Essays and Research Papers on British Literature

A 10 page research paper/essay that explores the universality of Shakespeare's plays. The writer argues that there are qualities in the work of Shakespeare that are not limited to English society or the Elizabethan age, bur rather speak to all human beings. Despite the passage of centuries, the changes in the English language--or the language ...

In three pages specific quotes from these respective classic works of literature are contextually interpreted and analyzed. Two sources are listed in the bibliography.

A 10 page paper which compares the similarities and differences the state of disguise has on characters and action in William Shakespeare's comedies, "All's Well That Ends Well," "Measure For Measure," and "The Merchant of Venice." Specifically considered are Shakespeare's use of "bed tricks" as a plot device. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page paper which compares and contrast the protagonists' views on death and how they speak of their own dying in William Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of King Lear" and Johann von Goethe's "The Sorrows of Young Werther," concentrating on one key passage from each work, and closely analyzing how the emotions of each man ...

This 3 page paper discusses the issues of revenging one's father through the exploration of various sons and their reactions to their fathers' deaths. Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras. Bibliography lists 1 source.

This 5 page research paper/essay discusses the clown in Elizabethan theatre and focuses on the role of clown in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and in Every Man in His Humor by Ben Jonson. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This 5 page essay contrasts the use of satire in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" and Chaucer's "The Miller's Tale." The writer argues that Shakespeare's play is more cynical and less positive than Chaucer's tale. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This 12 page essay discusses the perspective of both Shakespeare in "The Comedy of Errors" and "Twelfth Night" and Richard Sheridan's "The Rivals" and each play features female protagonists who demonstrated idealist and realist world views. Bibliography lists 11 sources.

A 6 page paper comparing William Shakespeare's Othello and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The basis for comparison is the authors' treatment of the theme of deception and revelation in these two works. The paper concludes that while the same motif -- misplaced trust -- is treated in both works, the difference lies in one ...

A 5 page paper which examines the way William Shakespeare initiates multiple resolutions in his comedy, 'Twelfth Night,' the order in which he chose to address them, evaluates the logic of this order as “pure” or “dramatic,” the status the harsh realities take in the plot resolution, and a determination as to whether or not ...

A 10 page paper which examines colonization and self-discovery as seen in Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

In five pages this paper examines the importance of how Agatha Christie uses the setting of weather to develop her plot in her famous murder mystery. Four sources are listed in the bibliography.

This is a 7 page critical analysis of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”. William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” (1601) is considered one of his most popular, psychologically driven and dark tragedies. An analysis of the elements within the play show that Hamlet as the central and pivotal character reveals his inner most thoughts ...

A 4 page paper which examines how these values influenced the ‘truth’ of each work. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A five page paper showing how the philosophy of Aristotle, Plato, and St. Augustine influenced Shakespeare in his characterization of Hamlet. The paper argues that over the course of the play, Hamlet moves from the position of a Platonist to an Augustinian to an Aristotelian. Bibliography lists four sources.

An 8 page paper which compares and contrasts the strengths and weaknesses of these young men, and explains to what degree they succeed or fail as they confront the difficulties of the worlds that surround them. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

A five page paper looking at the unhappy relationships in this classic tragedy by William Shakespeare. After analyzing the relationships of Othello and Desdemona, Desdemona and Roderigo, Cassio and Bianca, and Iago and Emelia, the paper concludes that love founded on distrust is doomed to failure, because communication and trust are the most important elements ...

A five page paper looking at this play by William Shakespeare in terms of two factors which cause modern readers some difficulties: feminism and religion. Specifically, Shakespeare's presentation of female submissiveness versus female autonomy, and traditional Christianity versus humanism, reflect a society which is much different than ours. Bibliography lists five sources.

An 8 page paper that explores how the female characters related to the concept of marriage in these two works. The writer posits that while the author's came from differing viewpoints, their intent was similar in both works—to show that marriage was viewed as the answer to security for women, but that it either ...

A 5 page essay that discusses the thesis that Shakespeare's play Othello is, in many ways, a study in contrasts of language, character and mood. Through Shakespeare's expert manipulations of these elements the action of the play becomes understandable and logical whereas, otherwise, the main action would be inexplicable. In other words, Shakespeare pictures a ...

A 7 page paper comparing John Fowles' novel with Shakespeare's play. It concludes that while Shakespeare saw Prospero's reign as one of benevolence and Fowles saw Clegg's as a reign of terror, both involved manipulating people against their will. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

This 5 page report discusses the original inspiration for Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale" that was Robert Greene's "Pandosto." In Shakespeare's play, an additional character, Paulina, has been added to the story. Her role in the play is examined and explained.

A 4 page essay that contrasts and compares the use of symbolism in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Shakespeare's Hamlet. The writer argues that both of these playwrights make their points concerning human nature via their use of imagery and symbolism. Sophocles uses the imagery of sight to dramatically illustrate the problems that Oedipus has with ...

In four pages this paper examines whether or not the character of Nora in Ibsen’s play fits the criteria of female characters as ‘beacons’ in male works Sophocles’ Antigone and William Shakespeare’s Othello as described in the third chapter of her collection of essays, A Room of One’s Own. Two sources are cited in ...

A 5 page paper which examines how the characters of Hamlet (Shakespeare’s Hamlet) and Heathcliff (Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights) are outsiders. Bibliography lists 3 sources.