Chapter Strong female protagonists in literature

The theoretical value of my course work: is the research that can be helpful for the students who are interested in literature.
In the Chapter 1 there is given general information about American and English literature in the beginning of 20th century and in postwar period. Also written about what books were popular and what genres were developed in that century.
In the Chapter 2 written about most influential authors in 20th century, about their own and literary life. In fact they produced really great works in century which they lived. There are so many authors in the 20th century, but I wanted to write about life some of them. There was used many literatures and some Internet sources to get more information.
The actuality of my course work:is that learning American and English literature helps us to learn English language widely. Because reading literary books we can get more information about history of that country, people's lifestyle and their culture. It helps students who learn English language to know more about it.
The novelty of my course work : is to compare characters in American literary works with Uzbek literary works. There are many differences between American and Uzbek people's lifestyle in the 20th century. That’s why authors in that century wrote books with many differences.
I believe that this course work will help all person who interested in English language and literature.
The aims of my course work are:To research American and English literature in the 20th century;
To find information about most influential authors;
To compare characters in American and English novels.
The structure of my course paper is the following:
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Conclusion
Used literature

Chapter:1Strong female protagonists in literature

Strong female protagonists in literature
From Jane Eyre to Arya Stark, there are many fictional women characters who are praised for their incredible and unbelievable strength, power, and will. They have amazed the readers with their strong endeavors, wonderful self-discoveries and astonishing unconventional ideologies and thought processes. Here are some fearless female characters from literature we all aspire to be.
Elinor Dashwood from “Sense & Sensibility" by Jane Austen
Elinor is the only person in the house with a practical approach towards life and is concerned with actual worldly problems. She takes the sole responsibility of the Dashwood household and exhibits prudence by becoming her mother’s advisor, convincing her to change her decision of leaving. Elinor does not let her emotional self sway her in a wrong direction. She is not just practical and strong, but responsible, sensible and backbone to the Dashwood family.
Hermione Granger from “Harry Potter" by J.K RowlinngHermione Granger is a supremely admirable character from the Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling. She exhibits strength, cleverness, emotions, talent and doesn’t fear to speak her mind. Her capability as a vehement individual is evident throughout the series and Hermione also possesses extraordinary moral strength. She stands against gender stereotypes, constantly questioning the wrong in the world, unapologetical
Arya Stark from “A Game Of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Arya is the third child and the youngest daughter of Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn Stark in the "Song of Ice and Fire" series by author by George R. R. Martin. In a world full of enemies and brutal realities, Arya is a survivor and knows how to maneuver her way out of trouble by sheer determination and perseverance. Despite losing her family, Arya manages to hold her strength and morale and promises herself to avenge the death of each family member. Being a misfit, she does not care about people’s opinion on her tomboyish nature, as she is one of the best characters in the series to have superb swordsmanship.
Picture Credit: Penguin Random House
Esther Greenwood from “Bell Jar" by Silvia Plath
American writer and poet Silvia Plath’s female lead Esther Greenwood is a non-conformist who does not bother herself with societal expectations. She uses her mental illness as a weapon against societal hypocrisy and conventions. Her time spent in the mental asylum makes her more rigid and stern. She does not care about losing her virginity before marriage as well, which was a serious taboo in the society during that time. The novel also has some autobiographical connotations from Plath’s own life.

Scarlett O'Hara from “Gone With The Wind" by Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell’s "Gone With the Wind" is an incredible novel with an exceptional female protagonist, Scarlett O'Hara. Scarlett’s character has always been considered as manipulative and a spoiled brat, but her flip side highlights a strong and a powerful individual. Her character evolves as the story develops -- from being selfish to taking up the responsibility for her family by working in the fields and owning her business. She had the courage to drag her family out of poverty. Scarlett owns her life and her decisions, whether it's her marriage or delivering her sister-in-law’s baby.
Josephine March from “Little Women" by Louisa Alcott
Josephine March, better known as Jo, is one of the four main characters of Louisa Alcott’s novel "Little Women". She is a fifteen-year-old tomboyish girl who loves to read and write, and wants to be called Jo, a name more masculine in nature. She hates herself to be as weak with any delicate aspects to her character and denies conventional gender roles. Her aggressive temper, astute intelligence, bluntness and stark honesty differ Jo from the rest of her siblings.
Picture Credit: Penguin Random House
Katniss Evergreen from “Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
Katniss Evergreen volunteers to take the position of her sister Primrose in the 74th hunger games to protect her. As the protagonist of a hunger games trilogy written by Suzanne Collins, she does not step back to protect her family, especially her sister. Having extraordinary hunting skills, she hunts to feed her family knowing its dangerous repercussions. Katniss' potential is remarkable as she manages being a celebrity, great warrior, loyal friend and an action hero.
Books with Fierce Female Protagonists by Jessica Mizzi
For far too long, female protagonists were rare in literature, living in the shadows of their male counterparts. Though this was presumably because of the way society functioned, it only maintained the idea that women are secondary to men. It’s exciting and refreshing to see a gradual shift in direction as time progresses, with women making their presences as the focal points of upcoming novels known more consistently than ever. After all, they are brave, innovative, powerful, and provocative, in all the best ways.
It’s time for women to bathe in the glory of the literary spotlight, and time for us to give them the appreciation they deserve. Here’s a list of exceptional books that feature fierce female protagonists at the centers of their own stories. And if you want even more great reads for women, check out our list of Stories About Women Who Changed the World.

A Game of Thrones: The Illustrated Edition by George R. R. Martin

Arya Stark is arguably one of the fiercest, most badass female protagonists of our time. She’s a fearless leader who is not afraid to kick butt and take names… to add to her list. There are several other strong women featured in this fantastical series like Cersei, Daenerys, Sansa, Catelyn, etc. You get the gist. If you want to feel inspired and completely empowered, be sure to add these books to your TBR pile.
A Game of Thrones: The Illustrated Edition Book Cover PictureA Game of Thrones: The Illustrated Edition Book Cover Picture
Add A Game of Thrones: The Illustrated Edition to bookshelf
Lola by Melissa Scrivner Love
Melissa Scrivner Love’s masterful debut thriller centers on a woman named Lola who lives in South Central Los Angeles and is involved in the Crenshaw Six, a small but powerful gang. Lola is constantly underestimated and plays the role of submissive girlfriend, despite being much smarter, tougher, and more ruthless than most men. She becomes a leader in a man’s world, and as the gang faces deep trouble, her skills, quick thinking, and leadership become their only hope for survival.
N .Lola Book Cover PictureLola Book Cover Picture
Into the Water to book by Paula Hawkins
Paula Hawkins, author of the New York Times bestseller The Girl on the Train, followed that debut with her second novel, Into the Water, a psychological thriller. When a single mother is found dead at the bottom of a river, her fifteen-year-old daughter is left in the care of her aunt, Jules, who is fearful of being in town, as she believes more danger is lurking than meets the eye. Deep, dark secrets bubble to the surface when it’s discovered that Jules’s sister wasn’t the first to drown in the river, and certainly won’t be the last.
Into the Water Book Cover Picture Into the Water Book Cover Picture

