A
Strongest Female Literary Characters of All Time
There are some of history’s most inspiring and great females who can be found on the pages of these novels.
Elizabeth Bennet
Called “Lizzie” or “Eliza” by her family and friends, Elizabeth Bennet is the stubborn and clever heroine from the 1813 Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. She’s the second eldest of five daughters in the Bennet family and, like the rest of her sisters, she is expected to marry for status and money, not for love. To remain true to herself, she would rather remain single, a concept that was unheard at the time.
Nancy Drew
She first appeared in the 1930s but remains one of the most iconic female characters in all of literature. Created by Edward Stratemeyer, Nancy Drew wasn’t simply a pretty girl. Instead, the bold, physically strong, and fiercely intelligent Nancy used her superior intelligence—not her looks—to solve a series of mysteries.
Josephine March
Josephine March is the second eldest daughter in the March family and is a central focus in the novel Little Women, published by Louisa May Alcott in 1868. At 15, she is strong-willed, confident, and literary and unlike her sisters, she is outspoken and uninterested in marriage. Josephine both struggles with and challenges society’s expectations of how women in the 19th century should carry themselves, making her one of literature’s most daring female characters.
Hester Prynne
Recognized by some critics as one of the most important characters in female literature, Hester Prynne is the leading character in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 novel, The Scarlet Letter. Married but separated by distance from her husband, Hester has an affair with a minister and becomes pregnant.
【文章大意】文章介绍了四个在小说中最鼓舞人心、最伟大的女性。
21. Why would Elizabeth Bennet rather remain single?
A. She is too stubborn.
B. She doesn’t want to cheat herself.
C. She doesn’t want to marry for love.
D. She is the eldest daughter of the family.
【解析】选 B。细节理解题。根据Elizabeth Bennet中“To remain true to herself, she would rather remain single, a concept that was unheard at the time. ”可知, Elizabeth Bennet不想为金钱和地位结婚, 不想欺骗自己, 所以保持单身。故选B。
22. What is Nancy Drew like?
A. Kind. B. Outspoken. C. Clever. D. Proud.
【解析】选C。细节理解题。根据Nancy Drew中“the bold, physically strong, and fiercely intelligent Nancy used her superior intelligence—not her looks—to solve a series of mysteries. ”可知, Nancy Drew勇敢, 强壮和聪明, clever是她的一个特征, 故选C。
23. What is the right order of the time these females appeared in novels?
a. Elizabeth Bennet b. Nancy Drew
c. Josephine March d. Hester Prynne
A. dcab B. adbc C. cdba D. adcb
【解析】选 D。细节理解题。根据文中“Elizabeth Bennet is the stubborn and clever heroine from the 1813”; Nancy Drew中“first appeared in the 1930s”; “Josephine March. . . is a central focus in the novel Little Women, published by Louisa May Alcott in 1868”; “Hester Prynne is the leading character in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 novel. ”可知, 按每个人物出现的时间排列顺序, 故选D。
