As a student of literature, we bet you can’t wait to start writing, but have you chosen the best possible literature research project topic to showcase your skills? Whether you’re working on your EPQ or completing a project for other reasons, start your academic journey with 100 ideas for research projects in literature.

We know you’re eager to begin, but think wisely before committing to a research topic. While a literature project can certainly help you achieve high grades, it can also positively influence your career.

What Makes a Great Research Project in Literature?

The first step to success in your EPQ research project is picking the right topic. Ask yourself the following questions before you make a start. 

  • What are your literary interests? Writing about a topic that genuinely excites you is more enjoyable than tackling one you feel indifferent about. As you’ll dedicate considerable time and effort to this project, make sure it interests you.
  • How relevant is the topic? Relating your research to current discussions in the literary world shows your awareness of trends and issues.
  • Is there enough material available? Ensure that your topic is not so niche that there are limited source materials to draw from.
  • Does it allow for critical analysis? Choosing a topic that allows you to analyse texts, themes, and literary devices critically, will demonstrate evaluative, and independent thinking. 

100 Research Ideas for Literature

Research Projects about Specific Authors 

  1. Is the impact of Shakespeare measurable?
  2. The theme of love in Shakespearean sonnets
  3. The theme of revenge in Shakespearean plays
  4. The role of irony in the works of Jane Austen
  5. The use of symbolism in Shakespeare’s plays
  6. The use of allegory in George Orwell’s Animal Farm

Research Project Ideas on Literary Themes & Concepts

  1. The portrayal of confinement in literature
  2. Exploring the theme of migration in modern novels
  3. The portrayal of mental illness in literature throughout history
  4. The theme of redemption in classic literature
  5. The theme of alienation in modern fiction
  6. The theme of betrayal in literature
  7. The significance of food in narrative storytelling
  8. The significance of memory in contemporary literature
  9. The significance of silence in literature
  10. The role of nature in romantic poetry
  11. The role of nature in Japanese literature
  12. Analysing the theme of forgiveness in literature
  13. The theme of justice in classic literature
  14. The theme of freedom in classic literature
  15. The theme of survival in dystopian narratives
  16. The theme of loyalty in literature
  17. The theme of hope in dystopian literature
  18. The theme of grief in modern literature
  19. The theme of family legacy in literature
  20. The theme of duality in Gothic literature
  21. The representation of poverty in literature

Research Project Ideas about Genres & Literary Forms

  1. The use of magic realism in Latin American literature
  2. The role of satire in political literature
  3. The evolution of the detective genre
  4. The use of stream-of-consciousness in modernist literature
  5. The role of satire in shaping public opinion
  6. The role of friendship in coming-of-age novels
  7. The significance of first-person perspective in memoirs
  8. The representation of the working class in 19th-century literature
  9. The influence of folk-tales on modern storytelling
  10. The significance of the anti-hero in contemporary storytelling
  11. The representation of time in modernist literature
  12. The influence of classical mythology on modern fiction
  13. The role of women in Greek tragedy
  14. The rise of the detective genre in Scandinavian literature
Student reading literature on their laptop

Research Projects about the Historical & Social Contexts of Literature

  1. The role of technology in shaping modern narratives
  2. A comparison of modern English vs. modern American poetry
  3. The impact of World War II on European literature
  4. The influence of historical events on 20th-century British literature
  5. The significance of social class in character dynamics
  6. The impact of the Victorian era on children’s literature
  7. The impact of environmental issues on literature
  8. The impact of the immigrant experience on narrative structure
  9. The influence of colonialism on literary traditions
  10. The impact of the Great Depression on American literature
  11. The influence of feminism on contemporary literature
  12. The representation of women in post-apocalyptic fiction
  13. The portrayal of family dynamics in contemporary novels
  14. The representation of the working class in 19th-century literature
  15. The significance of censorship in shaping literary movements
  16. The influence of globalisation on literary themes
  17. The role of nostalgia in contemporary fiction
  18. Exploring poetry in social media
  19. The portrayal of technology in dystopian novels

Research Project Ideas about Literary Analysis & Techniques

  1. What makes a novel successful?
  2. The significance of the unreliable narrator in modern fiction
  3. The significance of narrative voice in shaping reader perception
  4. Analysing the use of foreshadowing in literature
  5. Analysing the use of imagery in poetry
  6. Analysing the use of voice in poetry
  7. The significance of setting in shaping character motivations
  8. The role of folklore in character development

Research Project Ideas about Identity & Representation in Literature

  1. The portrayal of youth culture in contemporary poetry
  2. The representation of friendship in LGBTQ+ literature
  3. The portrayal of mental health in contemporary literature
  4. The representation of LGBTQ+ identities in literature
  5. The representation of women in literature
  6. Exploring the theme of identity in young adult literature
  7. The representation of disability in literature
  8. The role of gender in character development
  9. The theme of identity in post-colonial literature
  10. The role of gender in fairy tales
  11. The representation of friendship in LGBTQ+ literature

Cultural & Philosophical Explorations as Research Projects

  1. The impact of existential philosophy on modern literature
  2. The role of spirituality in contemporary literature
  3. The intersection of myth and reality in South Asian literature
  4. The influence of mythology on contemporary fantasy literature
  5. The significance of art and aesthetics in literature

Research Projects on Critical and Literary Movements

  1. The influence of the Beat Generation on contemporary writers
  2. The significance of literary prizes on author recognition
  3. The significance of literary traditions and storytelling
  4. Exploring post-colonial identity in African literature
  5. The role of censorship in shaping literary movements
  6. How did T.S. Eliot’s The Sacred Wood influence modern literary criticism?
  7. What is the significance of Roland Barthes’ concept of “The Death of the Author” in literary theory?
  8. How did Northrop Frye’s archetypal criticism change the way we analyze literature?
  9. In what ways has Harold Bloom’s The Anxiety of Influence shaped our understanding of literary tradition?
  10. How has feminist literary criticism altered the interpretation of classical texts?
  11. What role does psychoanalytic criticism, particularly through the work of Freud and Lacan, play in understanding characters and motives?
  12. How did New Historicism change the way we view the relationship between literature and history?
  13. What is the contribution of queer theory to the interpretation of canonical literary works?
  14. How has the digital age influenced the evolution of literary movements and criticism?
  15. What is the role of ecocriticism in understanding contemporary environmental literature?
  16. How has Marxist literary theory shaped interpretations of class and power in modern fiction?

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Explore Engaging Literature Research Projects

An EPQ research project in literature is a valuable asset, whether you’re preparing for higher study or enriching your portfolio of writing samples. It supports your academic growth and encourages you to develop as a critical writer. We hope that our list of 100 ideas for research projects in literature has provided you with that all-important spark of inspiration!

Literature students can benefit from completing an expertly guided research project provided by Immerse Education. Read through the Immerse Education English Literature Online Research Programme Page to find out more and book your place.

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