Time’s a Thief by B.G. Firmani

Francesca “Chess” Varani experiences the gritty ins-and-outs of college life at Barnard in mid-eighties New York. She grows up quickly as she encounters everything from toxic friendships, damaging love affairs, and difficult decisions that change her future. As more and more time passes, she finds herself caught up in the choices she’s made, and perhaps more importantly, the ones she didn’t. Chess is always looking back, always wanting something more than she has.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor Oliphant struggles when it comes to socializing with others, and tends to not have a filter when she holds a conversation. She feels content with her life of isolation, with weekends usually consisting of frozen pizza, vodka, and phone calls with her Mum. But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the clumsy IT guy from her office with questionable hygiene. Eleanor begins to discover things about herself that she never knew existed and finds something she wasn’t looking for in the first place.Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Book Cover Picture Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Book Cover Picture
Add Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine to book.
. 1.1The Evolution of Women Characters in American and English Literature
Throughout history, countless authors wrote detailed entries of the world around them, sometimes through their own perspective and sometimes through a general view- and almost all of these words were printed in books. Whether it is a poem about the countryside or a piece of literature set in the 1800s, many people claim that books offer the most authentic and holistic source of information of the past. However, is it truly accurate if the authors of many such literary works are male, living in times that were known to be harsher to women?
Over the years, literature has seen development in the roles women were given, and with most published writers before the 21st century being male, there was a biased opinion on how they could be presented to the world. The evolution of the female presence in the arts has advanced over centuries, and has become somewhat of a symbol of change during the newer times, representing the shift in the way we are described to the world and as well as the attention and respect given to women writers that continue making history through their words.
Literature has always been a type of looking glass ,a mirror of society that has represented the actions of its times,especially rigid social roles and the behaviors expected of the people of its time.
For example, the patriarchal Elizabethan era viewed women as the weaker sex and considered them voiceless and inferior to men. This view was depicted in the written works of that era, as seen in William Shakesphere’s Taming of the Shrew, a comedy that focused heavily on how men overpowered women and had many advantages that helped in society.
On the contrary, literature of the 21st century marks the development of a more realistic and equal description of women in literature, often portraying strong and empowering individuals that break out of society’s restrictive chains of what a woman can and cannot be.
Recent books such as “Renegades” by Marissa Meyer and “A Game of Thrones” by George Martin present strong-willed and powerful female characters, along with many other popular literary works also following in the same direction. This is a representation of our time, where women are more independent and long standing societal ideas of female roles have weakened over time. Many such books, specifically those by female writers, depict bold female leads as they defy social norms and make a name for themselves
From the very beginning, women in America have been an integral part of the society, culture and history of the nation. Early American literature, also known as colonial literature, was shaped by the contributions of women writers who played a significant role in literature during the colonial period. This blog will explore the different ways women shaped and influenced Early American literature.
The Role of women in Society
The role of women in society has been constantly evolving throughout history. In ancient times, women’s roles were predominantly limited to domestic chores and child-rearing. However, with the advent of the women’s rights movement, women’s roles have expanded to include positions of power in various industries as well as politics. Today, women can be found in various professions, including science, engineering, medicine, and law, among others. Women have also taken up leadership roles in many countries, breaking through the glass ceiling that prevented their participation in policy-making and decision-making processes.
The first woman in literature
The first woman in literature is undoubtedly the Greek poet Sappho. Sappho lived in ancient Greece and was widely recognized for her contribution to literature. She was the first woman to be included in the literary canon, and her poetry focused on love, desire, and the beauty of nature. Sappho’s works inspired many other poets and writers throughout the ages, and her influence can be seen in the works of notable authors such as William Shakespeare and Lord Byron. Today, Sappho’s legacy continues to inspire new generations of writers and poets.
The earliest women literature
The earliest women literature dates back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece. In these cultures, women produced literature in various forms, including poetry, drama, and prose. The works of women writers often focused on their domestic lives, with themes revolving around love, childbirth, and family. However, these works were also critical reflections of larger societal issues, such as power dynamics and gender roles. The earliest women literature is a testament to the intellect and creativity of early female writers, even in societies that were largely patriarchal.
The most famous women in history
The most famous women in history include several notable figures, such as Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Marie Curie, and Oprah Winfrey, among others. These women have made significant contributions to their respective fields, breaking barriers and setting new standards for women around the world. From political leaders to scientists and humanitarian activists, the most famous women in history have shaped the course of human events and paved the way for future generations.
The greatest achievements of women
The greatest achievements of women include significant milestones that have changed the course of history. From suffrage and women’s rights to reproductive freedom and the integration of female athletes into the Olympics, women have achieved significant progress in various areas. In science and technology, women have contributed to many groundbreaking discoveries, from the discovery of DNA to the development of computer programming languages. Women’s efforts in various fields have led to groundbreaking advancements that have shaped the development of modern society.
The most powerful women in history
The most powerful women in history have been trailblazers, leading the way for others to follow. Women such as Queen Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great, and Indira Gandhi held significant power and influence over their respective nations, breaking through societal barriers that had traditionally excluded women from positions of leadership. These women were visionary leaders who challenged the status quo and set the stage for future generations of female leaders.
The key to success for women
The key to success for women is multifaceted and varies depending on one’s unique circumstances. However, there are several universal factors that contribute to women’s success. These include education, mentorship and support networks, determination, and an unwavering commitment to one’s goals. Recognizing and overcoming challenges, embracing one’s strengths and weaknesses, and seeking out opportunities for learning and growth are critical for women striving for success in their personal and professional lives.
Women in Society and LiteratureAmerican Literature
Women in early American society were expected to be good wives and mothers, and their role in life was largely domestic. However, women in early American literature began to challenge these traditional gender roles. They wrote about the experiences of women, as well as the role of women in society.
One of the earliest writers in early American literature was Anne Bradstreet, who wrote poetry that explored the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated society. Her poem, “The Prologue”, addressed the stereotypes that women writers faced, and challenged the notion that women were inferior to men.
Another poet, Phillis Wheatley, was an enslaved African American woman who wrote about her experiences and the experiences of slaves. Her poems highlighted the injustices of slavery and gave a voice to the African American community.
Women as Educators
Women also played a significant role as educators in Early American literature. Elizabeth Peabody, for example, was a teacher, writer, and prominent member of the Transcendentalist movement. Her work as a teacher helped to shape the way Americans thought about education
...Mary Wollstonecraft was another influential educator and writer. Her book, A Vindication of the Rights of Women, argued for the importance of women’s education and equal rights. It was a groundbreaking work that challenged traditional views on gender and sparked important discussions about women’s rights.
Women as Writers
Perhaps the most significant contribution of women in early American literature was their role as writers. They wrote novels, poetry, and other works that shaped the literary landscape of the time.
