Literary Ladies' Personal Ads Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ophelia

Unfortunately, Ophelia probably wouldn't get many reponses to her ad, considering she was eventually found drowned in "Hamlet." She was the Prince of Denmark's object of affection, but things got a little bit complicated when Hamlet accidentally killed her father, Polonius, and Ophelia went mad soon after.

Answer: Emma Woodhouse

The slightly snobbish but completely lovable Emma Woodhouse is the protagonist of Jane Austen's masterpiece "Emma." Despite her apparent penchant for matchmaking, Emma's well-laid plans often fail, as Harriet ends up with Robert the farmer, Frank Churchill ends up with Jane Fairfax, and Emma herself ends up with Mr. Knightley.

Answer: Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre is the heroine from Charlotte Brontė's famous novel of the same name. She works as a governess for Mr. Rochester, and eventually falls in love with him. However, Jane is not content to ever depend on or belong to anyone else, and feels that her independence and autonomy are just as important as love.

As with many novels of this time period, Brontė uses her writing to explore the prominent issues of the era, such as social hierarchy and gender relations.

Answer: Anne Shirley

Orphan Anne Shirley is the highly imaginative and overly dramatic heroine created by Lucy Maud Montgomery in her series of "Anne" books, the most well-known being "Anne of Green Gables." Anne finds her match in Gilbert Blythe, who initially insults her by calling her "carrots," a reference to her red hair, which she despises.

Answer: Pamela Andrews

Pamela is the heroine of Samuel Richardson's famous epistolary novel of the same name, which is subtitled "Virtue Rewarded." Though she is but a servant, she resists all sexual advances from her Master, Mr. B., and retains her goodness and purity throughout the novel, leading Mr. B. to eventually marry her.

Henry Fielding parodied this novel in a short novella entitled "Shamela." Fielding felt that Pamela was not the epitome of virtue, but rather a very conniving and manipulative girl who wanted to move up the social ladder.

Answer: Hester Prynne

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," Hester Prynne is rejected and condemned by society, and forced to wear the red "A" on her clothes as a symbol of her sin. Her adultery is discovered when she gives birth to an illegitimate daughter. However, Hester proves to be a strong woman, fearlessly facing society, and constantly helping to feed and clothe the poor despite her own alienation.

She is also a loving maternal figure to her young daughter, Pearl.

Answer: Juliet Capulet

Juliet is one of Shakespeare's most famous heroines, from the play "Romeo and Juliet." She is constantly praised by Romeo and her beauty is continuously emphasized. If you read the play closely, you can observe certain discrepancies between Romeo and Juliet's behaviour and personalities. Romeo is much more emotional than Juliet, and becomes instantly blinded by love.

He fails to think rationally on several occasions, exhibiting what was traditionally thought to be feminine behaviour. Juliet, while equally in love, is much more aware of the possible impediments to their relationship, and proves to be fairly methodical throughout the play, despite her gender and her young age.

Answer: Alisoun

Although all of these women appear in Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales," only Alisoun, more commonly known as the Wife of Bath, would have submitted such a personal ad. The Wife of Bath has had five different husbands, and has become an authority on marriage, and an expert in the manipulation of men.

She loves to have power and control over others. And just for interest's sake: Emelye is the beautiful girl from "The Knight's Tale," whom both Palamon and Arcite desire, Grisilde is the hardworking and obedient peasant woman who marries into the aristocracy in "The Clerk's Tale," and May is the young, beautiful wife of the jealous January in "The Merchant's Tale."

Answer: Jo March

Jo March is the adventurous and affectionate heroine from Louisa May Alcott's novel "Little Women." Jo proves to be very different from her sisters (Meg, Amy, and Beth), and initially refuses to adhere to the stereotypical female role of wife and mother. However, at the end of the novel, she agrees to marry Professor Bhaer, a poor but intelligent man who makes Jo happy.

Answer: Lucie Manette

Lucie Manette, from Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities," has often been described as a two-dimensional character. Indeed, she does not have very many defining characteristics but, rather, her presence serves to define those around her (she is the "Golden Thread" that ties the story and characters together).

For example, it is because of his pure, unselfish love for Lucie that Sydney Carton reforms, giving up alcohol and finally doing something for someone other than himself; that is, giving his life so that Charles Darnay can live and Lucie's family can remain safe and intact.