Love is one of the central themes in "Romeo and Juliet" and provides many topics for a paper. One such topic could examine the imagery of love used in the play and the effect it creates. Juliet, for example, at one point refers to "catching" love, like the "plague." At another point, she compares it to lightning. Trace all of the instances of how love is described. Another topic could be to research the idea of love in 14th century Italy. How was love portrayed in popular culture? Did it have a place in marriage? Did it differ from how Shakespeare presented love in the play?
Family is another major theme in the play and provides an interesting concept to explore as a topic. The strength of family bonds and familial obligations creates much of the conflict in the play. One topic could explore how the play demonstrates that blind family loyalty can bring ruin. Or a paper could look at the concept of feuds between families and compare historical conflicts to those expressed in the play.
Topics could include looking at the structural elements of the play. The time line of the play is quite compressed; events follow quickly upon one another in a short period of time. One topic for a paper could discuss the use of time in the play and how it is expressed. Other dramatic techniques, such as the use of foreshadowing, could serve as the topic of a paper. How does foreshadowing lend a sense of fate or doom to the play? How does Shakespeare achieve that effect?
There are many characters aside from Romeo and Juliet that are worthy of study. For instance, Mercutio is one of the most popular characters throughout the canon of Shakespeare. Examine why this is and what there is about his character that makes him stand out from the others in the play. A comparison between Friar Lawrence and the Nurse is also a worthy topic. They both serve the function of an elder adviser and aide to the respective young lovers, almost to the extent of acting as substitute parents. A comparison of their parts in the play and their characters is another potential topic.