Literature is often referred to as the nexus of life. It’s a place where many opinions, viewpoints, and stories come together to inform and entertain the audience. Literature is any kind of written work, but most often refers to those considered classic works of art that have informed our culture. Great American classics, poetry, and prose passed through the ages, and literature has caused huge shifts in our cultural identity.
Literature is a fantastic choice for essays because of its huge space for interpretation. You can speak directly about the literature itself, about a specific piece of literature and its effect on the world, or about literature as a broader subject. All these topics and more within literature are relevant to our world today. It’s part of the reason the humble book report is still seen as such a staple even in today’s increased climate of audio and visual mediums.
The structure of a literature essay will shift and change to fit the kind of essay you’re writing. You could be persuading your audience of something, writing a review or report, or even a literary analysis. Always ensure you’re writing within the prescribed format you’ve been given for the essay, but generally, literature essays can fall under the classic design. This is a five-paragraph structure with an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Literature has a wide variety of topics. You can go as narrow or broad on the subject as you want. Don’t be afraid to be inventive.
Topics you can use include:
• The effect of literature on our political landscape
• Literary Analysis of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
• The impact of female authors on literature
• Poetry and prose: An analysis of methodology
• Literary analysis of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
• Explaining and following the hero’s journey
• Fatal flaws and hubris in literature
• Literary tropes and their jump from script to screen
• What makes literature classic?
• Book burning: How it’s represented in literature
• Who’s the main character in The Crucible?
• Why Lord of the Flies is still a must-read for institutions
If you still don’t know how to start, essay examples on this page may help you set your thoughts and start writing.