Difficult Not So Plain Janes Quiz | 10 Questions | People

Answer: Jane Burden

Jane Burden was born on October 19, 1839 to Robert and Ann Burden. Her childhood was one full of poverty. In 1857, she was noticed by Rossetti and Burne-Jones while attending a theatre production with her sister Bessie. She was used by Rossetti as a model for Queen Guinivere. Later, Burden fell in love with William Morris, and the two were married in 1859. During her engagement and marriage, Burden was given an education.

She became proficient in French and Italian and played classical piano. It has been claimed that she was the model for the character of Mrs. Higgins in the play "Pygmalion". Burden had two daughters (Jane Alice and Mary) and died in 1914.

Answer: Jane Spencer, Baroness Churchill

Not much is known about Baroness Churchill Jane Spencer, born Lady Jane Conyngham in 1826. We do know that she married the 2nd Baron Churchill on May 19, 1849 and became Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria in 1854, and remained in this post until her death. Spencer died on December 24, 1900 at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.

She was buried on December 29, 1900 at Finstock, Oxfordshire.

Answer: mothers who have lost children

de Chantal was born in 1572 in Dijon, France. She had six children, three of whom died shortly after birth, and was widowed at the age of 28. She met Saint Francis de Sales and was inspired to start the Congregation of the Visitation, a Catholic religious order for women.

She died at the Visitation Convent in 1641. She was beatified on November 21, 1751 by Pope Benedict XIV, and was canonized on July 16, 1767.

Answer: New York

Jane Colden, born on March 27, 1724, is known as the first American female botanist. She was born in New York City. From her father, she learned the classifications of Carolus Linnaeus. From 1753 to 1758, Colden classified over 300 species of New York City flora.

Her many accomplishments included a new way to make ink impressions of plants, a varied repertoire of illustrations, and a focus on the gardenia. She died in 1766. Her memorial plant sanctuary is located in Knox's Headquarters State Historic Site, in New Windsor, New York.

Answer: Jane Novak

Jane Novak was born in St. Louis in 1896. She began her acting career in 1913; she was 17. Over her career, she had roles in 115 movies. She made a major decision, however: she would not take "sensational" roles, opting instead for a more wholesome image.

She was considered old-fashioned, and refused to work in films with other leading ladies. In March of 1922, Novak's salary was $1,500/week. She was one of the first movie stars to have a four-digit weekly salary. When movies began to incorporate sound, Novak's career declined.

She made two more movies and, in 1974, created a cookbook entitled "The Joy of Chicken Cooking". Novak died of a stroke in 1990.

Answer: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Born in 1783, Jane Taylor was part of a literary family. Her father was an engraver, and her mother wrote several pieces of literature. At the age on 23 (in 1806) Taylor wrote the lyrics to the song, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". Though the poem is now known worldwide, its author is not.

The poem, originally titled "The Star", was first published in "Rhymes for the Nursery" a poetry collection by Taylor and her sister Ann. She wrote many other poems, none of which gained the world fame of "Twinkle". Taylor died of breast cancer at the age of 41.

Answer: her struggle with mental health issues

Margaret Jane Pauley was born in Indianapolis in 1950, and has been involved in news reporting since she was 25. From '76 to '89, Pauley was a co-host on "The Today Show", becoming a symbol for professional females. In 1989, Pauley resigned, following speculation about her reputed hatred for the early morning show (she supposedly wanted to work in primetime).

In 1993, she was co-host for "Dateline NBC". In 2004, however, she began a television series: "The Jane Pauley Show". On this show, which lasted only a single season, she revealed a long struggle with bipolar disorder and other mental health issues.

Answer: Jane Lindskold

Jane M. Lindskold, an American sci-fi/fantasy author grew up in Washington, D.C. She recieved a Ph.D. in English. She began publishing stories in 1992, and her first novel ("Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls") in December of 1994. One of her series, "Anthanor", centers around a group of mythical creatures who must keep themselves hidden from humans who could be dangerous to the creatures.

In the "Firekeeper Saga", Lindskold writes of a woman who discovers similarities in wolf politics, and politics in the British monarchy.

She currently lives with husband Jim Moore in Albequerque, New Mexico.

Answer: Jane Elizabeth Faulding

Jane Elizabeth (Jennie) Faulding was born in 1843 to a London piano manufacturer and his wife. Influenced by a book written by neighbors, Jennie was recruited by Hudson and Maria Taylor to go to China with a group of Protestant missionaries. Though at first, scandal surrounded Jennie and the other young women, Taylor encouraged his group to "adopt all things not sinful that were Chinese in order to save some".

She remained in China for five years, and became brokenhearted by the death of her mentor, Maria Taylor. On the return to England in 1871, Hudson Taylor proposed to Faulding.

She agreed and, with her parents' consent, they were married that November. Jennie became stepmother to four children. She and Hudson had two children and adopted one daughter.

In 1877, she returned to China again with two other women. In China, she began an orphanage, and worked alongside her husband until her death of breast cancer in 1904.

Answer: Jane Badler

Jane Badler was born on December 31, 1953 in Brooklyn. She spent her teens in New York before moving to Manchester, New Hampshire. She won the Miss New Hampshire title, and was a competitor in the 1973 Miss America pageant. She began her television career as Melina Cramer Janssen in the soap opera "One Life to Live".

She held this post from '77 to '81, and returned in '83. She also appeared on "The Doctors" and "Falcon Crest". Her most memorable role, however, was as Visitor leader Diana in the the 1983 miniseries "V".

She also appeared in its' '84 sequel, "V: The Final Battle", and in "V: The Series" (1984-1985). More recently she has found a career on stage in two one-woman shows.