, child labour, and class disparity in novels like “Oliver Twist,” “David Copperfield,” and “Bleak House.”
Compare and contrast the themes of gothic elements, gender roles, and family dynamics in the works of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë.
Explore the depiction of women and their societal roles in the works of authors like Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot, and Thomas Hardy.
Examine the narrative technique of stream of consciousness and its impact on modernist literature through Joyce’s “Ulysses.”
Investigate themes of alienation, bureaucracy, and existential angst in Kafka’s stories like “The Metamorphosis” and “The Trial.”
Analyze Woolf’s exploration of gender, identity, and consciousness in works like “Mrs. Dalloway” and “Orlando.”
Explore themes of identity, migration, and cultural hybridity in Rushdie’s novels such as “Midnight’s Children” and “The Satanic Verses.”
Examine the intersection of postcolonial themes and feminist issues in Adichie’s works like “Half of a Yellow Sun” and “Americanah.”
Analyze how Coetzee portrays the impacts of colonialism and apartheid in South Africa in novels like “Disgrace” and “Waiting for the Barbarians.”
Investigate the portrayal of environmental issues and dystopian futures in Atwood’s novels like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Oryx and Crake.”
Examine the critique of technology, surveillance, and privacy in Eggers’ novel “The Circle.”
Analyze how Smith addresses themes of multiculturalism, identity, and social dynamics in novels like “White Teeth” and “Swing Time.”
Explore the critique of the American Dream and the pursuit of wealth in Fitzgerald’s classic novel.
Investigate Morrison’s exploration of African American identity, history, and culture in novels like “Beloved” and “Song of Solomon.”
Analyze the use of gothic elements, decaying settings, and complex family dynamics in Faulkner’s novels like “The Sound and the Fury” and “As I Lay Dying.”
Examine Poe’s use of supernatural elements, psychological horror, and themes of madness in his short stories.
Explore the representation of gender, creation, and monstrosity in Shelley’s seminal gothic novel.
Analyze the themes of sexuality, fear of the other, and the clash between modernity and ancient evil in Stoker’s “Dracula.”
Investigate Orwell’s critique of totalitarianism, surveillance, and control in his dystopian novel “1984.”
Examine Tolkien’s creation of Middle-earth, focusing on themes of heroism, power, and the struggle between good and evil.
Analyze the depiction of gender, power dynamics, and resistance in Atwood’s dystopian novel.
Explore the use of anthropomorphism and moral teaching in Aesop’s classic fables.
Investigate the blend of fantasy and reality, the hero’s journey, and themes of friendship and bravery in the “Harry Potter” series.
Examine J.M. Barrie’s portrayal of colonialism, race, and the concept of the “other” in “Peter Pan.”
Analyze Wordsworth’s depiction of nature, the sublime, and the human experience in his poetry.
Investigate the themes of love, loss, and mortality in Keats’ poetic works.
Explore the blending of Romantic and Gothic elements in Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein.”
Examine Woolf’s arguments about women’s rights, creativity, and the need for financial independence in her extended essay.
Analyze Lorde’s exploration of intersectionality, identity, and resistance in her poetry and essays.
Investigate Plath’s portrayal of gender roles, mental illness, and societal expectations in her semi-autobiographical novel.
Examine Mantel’s depiction of Thomas Cromwell and the Tudor court, focusing on historical accuracy and narrative style.
Analyze Remarque’s portrayal of the horrors of World War I and its impact on soldiers.
Investigate Dickens’ depiction of the French Revolution, class struggle, and redemption in “A Tale of Two Cities.”
Analyze the similarities and differences in the dystopian societies depicted by George Orwell and Aldous Huxley.
Examine the use of the hero’s journey archetype in Homer’s epic poem and Tolkien’s fantasy series.
Compare and contrast the themes of revenge, justice, and morality in Shakespeare’s play and Dumas’ novel.
Investigate how Joyce incorporates and reinterprets classical myths in his modernist novel “Ulysses.”
Analyze the influence of Greek tragedy on contemporary works, focusing on themes of fate, hubris, and catharsis.
Explore the use of mythical motifs, creatures, and archetypes in the “Harry Potter” series.
Examine Baldwin’s exploration of queer identity, love, and societal norms in his novel “Giovanni’s Room.”
Analyze Wilde’s depiction of gender, sexuality, and societal hypocrisy in his plays and novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
Investigate Lorde’s exploration of the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexuality in her poetry.
Choosing a dissertation topic in English literature requires careful consideration of your interests, the scope of available research, and the depth of the material. The above list provides a diverse array of topics across different periods, genres, and themes, offering a solid foundation for your academic exploration. Whether you are drawn to the timeless works of Shakespeare, the social critiques of Victorian literature, the innovative narratives of modernism, or the diverse voices of contemporary literature, there is a rich vein of material to explore in your dissertation.
