EPQ help: English Literature

[oddgirl]

DD is doing an EPQ and wants to do an English Lit topic. She wants to look at the portrayal and evolution of women’s mental health in literature by comparing for example the portrayal of Bertha in Jane Eyre with Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. Her EPQ supervisor has said this is not analytical enough but I’m stuck with how to advise her on deeper analysis?! Any English Lit experts got any advice?

If she hasn't read The Worm in the Bud, she should. Very interesting on suppression of women's sexuality in literature. Also The Madwoman in the Attic.

Her topic is too vague. She needs to have something more concrete as her starting point - much much narrower focus. She might be better e.g. looking at how Bertha is portrayed in Jane Eyre vs Wide Sargasso Sea.

Thank you so much. Really helpful advice