One of the most well-known works by a woman writer in early American literature is Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This novel, which was published in 1852, was a powerful argument against slavery and helped to galvanize the abolitionist movement.
Another significant work was The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This novel, which was published in 1850, explored the complex consequences of adultery and the importance of female independence. The novel was an important part of the American literary canon and is still read today.
From a stereotypically sweet heroine to a crafty and complex three-dimensional anti-hero, from being noticeably avoided to becoming a central part of the plot, and from playing the docile creature well within society’s confines to becoming so dominant as to command the hero, the role of women in English literature has vastly developed from the Anglo-Saxon age to the Renaissance. That women have always been considered as weaker and played subservient roles to the men is an undisputable fact. Yet, women morphed from being creatures dependent on their lord, and playing merely a functional role in the story, to asserting more independence and playing a more symbolic role in the story, to actually being one of the major characters in a work of literature, elaborately developed with flaws and possible redeeming points alike. Not only does this growing presence of women in English literature present them as more realistic characters, rather than as ideals to strive towards or reprobates to avoid, but also reflects the growing importance and a greater understanding of women in society as a whole.
Defined by the integration of pagan and Christian rituals, the bragging and forthright hero, and a society based on honor and warfare, the Anglo-Saxon period, lasting from 449 to 1066, did not place a great emphasis on the role of women in society, clearly reflected by their apparent lack of importance in works written during this period, such as Beowulf. Wealtheow, and Grendel’s mom, the two most important female characters in this epic poem, reflect the traditional view that society held of women’s place in the home and of women’s undeniable weaknesses through these characters respectively. Wealtheow’s act of giving Beowulf the cup of wine and receiving assurances to ease her country’s problems reveal that acting as a good hostess was perhaps the most valued quality in women in Anglo-Saxon society, and that such women would be rewarded by receiving safety by the hands of the stronger and braver men. Surprisingly, a woman who defied these social expectations, a woman who rather than inviting people to her home scares them away, a woman who dared to fight on a man’s terms—this type of women was still considered weaker and not worth mentioning in Anglo-Saxon literature and society, as Grendel’s mother was a prime example. Mentioned only as “the monstrous hell-bride”, Grendel’s mother is clearly less capable of being a true “monster” as Grendel was, only able to kill one person in Heorot compared to Grendel’s ravaging the entire hall. The fact that her name is not even mentioned, as Grendel’s was, and her obvious weakness compared to Grendel’s clearly explains the attitude that Anglo-Saxon society had towards women: that they were clearly inferior to men. That Grendel’s mother’s lineage and name is not stated speaks volumes; ancestry defined who a person was in Anglo-Saxon society and the fact that Grendel’s mother does not even have a name to be identified by shows her relative unimportance, even as a monster. This image of a weak woman is completely solidified by Beowulf’s bringing Grendel’s head back from the cave after defeating Grendel’s mother, yet leaving her head in the cave to rot.
Characterized by an emphasis on honorable Christian behavior, proper and cordial relations between men and women, and a stress on allegory, the Middle Ages, lasting from 1066 to 1485, saw a development in the role of women in its stories and showed that they could actually influence the men’s actions and thoughts. Perhaps a reason as to the growing influence of women in these stories might be that the audience for these early vernacular narratives were primarily women, such as the duchess, countess, and other ladies of the court who tended to more interested in stories in which women played central roles. Because the poet’s livelihood depended on pleasing his audience, the narratives began to focus more on plot developments, rather than fighting, and stressed that a brave warrior was motivated by his love for his lady. Examples of important female characters in the Middle Ages are Guinevere, Arthur’s wife, and the flirtatious host’s wife in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Guinevere, Arthur’s wife, and the flirtatious wife have seemingly different roles in the Arthurian legends, but the truth is that they share one vital function: to test a man’s honor. The presence of Guinevere at court, as well as the fact that Arthur is about to enter a potentially lethal deal, compels Sir Gawain to risk his own life and prove his honor by playing the Green Knight’s “game.” Clearly then, not only does Guinevere serve as a feminine counterpart to King Arthur’s excellence, but she also indirectly presses the courageous knights of Arthur’s court to prove their integrity through performing heroic deeds. Paradoxically, women were also seen as immoral, possibly even a danger to a man’s virtue, seen by Guinevere’s later affair with Sir Lancelot and the host’s wife’s attempts to seduce Sir Gawain. Both instances were aberrations of the rules of courtly love, which were supposed to inspire the knight to do great deeds in order to be worthy of her love, not to act in an immoral manner. Gawain himself even complains about the deceitfulness of women after listening to the Green Knight’s explanation of his trial; he claims that women have brought about the downfalls of great men such as Adam, Solomon, Samson, and David. Despite this flaw, women were supposed to be treated with respect; Sir Gawain continues to treat the host’s wife in a pleasant manner even though her forthcoming advances slightly alarm him as he is placed in a dilemma of whether to give in to her seduction for the sake of courtly love and respect or to uphold his honor and refuse. Ultimately, although women began playing roles of greater importance in Medieval literature, they were relegated to functional characters, characters that inspire the real heroes of the story to do noble deeds, tested the men’s integrity, and portrayed immoral creatures that could, quite literally, spiritually ruin mankind.
Michael Vince. Macmillan English Grammar. Macmillan Publisher Limited stereotypically delicate darling to the shockingly manipulative virago, from an ideal to strive towards to an all too realistic portrayal of an average human, the completely contrasting characters of Una, in Spencer’s Faerie Queen and Lady Macbeth, in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, convey how English literature has drastically changed during the Renaissance period. Women began to gain greater influence in the Renaissance; they became more active members of society as guild members and even guild owners, some upperclass women even received an education, and England saw its first queen—Elizabeth I. That women started to garner increased affluence in books, such as the Faerie Queen and Macbeth should come as no surprise, given that Elizabeth I specifically asked Spencer to write the Faerie Queen and Shakespeare’s life literally depended on whether or not the queen enjoyed his plays. At first though, Una is not truly a “character” with independent motives and thoughts, but rather a paragon of perfection, a symbol of the ideal Christian. Una helps Redcrosse Knight through his journey, from warning him of dangerous people or places that the good Protestant should stay away from (such as Error and Archimago), to helping him find holiness by leading him to the House of Holiness, to saving his life at Despair’s cave. Another example of an “ideal” in the Faerie Queen,
Duessa—but rather than be an “ideal” to strive towards, she is the literal embodiment of all things evil and unholy in Protestant life. Nevertheless, despite her role as the counterpart to Una’s holiness, she is simply that—not a real character, just another ideal. This perspective on women’s importance changes as Shakespeare begins writing plays where women feature prominent roles, clearly evident in Macbeth. Engimatic, conniving, ambitious Lady Macbeth is a three-dimensional character with fatal flaws and surprisingly, redeeming qualities. Considered perhaps the real “villainess” of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth goads her husband into killing King Duncan, simply to achieve a higher status herself, and for her husband. Rejecting all thoughts of womanly weakness, she finds out later, to her surprise and horror, that her guilt and conscience will continue to plague, forcing her to be miserable even when she has finally achieved her goal. Tormented by the blood she has spilled, Lady Macbeth begins to have nightmares in which she frantically tries to rub her hands together to get rid of the blood—but find it is impossible to undo what crimes she has already committed. This dual nature, these conflicting emotions, this realistic portrayal of a human ensure that she is not thought of as merely a “symbol”—she is truly a character in the play, an intricately invented character that shows how all humans must battle their similar good and evil sides and conquer their ambitions. Also, Lady Macbeth’s control over her husband’s actions reveal the growing power that women had—as Elizabeth I was able to rule England, Lady Macbeth was able to move her puppet, Macbeth, in doing what she asked of him. Clearly, the roles of women changed greatly from the beginning of the Renaissance in 1485 to Macbeth, written in 1623.
