20 Unique Research Paper Writing Ideas About William Shakespeare
The study of Shakespeare and his works is one a hugely popular part of the English literature curriculum from around the world. There are seemingly endless topics to use for a research paper on anything having to do with Shakespeare. And we’ve set aside 20 unique ideas for you to consider:
- When it comes to studying his plays, there are some dramas that still hold an air of mystery in discussing authorship. Discuss these plays.
- There have been some arguments about Shakespeare’s true identity. Which are some of the most common beliefs?
- Provide a critical analysis of Shakespeare’s development as a playwright. Chose specific dramas to focus your criticism on.
- Which do you believe is Shakespeare’s greatest strength in genre – histories, tragedies, or comedies and how did he compare to other playwrights of the time?
- How would Shakespeare view his works among the literary canon today? Take note that he was also an actor and therefore wrote for the stage.
- Compare and contrast Shakespeare with his contemporary rivals. Are there specific instances in his works where he may have been critically attacking other playwrights?
- Provide an opinion supported by whatever evidence is available as to what Shakespeare’s lost plays might have been about?
- Do you think that Shakespeare is overrated or underrated? Provide critical evidence in support of your argument?
- Choose one or two major characters from Shakespeare’s tragedies and provide an argument on how it might represent his personal views on a topic.
- Provide a critical analysis for the ways Shakespeare treats women in his plays. Are they major figures or largely used to help the action surrounding male characters progress?
- Explain the ways in which Shakespeare has influence the ways stories are told in today’s literature. Does he have as much influence as once believed?
- Is Shakespeare worthy of study in high school? Or should students at this age be more concerned with learning the novel literary form?
- How does Shakespeare compare with other major literary playwrights through the century? His he truly comparable to others or is he in his own class?
- Evaluate and provide a listing of Shakespeare’s greatest poetic works. Consider his sonnets individually and his four major poetic works.
- How do current film adaptations of Shakespeare bridge the gaps between modern culture and the ideas contemporary to Elizabethan England.
- How does Shakespeare rank in terms of a political mind, who through his works tried to convey messages to the public?
- Compare and contrast Shakespeare’s most popular dramas and find common themes that have made them so successful.
- How do modern actors and actresses capture the nuances in which Shakespeare relied on so heavily?
- How did Shakespeare live and enjoy his daily life? What are the things very few know and understand about the way he carried himself in the community?
- What would Shakespeare have been had he not grown to become a playwright? Did he have other professional skills that would have made him unknown?