MLA Format Research Paper Topics
The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is one of the major formatting styles used in academic writing, particularly in the humanities. When writing a research paper, it is important to pick a topic that interests you and is suitable for the assignment requirements. This article will explore various topic ideas that comply with MLA formatting guidelines and provide overviews of each.
Literature Topics
Literary analysis papers are a common assignment in humanities and English courses that require MLA formatting. There are endless possibilities for exploring characters, themes, stylistic elements and more found in works of fiction and poetry. Some potential literature topics include:
A character analysis of Hamlet from William Shakespeare’s famous play and what his journey reveals about human nature and existentialism. This play is regularly discussed in literature classes.
Exploring recurring motifs or symbols like birds, flowers, or colors and what they represent in the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Dickinson is an excellent poet to analyze given her dense and multi-layered use of imagery.
Comparing the themes of colonialism and cultural assimilation between Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” and Jean Rhys’ “Wide Sargasso Sea”. Both works deal with European imperialism from different perspectives.
Analyzing the Lost Generation through key works by Ernest Hemingway such as “The Sun Also Rises” and examining the disillusionment of the post-World War I era through its characters and narrative styles. Hemingway is very popular with literary scholars.