Gentleness, monstrosity, purity, seduction, honesty, manipulation—these complementary traits are present in the female characters of British literature, beginning from the Anglo-Saxon period, continuing through the Middle Ages, and finally reaching the Renaissance. The fictitious image that writers had created of women in British literature began to crack over centuries, revealing a realistic female character with well-developed flaws balanced by redeeming qualities rather than a paragon of perfection or the embodiment of villainy. While women always played subservient roles to men, strengthening the men’s character development rather than displaying new traits of their own, women began to play a more pivotal part in not just British literature, but in society as a whole. This changing perception of women reveals a person that many revered, even feared, for their intelligence as well as morality. That this changing role of the women had a huge impact on the late Renaissance literature and the literature of modern era is undeniable—literary works of arts that we know so well today would be completely different or even unwritten, had it not been for the roles of women in these stories.
In most early British literature a woman is often presented as only one thing: an object. They can be objects of desire, objects of beauty, or merely objects to be owned, but it is rare that a woman is anything more than that. It is even more uncommon to find a female character in literature that is presented as an equal to the men around her. In William Congreve's The Way of the World he plays on the similarities of both his female and male characters to establish just how much of an issue gender really is because though their actions might be similar, the consequences are not. The tangled web of relationships that connect each character in this story are what drive Congreve's play forward. With each past affair (or current) affair that…show more content…
Even a man who's character isn't as upstanding as a woman's still makes out better than her in the end. Congreve seems to establish that women are merely at the whim of the men around them, they do not control their own fates because they are naturally submissive. Lady Wishfort, try as she might, cannot do anything to stop Mirabell's actions and he, therefore, comes out the winner. The most important fact that was overlooked in class was the true nature of Mirabell and Millamant's relationship. One question never broached in discussion was, "why all the plotting in the first place?" If Mirabell truly loved Millamant like he claimed, why did he need to fight so hard to get the money she was expecting from her aunt? There's no evident reason why they couldn't have lived without such money or her aunt's blessing and yet it seems as if Mirabell practically refuses to marry Millamant without her inheritance. Millamant, the female and again the submissive one, goes along with her beloved's scheming because she loves and will do whatever it takes to get him to marry her. Millamant, the man, uses his dominance to get her to agree because it seems he will only marry her if he gets her money as well. The woman seems like a fool for only focusing on love and only gets what she wants as a result of her man's intelligence and cunning, but he certainly wasn't just in it for the love. John
1.2 Women Characters and Writers in Contemporary Literature.
Who do you think is the greatest writer of all time? Did you think of names such as William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, George Orwell, or likes of other such male authors? With the male writers predominantly populating the canon of literature, we often tend to forget immense contributions of women writers in literature such as Charlotte Brontë, Emily Dickinson, Virginia Woolf, Jane Austen and others. Let’s have a look at these contributions.
From sitting in kitchen, and narrating folk tales to their children, to being readers and then prolific writers, women definitely had a long journey before getting the recognition they deserved. While women were writing from as early as 17th century, they were dismissed and rarely read or published. With rise of feminist movements and treatises such as A Vindication of Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft, women rose to educate themselves and publish their works. sisters also wrote under a different name. Not only that, but they also struggled with crafting their own experiences. This lead them to emulate the style and narratives of their contemporary male writers. Eventually, they progressed into a finding their own voice and bringing their issues to forefront. As a result, today we have plethora of women writers such as Toni Morisson, Margaret Atwood, Kiran Desai
Written from a male gaze, earlier literature works portrayed women characters to fit into mould of either an angel or a devil. In other words, women could either be sacrificial, fragile and pure hearted individuals or a devil threatening to break the very notions of a functioning society. Furthermore, women were expected to stay at home and fulfil their duties as a wife and a mother. In fact their education was restricted to taking lessons in cooking, embroidery and other household duties. And women writers opposed this ideal of the Victorian in their works.
Women writers brought in depth take on women’s psyche and struggles against patriarchy. Shashi Despande being one of them, wrote about complex female characters with internal monologues. These monologues showed the fragmented psyche of women as well as independent and educated women who earn their own livelihood. Others such as Sylvia Plath talked in-depth about women body as being centre of male gaze and exploitation as well as the oppressive forces of patriarchy. Works such as these break gender stereotypes and pave way for the new women of 21st century.
The major contribution of women to literature has been their exploration of societal standards. Pioneer of such is Jane Austen whose works repeatedly explored the standards set for women, typically being marriage and gentility. Her works explored vanity of societal rules in the Victorian England. Much like that taboo issues such as women sexuality and passion often find expressions in work of women writers. Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights clearly shows the passions of the female protagonist in her novel despite its consideration as a taboo issue in the society. Ismat Chugtai’s work on other hand explore sexuality. Lihaaf, her short story, shows one of the examples of how men treat women as trophy wives. But the subtle representation of lesbianism in it is the truly groundbreaking achievement on her part. Such complex issues saw the light of day primarily due to women who wrote about it in their works.
Narratives of men use a language which lack the capacity to represent women’s experiences. In fact, the language we use predominantly lacks semantics to precisely encapsulate women’s struggles and needs. As women recognised this, they broke the rules of language in their work to create a language of their own. Emily Dickinson often in her poems broke the phallocentric rules of language by using dashes to emphasise certain words as well as express the pain and struggles of being a woman. Similar to her, Sylvia Plath’s works also communicated to audience via a new language. This new phase was only possible due to women who were adamant in bringing their voices to literature.
From Jane Austen’s romance novel Pride and Prejudice to Marry Shelley’s horror novel Frankenstein, women have wrote across multiple genres including fantasy, historical fiction, etc. Not only that, but multiple formats, of their works, from novels, poems, dramas, etc. are also available. Some famous playwrights include Aphra Behn, Rachel Crothers, Lorraine Hansberry etc. As for novelists, the list is endless. It includes the works of famous earliest novelists like Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, George Eliot, Louisa May Alcott. And then also of modern writers such as Margaret Atwood, Toni Morrison, Agatha Christie, Jhumpa Lahiri. Best part is that each year new additions take in this list. Lastly, we have some well-known poets like Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, Sarojini Naidu, Adrienne Rich etc. as well. With the works being immense, we have only included names of the select few but nevertheless contribution of women to literature extends far beyond than this.
The Importance Of Women’s Voices In Literature
Literature is a powerful tool that has the potential to shape and influence society’s perceptions and beliefs. Throughout history, women have been underrepresented in literature, both as authors and as characters. Women’s voices in literature are essential because they provide diverse perspectives and challenge traditional gender roles and stereotypes. This article will discuss the importance of women’s voices in literature and the impact they have on shaping the world we live in.
Representation matters and women’s voices in literature play a crucial role in shaping the way society views women. Historically, women have been portrayed in literature as passive, submissive, and secondary to men. However, the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s paved the way for women to reclaim their voices in literature. Female authors began to write about their experiences and perspectives, challenging the traditional male-dominated literary canon.

One of the most significant contributions of women’s voices in literature is their ability to challenge gender roles and stereotypes. Women’s experiences and perspectives differ from those of men, and their stories help to expand our understanding of what it means to be a woman. For example, the book “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood offers a powerful critique of patriarchal society and the oppression of women. By giving voice to the experiences of women, Atwood challenges the notion that women are inferior and should be submissive to men.

Women’s voices in literature also play a vital role in creating role models for young girls and women. When young girls read books featuring strong female characters, they are inspired to become strong and independent women themselves. Women who see themselves represented in literature are more likely to feel validated and confident in their own identities. When women’s stories are shared, the young and old alike can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and diversity of women’s experiences.
Furthermore, women’s voices in literature can provide a sense of community and solidarity for women. Women’s experiences are often dismissed or ignored, and women’s stories can provide a sense of validation and connection. Women’s voices in literature can be empowering, and they can inspire women to speak out about their own experiences.
It is also important to note that women’s voices in literature can intersect with other identities such as race, class, and sexuality. Women of color, for example, have historically been excluded from mainstream literature, and their voices are essential in providing a diverse and complex representation of women’s experiences. When women from different backgrounds and experiences share their stories, they can challenge the dominant narratives and create a more inclusive understanding of what it means to be a woman.
In conclusion, women’s voices in literature are essential because they provide diverse perspectives, challenge traditional gender roles and stereotypes, create role models for young girls and women, provide a sense of community and solidarity, and intersect with other identities to create a more inclusive understanding of women’s experiences. Women’s voices in literature have the power to shape and influence society’s perceptions and beliefs, and it is crucial that women’s stories continue to be told and heard. As we move forward, we must continue to promote and celebrate women in literature and work to create a more inclusive and equitable literary landscape.
Chapter2 Portrayal In Contemporary Fiction
What Is Contemporary Literature?
Contemporary literature is a vast group of written works produced from a specific time in history through the current age. This literary era defines a time period, but it also describes a particular style and quality of writing. Some see this period as an extension of postmodern literature, but most refer to it as a literary era of its own.
Most agree that the era of contemporary writing began in the 1940s. A few scholars claim this period started at the end of World War II, and this is where the era’s pairing with postmodern literature comes in. The postmodern era began after WWII, in the 1940s, and lasted through the 1960s. The contemporary period extends to the current day.Although there are a few disagreements about the beginning of this literary period, the biggest dispute surrounds what qualifies a written work as literature. The word refers to both poetry and prose, where prose includes works of fiction such as novels and novellas, essays, and dramatic works. This term also refers to the quality of writing. In order to be considered literature, a written work must uphold the highest writing standards and contain a particular beauty and style. Many literary works become socially relevant and have the power to influence the public.
Much of contemporary literature comes from Western authors; however, the term is not synonymous with English or American literature, and this literary period can apply to written works from anywhere in the world. In fact, globalization opened the door to include contemporary works written by many literary figures in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Genres included in this literary period span a variety of writing forms in addition to novels and poetry. Flash fiction, short stories, slam poetry, plays, memoirs, and autobiographies can all be included in this category. Nonfiction is usually not classified as literature, but this era sometimes includes works of creative nonfiction, which tell a true story using literary techniques.Typical characteristics of the contemporary period include reality-based stories with strong characters and a believable story. Settings usually keep to the current or moderera,futuristic and science fiction novels are rarely included in this category. Well-defined, realistic, and highly developed characters are important in classifying a written work as contemporary, and most writing in this category features stories that are more character driven than plot driven.
Contemporary literature features a somewhat modern narrative, but it also contains a harsher reality. Contemporary written works tend to be influenced by the prosperous lifestyle that followed WWII, but this literary class is rooted in the devastation that war brought to the world. A new reality blossomed in the post-war mind, and it included a personal cynicism, disillusionment, and frustration that is common to this literary period
2.1 The Emergence of Realism in Fiction by American Women
Sometimes you just need to sit down, focus, and get real – or in this case, realist! Whichever way you spin it, realism is all about the here and now. It focuses on the reality of the situation the author is writing about. For the American realist, there's no sense in pretending and no point in imagining the perfect world, where all problems magically disappear. Instead, the most important thing is to portray things as they actually are - no sugar-coating. It's complex characterisation, psychological dilemmas and social critique at its best, so let's dive into the movement to learn more about how it came about.The Civil War was devastating to America. It challenged people's sentimentalism and optimism, the driving forces behind the romantic movement. After the pain of war, romanticism felt fake, like it was offering a glimpse into an ideal world that didn't exist.Industrialisation, increasing literacy rates and expanding populations were all contributing to a society that was always evolving. This led to an increased demand for literature that authentically dealt with the rapid cultural change occurring day to day in the United States. Authors, therefore, began to depict real people in real situations, reacting to the often challenging events happening in the world around them.William Dean Howells (1837-1920) was the first author to be credited as wholly 'realist' and is considered the father of American realism. His work revolved around middle and upper-class life, and featured a truthfulness that brought close attention to societal problems.Other early, influential American realists include Samuel Clemens (better known by his pen name, Mark Twain (1835-qq1910)), Henry James (1843-1916) and Stephen Crane (1871-1900). Mark Twain was famed for his realistic, colloquial dialogue that provided America with a new way to define its national voice.Narratives led by three-dimensional women are, thankfully, not a new invention. In Zora Neale Hurston’s 1937 novel Their EyesaaWere Watching God, the protagonist Janie Crawford laments that her husband Jody has become controlling and dominating. We are told that Janie ‘stood there until something fell off the shelf inside her. . . .However, as readers, we revel in Janie’s ability to dust herself off and try again. The novel strides defiantly towards Janie’s relative freedom acquired in the final scenes; a liberation (of sorts) from social pressures to be a wife, but also from the tropes and stereotypes placed on black women in literature more widely. In the 15th-century Book of Margery Kempe, considered the first autobiography in the English language, Margery oscillates chaotically between utmost piety and burning temptation, while crying a lot and proclaiming her love for God. Where women’s stories are authored by men (so, throughoutmost of history), our narratives are ‘complicated’ in that they present a cautionary tale for readers.Most influential women authors in English and America literatureOne of the most well-known authors of the 18th century was the English writer Jane Austen, who is best known for her six major novels. Austen was a writer who specialized in storylines that highlighted women’s dependence on marriage or women who were pursuing economic security. She was one of the first female writers to publish works that questioned and commented on the British landed nobility. Since many of Austen’s works were published under pseudonyms, she did not experience much fame during her lifetime. She earned much more recognition as a writer after her passing, and her six full-length novels have hardly ever been out of print. Along with several critical essays and anthologies, her works have also been adapted for the big screen.Jane Austen’s famous works are as follows: The novel Sense and Sensibility, which was first published anonymously by ‘A Lady’ in 1811, chronicles the tale of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, as they reach adulthood and are compelled to leave the estate where they were raised with their widowed mother.In the novel Pride and Prejudice (1813), Elizabeth Bennet discovers the consequences of making snap decisions and the distinction between apparent virtue and true kindness. Emma (1815) is a comedy of manners that focuses on marriage, sex, age, and social status issues as they pertain to elegant ladies in Georgian-Regency England.Mary Shelley (1797 – 1851)0 Inspiring Female Writers Of All Time – Mary Shelley (1797 – 1851)Mary Shelley, a well-known author of Gothic fiction, comes in second on our list of notable female writers in history. She was a well-known editor who worked primarily on the works of her husband, the Romantic poet and philosopher Robert Bysshe Shelley, who is regarded as one of the early pioneers of science fiction. Born to feminist activist Mary Wollstonecraft and political philosopher William Godwin, Shelley was reared primarily by her father after her mother passed away too soon. After receiving a strong but informal education and having a parent who supported an anarchist lifestyle, Shelley married young and chose a life that was mostly devoted to promoting her husband’s works while also pursuing fiction writing.Mary Shelley’s famous works are as follows:The Modern Prometheus; or, Frankenstein (1818) – The tale of young scientist Victor Frankenstein, who unintentionally produces a sentient being during an unconventional experiment, was written by Mary Shelley when she was only 18 years old. Valperga (1823) is a historical fiction that recounts the exploits of Castruccio , a real-life historical character who rose to become the Lord of Lucca and capture Florence, Italy, during the Guelph and Ghibelline Wars. Rambles in Germany and Italy (1844) is a two-volume travelogue that details two excursions that Shelley conducted to Europe with her son Percy and a number of his college companions.

Emily Bronte (1818 – 1848)

Inspiring Female Writers Of All Time – Emily Bronte (1818 – 1848)Emily Bronte , the sister of the aforementioned Charlotte Bront, was a well-known female author of the Victorian era best remembered for her sole book, Wuthering Heights which is also included in list of classic literature for students to read. Bronte was also a prolific poet who published her works under the pen name Ellis Bell. Her writing was considered “genius” at the time it was published and is so now. Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, her most well-known body of work, was composed of poems that she co-wrote with her sisters Charlotte and Anne and had them published under their assumed identities.Emily Bronte famous works are as follows: Acton Bell and Currer Ellis’ Poems, 1846 , a collection of poems that the three Bront sisters—Charlotte, Emily, and Anne co-published. It was the first thing they had ever published. 1847’s Wuthering Heights – The Earnshaws and the Lintons are two landed gentry families that live on the West Yorkshire moors, and the book follows the Earnshaws’ and the Lintons’ tumultuous interactions with Earnshaw’s adopted son, Heathcliff.
Charlotte Bronte (1816 – 1855)
Inspiring Female Writers Of All Time – Charlotte Bronte (1816 – 1855)Charlotte Bront, one of the most well-known Victorian female authors in history, is most known for her books, which include Jane Eyre (1847). She was the oldest of three sisters who lived to maturity, and it wasn’t until after their failed attempt to start a school that she decided to pursue her passion for writing. Her second book, Jane Eyre, was warmly welcomed by critics and eventually became a landmark in the history of British literature, despite publishers originally rejecting her first book, The Professor. Bronte was one of the first writers to experiment with many poetic forms, such as the extended narrative and dramatic monologue, setting the defining motifs of Victorian literature. However, after the popularity of her prose, she later abandoned up on poetry.Charlotte Bronte famous works are as follows: This coming-of-age book, Jane Eyre (1847), chronicles the adventures of its title character, including her love for Mr. Rochester and his residence at Thornfield Hall. Shirley (1849) – The novel follows characters during the Luddite uprisings in the Yorkshire textile industry and is set in Yorkshire amid the early 19th-century economic downturn. Villette (1853) – This story follows the main character, Lucy Snowe, as she leaves her family after a tragedy and moves to the fictitious French city of Villette to work at a girls’ school. There, she becomes entangled in romance and adventure.Louisa May Alcott (1832 – 1888)10 Inspiring Female Writers Of All Time – Louisa May Alcott (1832 – 1888)Despite being best known as the author of Little Women, American novelist, poet, and short story writer Louisa May Alcott has contributed far more to literature than you might initially realize. Alcott was one of four daughters in the family and was raised in New England by her parents, Abigail, and Amos. Alcott put in a lot of effort to maintain her family’s difficult financial circumstances, just like the four sisters in her well-known novel, while also spending her spare time to write. Little Women, which was published in 1868, was her first significant literary achievement after she began contributing to the Atlantic Monthly in 1860. In an effort to gain recognition as a writer, she also released a series of graphic short stories for adults in the early 1860s under the pseudonym A. M. Barnard. After becoming a well-known household name, Louisa May Alcott got involved in a number of abolitionist and feminist reform groups, including the fight for women’s suffrage, which she supported all the way up until her death in 1888.Louisa May Alcott’s famous works are as follows: Sylvia Yule, a passionate tomgirl, goes on a camping vacation with her brother and his two friends, both of whom fall in love with her, in Louisa May Alcott’s debut book, Moods (1864).Little Women (1868) is a coming-of-age story that follows the lives of four sisters as they grow up in genteel poverty.Little Men (1871) — A sequel to Louisa May Alcott’s well-known Little Women, with Jo Bhaer, her husband, and the different students at Plumfield Estate School.Virginia Woolf (1882 – 1941)10 Inspiring Female Writers Of All Time – Virginia Woolf (1882 – 1941)English author Virginia Woolf was active in the early 20th century. Woolf, who is regarded as one of the most modernist writers of her day, tested and included various literary tropes into our contemporary creative writing language while simultaneously challenging the societal inequalities experienced by women in the early 1900s. For instance, Woolf is credited with being a pioneer in the use of the stream-ofconsciousness technique in fiction, particularly in one of her best-known works, A Room of One’s Own. Woolf grew up in an affluent South Kensington, London home with her mother, father, and five siblings as part of a blended family of eight.Before enrolling in the Ladies’ Department of King’s College London to study Classics and History, she was home schooled in English Classics and Victorian Literature. After receiving encouragement from her father, Woolf started writing professionally in 1900. She subsequently relocated to London’s Bloomsbury neighbourhood, where she helped to create the renowned Bloomsbury Group. Woolf has maintained her status as a prominent literary figure throughout her life and even decades after her death. She married Leonard Woolf in 1917 and together they founded the Hogarth Press, which published a large portion of her works. She also published more than 20 different works and was the focus of the feminist criticism movement of the 1970s, which was cited as “inspiring” and brought much attention to her works of literature.Virginia Woolf’s famous works are as follows:Mrs. Dalloway wrote a novel about upper society in 1925. Following the First World War, Clarissa Dalloway describes a typical day in her life.A philosophical novel of contemplation, To the Lighthouse (1927), is focused on the Ramsay family and their excursions to the Scottish Isle of Skye between 1910 and 1920 A Room of One’s Own (1929) is a lengthy essay that is based on two lectures that Virginia Woolf gave about social inequalities against women in October 1928 at Newnham College and Girton College , both constituent colleges at the University of Cambridge.Agatha Christie (1890 – 1976)10 Inspiring Female Writers Of All Time – Agatha Christie (1890 – 1976)With more than two billion copies of her detective crime books having been sold worldwide, Dame Agatha Christie is recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling fiction author of all time. She is best known for inventing the fictional investigators Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, and she also penned The Mousetrap, the play with the longest running run in the West End, which has been running since 1952. She was raised in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, where she passed away at the age of 85 after moving there with her husband after being born into a prosperous upper middle class family in Devon.
2.2 Most influential women authors in English and America literature.

Throughout history, some of the most influential women have been writers, poets and essayists; breaking social barriers, challenging the status quo and questioning the rules through the art of their writing.

From the pioneering voices of the late 18th and early 19th Century through to modern day feminist contemporaries in the literary sphere, women have long shaped the landscape of literature, of cultures around the world, and of history with their ingenious creative writing talents.

In honour of International Women’s Day, we wanted to share just a small selection of the most pioneering female writers in history. Each of the authors featured on this list have gone down in history as some of the greatest artists in history, with various film and TV adaptations made from their work.

Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)
English novelist Jane Austen is one of the most famous 18th Century novelists, known primarily for her six major novels. One of the earliest female writers to produce works that critiqued and commented on the British landed gentry, Austen was a writer who focused on plots which explored the dependence of women on marriage, or women who were in the pursuit of economic security.

As such, many of Austen’s works were published anonymously, meaning that she enjoyed little fame during her life. It was after her death that she gained far more status as a writer, with her six full-length novels rarely having been out of print. There have also been several film adaptations of her works, with a number of critical essays and anthologies accompanying them.

Jane Austen’s famous works:
Sense and Sensibility (1811) - First published anonymously by ‘A Lady,’ it tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne as they come of age and are forced to move with their widowed mother from the estate on which they grew up.
Pride and Prejudice (1813) - A novel following the character Elizabeth Bennet, who learns about the repercussions of hasty decision-making and the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness. Emma (1815) - A comedy of manners, depicting the concerns of genteel women living in Georgian-Regency England, focusing on issues of marriage, sex, age and social status.
Mary Shelley (1797 - 1851)
Second on our list of famous female writers in history is famous Gothic fiction writer, Mary Shelley. Recognised as one of the early creators of science fiction, she was also a prominent editor, working mainly on the works of her husband, the Romantic poet and philosopher, Robert Bysshe Shelley.
Born to political philosopher William Godwin and feminist activist, Mary Wollstonecraft, Shelley was raised solely by her father after her mother’s premature death. Having been provided a rich yet informal education, with her father promoting a lifestyle of anarchism, Shelley married early and pursued a life predominantly dedicated to promoting her husband’s works but also towards writing fiction.

Mary Shelley’s famous works:

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818) - Written when Shelley was just 18 years old, the story follows young scientist Victor Frankenstein who accidentally creates a sapient creature during an unorthodox experiment.
Valperga (1823) - A historical novel set amongst the wars of the Guelphs and Ghibellines which retells the adventures of Castruccio Castracani - a real historical figure who became the Lord of Lucca and conquered Florence, Italy.Rambles in Germany and Italy (1844) - A travel narrative published in two volumes that describes two European trips Shelley took with her son, Percy, and several of his university friends.

Michael Vince. Macmillan English Grammar.

Macmillan Publisher Limitedof the Victorian era who is best known for her only novel, Wuthering Heights (which also features on our list of classic books to read for students!) Publishing her work under the pen name, Ellis Bell, Brontë was also a prolific poet, with her writing at the time and still today regarded as ‘genius.’ Her most famous collection of works, Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell, was a collection of pieces published with her sisters Charlotte and Anne under their pseudo-names.

Emily Brontë’s famous works

Poems by Currer Ellis, and Acton Bell (1846) - A volume of poetry published jointly by the three Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne. It was their first work to ever go to print.Wuthering Heights (1847) - A prime influence of Romantic and Gothic fiction which concerns two families of the landed gentry living on the West Yorkshire moors - the Earnshaws and the Lintons - the book follows their turbulent relationships with Earnshaw’s adopted son, Heathcliff.
Charlotte Brontë (1816 - 1855)
One of the most famous Victorian female writers in history, Charlotte Brontë is best known for her novels, including Jane Eyre (1847). The eldest of one of three sisters who survived into adulthood, she became an author only after she and her sisters attempted to open a school - which failed to launch. Although her first novel, The Professor, was initially rejected by publishers, it was her second novel, Jane Eyre which was well-received by critics and has gone on to become a capsule piece in the history of British literature.Setting the characteristic tropes of Victorian literature, Brontë prose.

Charlotte Brontë’s famous works

Jane Eyre (1847) - This coming-of-age novel follows the journey of its eponymous heroine, including her love for Mr Rochester and his home at Thornfield Hall.Shirley (1849) - Set in Yorkshire during the industrial depression of the early 19th Century, the story follows characters during the Luddite uprisings in the Yorkshire textile industry.Villette (1853) - Follows the protagonist, Lucy Snowe, as she flees a family disaster and travels to the fictional city of Villette in France to teach at a girls’ school, where she’s drawn into adventure and romance.
Louisa May Alcott (1832 - 1888)
American novelist, short story writer and poet, Louisa May Alcott, may be best known as the author of Little Women, but has made a much larger literary contribution than you may have first thought.Raised in New England by her parents and Abigail and Amos, Alcott was one of four daughters in the family. Just like the four sisters in her famous novel do, Alcott worked hard to support her family’s struggling financial situation, using writing as an outlet when she had the time.

Published in 1868, Little Women was her first major literary success, after having written for the Atlantic Monthly from 1860. In the early 1860s, she also published a number of lurid short stories for adults under her pen name, A. M. Barnard, in an attempt to break onto the literary scene. Once a popular household name with her debut novel, Alcott became an active member of various abolitionist and feminist reform movements, including working towards women’s suffrage, which she continued to support throughout her life until her passing in 1888.

Louisa May Alcott’s famous works:
Moods (1864) - Alcott’s first novel which tells the story of passionate tomboy, Sylvia Yule, who embarks on a camping trip with her brother and his two friends, both of whom fall in love with her. Little Women (1868) - Coming-of-age novel following the lives of four sisters and their journey through genteel poverty as children into womanhood.Little Men (1871) - Sequel to Alcott’s famous Little Women, reprising characters from the original - Jo Bhaer, her husband, and the various children at Plumfield Estate School.
Gertrude Stein (1874 - 1946)
Pioneering American novelist, poet, playwright and art collector, Gertrude Stein was a key figure in early twentieth century feminism - both in a literal and literary sense - who rose to mainstream attention thanks to her ‘quirky’ lifestyle and modernist writing style.
As an advocate of the avant-garde, she shaped an artistic movement that broke the traditional norms of femininity, writing style and form. Her experimental creative styles included the use of broken grammar and illogical writing flows, as featured in her 1914 novel Tender Buttons: Objects, Food, Room, as well as repetition to emphasise and re-shape traditional concepts in her later works like, The Making of Americans. Although born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and then raised in California, it was Paris, France, that Stein moved to as an adult that she called home for the remainder of her life. During her time here, she hosted a salon in Paris, where leading figures in literature and art would meet and share their work. Notable attendees included Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway and F. Scot Fitzgerald.Gertrude Stein’s famous works:Three Lives (1909) - Separated into three separate stories, ‘The Good Anna,’ ‘Melanctha,’ and ‘The Gentle Lena,’ which follow three different lives of working-class women living in Baltimore.Tender Buttons (1914) - Consisting of three separate sections; ‘Objects,’ ‘Food,’ and ‘Rooms,’ the book consists of poems about the mundanities of everyday life, whilst experimental language keeps the subjects unfamiliar and engaging.The Making of Americans: Being a History of a Family’s Progress (1925) - A novel which traces the genealogy, history, and psychological development of members of two fictional families.
.
Virginia Woolf (1882 - 1941)
Adeline Virginia Woolf was an early 20th-century writer from England. Considered to be one of the most modernist authors of her period, Woolf not only challenged the social injustices on women in the early 1900s, but also tested and embedded different literary devices into our modern lexicon of creative writing.For example, Woolf is considered a pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device, especially in one of her more famous novels, A Room of One’s Own.Born into a blended family of eight, Woolf lived in an affluent household in South Kensington, London with her mother, father, and five siblings. She was home-schooled in English Classics and Victorian Literature before attending the Ladies’ Department of King’s College London to study Classics and History.Encouraged by her father, Woolf began writing professionally in 1900, eventually moving to the more bohemian Bloomsbury area of London, where she was part of the formation of the famous Bloomsbury Group. Throughout her life and even long after she passed, Woolf has remained a prominent literary figure; in 1917 she married her husband Leonard Woolf, who she went on to found the Hogarth Press with, a publishing house which published much of her work; she published over 20 different works; and was the central subject of the 1970s movement of feminist criticism, cited as “inspiring” and drawing much attention to her literature.
Virginia Woolf’s famous works:
Mrs Dalloway (1925) - Fictional high-societal Clarissa Dalloway living in post-First World War England shares the details of a day in her life. To the Lighthouse (1927) - A philosophical introspection novel which centres on the Ramsay family and their visits to the Isle of Skye in Scotland between 1910 and 1920.A Room of One’s Own (1929) - An extended essay, based on two lectures Woolf delivered in October 1928 at Newnham College and Girton College (both constituent colleges at the University of Cambridge) about social injustices against women.
Agatha Christie (1890 - 1976)
Detective crime writer Dame Agatha Christie is recognised by the Guinness World Records as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, with her novels having sold more than two billion copies around the world. Famed for creating the fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, she also wrote the longest-running play, The Mousetrap, which has been running in the West End since 1952.
Born into a wealthy upper middle class family in Devon, she eventually moved to Wallingford in Oxfordshire with her husband, where she passed away aged 85. Christie’s works remain popular amongst detective fiction fans, (with her even featuring on our list of classic authors to read!), with several of her works having been transformed into TV and film adaptations.
Agatha Christie’s famous works:
Murder on the Orient Express (1934) - During Poirot’s trip home to London from the Middle East on the Orient Express, snowfall brings the train to a halt. A murder is discovered, and detective Poirot is forced to solve the case.The A.B.C. Murders (1936) - Featuring crime detective Poirot, Arthur Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp - the characters are forced to contend with a series of killings by a mysterious murderer known only as “A.B.C.”
The Mousetrap (1952) - The longest-running West End show, this murder mystery play was written as a birthday present for Queen Mary, the consort of King George V. The plot is still unknown amongst those who have not seen the stage play, with the audience asked not to reveal the twist at the end when they leave the theatre.
Harper Lee (1926 - 2016)
Pulitzer prize-winning novelist, Harper Lee, was an American writer best known for her 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The book went on to win her the Prize in 1961 and pushed her into literary success as an acclaimed writer.
Lee’s childhood in Monroeville, Alabama, is what inspired her idea for the novel. Her father, a former newspaper editor, businessman and lawyer, served in the Alabama State Legislature from 1926 to 1938. During his time in this role, he defended two black men accused of murdering a white storekeeper. Both men were found guilty of the act and hanged - setting the plot of Harper Lee’s famous novel.
Thanks to the book’s widespread success, Lee has received numerous awards and honorary degrees, including the Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fiction in 2015, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007 for her contributions to literature.Today, Harper Lee’s works are widely taught in schools in the United States, encouraging students to learn more about how to empathise tolerance and dissipate prejudice towards others. In 2006, British librarians even ranked the book ahead of the Bible, calling it a novel that “every adult should read before they die.”
Harper Lee’s famous works:
To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) - A novel about justice, that deals with the serious issues of rape and racial inequality. Loosely based on Lee’s observations of an event that occurred near her hometown when she was a child.Go Set a Watchman (2015) - The second of only two novels published by Harper Lee. First published as a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird, it is now widely accepted that Go Set a Watchman was a first draft of the aforementioned book, drawing parallels with the original plot.
Toni Morrison (1931 - 2019)Born and raised in Lorain, Ohio, Toni Morrison was an American novelist and editor, made famous by her ability to depict the Black American experience in her writing with such authenticity; in an unjust society, her characters typically struggle to find themselves and their cultural identity; while her use of poetic style and often fantastical style of writing give her stories great strength and texture.
After achieving an MA in American Literature at Cornell University in the mid-to-late 1950s, Morrison established herself in the literary world when she secured a role as first black female editor in fiction at Random House in New York City in the late 1960s. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s and mid ‘80s that Morrison developed her reputation as an author and published her most famous works.

Morrison was incredibly successful as an author, receiving several awards and accolades for her work. In 2012, President Barack Obama presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom; in 2016, she received the Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction; and in 2020, Morrison was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Toni Morrison’s famous works:
The Bluest Eye (1970) - Morrison’s first novel tells the story of a young African-American girl named Pecola who grew up following the Great Depression.Sula (1973) - Morrison’s second novel focuses on a young black girl named Sula as she comes of age during a period of harsh adversity and distrust, even hatred, within the black community that she lives in.
Beloved (1987) - Set after the American Civil War, Beloved tells the story of former slaves who Cincinnati home is haunted by a malevolent spirit. The novel is inspired by an event that actually happened in Kentucky: when an enslaved person, Margaret Garner, escaped and fled to the free state of Ohio in 1856.
Margaret Atwood (1939 )
Canadian-born poet and novelist, Margaret Atwood, is most famous for creating the dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale in 1985, which has subsequently led to tremendous success - including a hit US TV series adaptation of the original book.As a literary artist, Atwood covers a variety of themes across time but which still remairelevant today, including themes on gender and identity, religion, climate change, ‘power politics’ and the power of language. And it’s her combination of these themes with sharp literary tongue which makes her the subject of study for many A-Level syllabi.Atwood has won numerous awards for her writing, including two Booker Prizes, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and the PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Awards, amongst many others.
Margaret Atwood’s famous works:
The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) - Dystopian novel set in a near-future New England in a strongly patriarchal, totalitarian state which has overthrown the United States government. The central character and narrator, Offred, is one of a group of ‘handmaids’ who are forcibly assigned to produce children for ‘commanders’ - the ruling class of men in the state.
Alias Grace (1996) - A novel of historic fiction which re-tells the notorious 1843 murders of Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery in Canada, where two of the servants in the household were convicted of the crime.The Testaments (2019) - A sequel to ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ set 15 years after the events of the original. Narrated by Aunt Lydia, a character from the previous novel; Agnes, a young woman living under state control; and Daisy, a young woman living in the free country of Canada.
Alice Walker (1944 )
Although all the female writers on our list are very much accomplished in their own right, Alice Walker certainly stands out as one of the most successful in female literary history.
In 1982, she became the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel The Color Purple. Since then, she’s also been awarded over 15 different awards for her fiction work and social activism, including the Domestic Human Rights Award from Global Exchange (2007) and being inducted into both the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame (2001) and the California Hall of Fame for History, Women and the Arts (2006).During her career, she has also published seventeen novels and short stories, twelve non-fiction works, and various collections of essays and poetry.
Alice Walker’s famous works:Meridian (1976) - Described as Walker’s “meditation on the modern civils right movement,” ‘Meridian’ follows a young black woman in the late 1960s who is attending college at a time when the civil rights movement begins to turn volatile.
The Color Purple (1982) - This epistolary novel follows the life of Celie, a poor, uneducated 14-year-old girl living in the Southern United States in the early 1900s who shares her story through a series of letters to God. Possessing the Secret of Joy (1992) - Follows the story of Tashi, a minor character who features in Walker’s earlier novel, ‘The Color Purple.’ Now in the US we watch her battle an internal conflict between her new culture and the heritage she’s entrenched in.
Octavia E. Butler (1947 - 2006)
American author, Octavia Estelle Butler, was an award-winning female writer who rose to fame in the literary industry in the late 1970s after releasing a series of novels in the science fiction genre.Acclaimed for her sharp prose, strong protagonists and social commentaries on society from the distant past through to the far future, she also frequently wrote on themes of racial injustice, global warming, women’s rights and political disparity.
Butler’s writing received a tremendous amount of attention, making her a multiple recipient of the Hugo and Nebula awards and a recipient of the PEN West Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1995, she also became the first science fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship. Today, many of her books remain a common choice for high school and college syllabi.
Octavia E. Butler’s famous works:
Kindred (1979) - Incorporating time travel and slave narratives, the book follows a young African-American woman writer, Dana, who finds herself stuck in time between her LA home in 1976 and a pre-Civil War Maryland plantation.
Parable of the Sower (1993) - A New York Times Notable Book of the Year, this apocalyptic science fiction novel provides commentary on climate change and social inequality. It follows central protagonist Lauren Olamina in her quest for freedom. Parable of the Talents (1998) - Winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel, the novel consists of journal entries from Lauren Olamina (previous protagonist in Parable of the Sower) and her husband Taylor Bankole after having founded a new community called Acorn.
J. K. Rowling (1965)
Joanne Rowling OBE, better known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author, film producer and screenplay writer, best known for being the author of the bestselling Harry Potter book series.
After working as a researcher and secretary for Amnesty International, in 1990 Rowling conceived the idea for the Harry Potter series while sitting on a delayed train to London. For seven years, Rowling worked on the first book draft, which was initially rejected by twelve different publishers before being eventually purchased by Barry Cunningham - giving her the platform she needed to launch her fantastical book series.Having won multiple awards and having sold more than 500 million copies of her works, Rowling is the best-selling living author in Britain and recognised as the best-selling children’s author in history.
J. K. Rowling’s famous works:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997) - The first book in the series; Harry is a wizard who lives with his non-magical (muggle) relatives until his eleventh birthday when he is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The book followed with six sequels, following Harry’s adventuress at Hogwarts with friends Hermione and Ron and his attempts to defeat Lord Voldemort, who murdered Harry’s parents when he was a child.
The Casual Vacancy (2012) - Rowling’s first book for adult readership is a mature murder mystery which explore complex themes such as class, politics and adult social issues. The novel was the fastest-selling in the UK in three years and had the second best-selling opening week for an adult novel ever.
Zadie Smith (1975 )
Sadie Adeline Smith is an English novelist, essayist and short story writer who rose to fame back in the year 2000 after her debut novel, White Teeth became an international bestseller. This initial success has since led her to win a number of awards, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the* Betty Trask Award*.
White Teeth set the tone of Smith’s subsequent writing style. Known for her novels’ eccentric characters, savvy humour and snappy dialogue, her fiction often deals with discussions on the treatment of race, religion and cultural identity. Since Smith’s early successes, she has gone on to enjoy a lifelong career in the literary world. She began serving as writer-in-residence at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, before teaching fiction at Columbia University School of the Arts. Since 2010, she has been a tenured professor in the Creative Writing faculty of New York University while also being a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books.
Zadie Smith’s famous works:White Teeth (2000) - Centred on Britain’s relationship with immigrants from the British Commonwealth, Smith’s debut novel focuses on the later lives of two wartime friends and their families in London.On Beauty (2005) - Smith’s third novel won the Women’s Prize for Fiction tells the story of two families - each set between New England and London - with events spurred on by a long-time professional rivalry of the two protagonists.Grand Union (2019) - This is a collection of 11 new and previously unpublished short stories, as well as snippets of work from The New Yorker and other renowned publications. Follow in the footsteps of these female literary heroesFor a once in a lifetime experience, join us for summer 2023 where you can discover over 40 academic subjects taught by expert tutors. You’ll also meet other like-minded individuals from around the world and make friends for life! Apply today and choose from 3 stunning locations; Oxford, Cambridge and London.

Conclusion

Academic discipline of women's writing is a discrete area of literary studies which is based on the notion that the experience of women, historically, has been shaped by their sex, and so women writers by definition are a group worthy of separate study: "Their texts emerge from and intervene in conditions usually very different from those which produced most writing by men."It is not a question of the subject matter or political stance of a particular author, but of her sex, i.e. her position as a woman within the literary world.Women's writing, as a discrete area of literary studies and practice, is recognized explicitly by the numbers of dedicated journals, organizations, awards, and conferences which focus mainly or exclusively on texts produced by women. Women's writing as a recognized area of study has been developing since the 1970s. The majority of English and American literature programs offer courses on specific aspects of literature by women, and women's writing is generally considered an area of specialization in its own right.
Women play a large role in American literature. In most of the American history, women were viewed as weak and irrelevant to all things concerning American politics and literature. That is why women in American literature were rare. Although they were rare, there were still women who made a great impact in this country’s literature. Many women began to express themselves in their writing and even more of these women began to fight for an identity to call their own. They fought against the gender roles that have been placed on them for their entire lives and wanted to be heard through their writing. There were also many men in American literature that also argued the importance of every individual’s voice to be heard. Although many of the authors