Question

British Women Writers in different periods of time

The English Renaissance

The English Renaissance began in the later part of the fifteenth century and lasted until the 1660s. Among the most famous women writers of this period is Aphra Behn, who is seen as the first professional woman writer in English. She wrote a number of plays that dealt with topics such as racism and slavery. A good example is Oroonoko published in 1688. Aphra Behn's works include also the plays The Amourous Prince, The Town Fop, The Dutch Lover and her only tragedy, Abdelazer.

The neoclassical period

Among the well-known women in British literature during the neoclassical period, from 1660 to the end of the eighteenth century, is Anne Finch. She wrote poetry and tried to express all that she saw and experienced. Two other women are recognized for their contribution to neoclassical British literature: Mary Astell and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. Mary Astell was a philosopher and a feminist writer. She is best known now for her theories on the education of women.

The Romantic period

Jane Austen is one of the most famous women writers that worked during the Romantic period (1798-1832). Her works include several novels, most of which focus on marriage as a way for young women to secure social standing and economic security. Her most famous novels are Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Emma. Another famous woman writer from the English Romanticism is Mary Shelley. She is the author of Frankenstein, History of Six Weeks Tour and The Last Man.

The Victorian period

The Victorian period, between the 1830s and 1900, was the time when the Bronte sisters, George Eliot and Elizabeth Gaskell lived and wrote. Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte and Anne Bronte produced many British literary classics. Charlotte's novels include Jane Eyre, Shirley, Villette and The Professor. Mary Anne Evans adopted the male pen name George as she wanted to set herself apart from the feminine genre of cookbooks and domestic moral tales. Her most famous novel is The Mill on the Floss published in 1860.

1.According to the passage, Aphra Behn’s plays mainly concern ________.

A. racism and slavery    B. economic security

C. education of women    D. cooking and gardening

2.Which period does Jane Austen belong to?

A. the English Renaissance.    B. the Neoclassical Period.

C. the Romantic period.    D. the Victorian period.

3.Why did Mary Anne Evans publish her stories under the name of George Eliot?

A. Women were forbidden to write novels then.

B. It helped promote her works.

C. It sounded more popular.

D. Her works would be different.

4.If a reader is interested in women’s education, whose works can be the best choice?

A. Anne Finch’s.    B. Mary Astell’s.

C. Mary Wortley Montagu’s.    D. Mary Shelley’s.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.B

【解析】本文介绍了四个不同时期的几位英国女作家。

1.细节理解题。根据The English Renaissance中She wrote a number of plays that dealt with topics such as racism and slavery.可知，她写了很多诸如种族主义和奴隶制度话题的戏剧。故选A。

2.细节理解题。根据The Romantic period中Jane Austen is one of the most famous women writers that worked during the Romantic period (1798-1832).可知，Jane Austen属于the Romantic period。故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据The Victorian period中Mary Anne Evans adopted the male pen name George as she wanted to set herself apart from the feminine genre of cookbooks and domestic moral tales.可知，以男性的名字作为笔名是因为她想把自己跟女性常联系在一起的菜谱和国内道德故事区别开来，也就是意味着她的作品是不同于这些的。故选D。

4.细节理解题。根据The neoclassical period中Mary Astell was a philosopher and a feminist writer. She is best known now for her theories on the education of women.可知，Mary Astell以女性教育理论最著名。故选B项。

【名师点睛】

事实询问题，这类试题通常以疑问词what/who/when/where/why/how引起的特殊问句，就文章中某一词语、某一句子、某一段落或某一具体细节和事实进行提问。解答此类试题首先要弄清题目和每一个选项的含义，然后按题目要求寻找与之相关的细节，正确估计答案来源。同时要注意题目和文章中的暗示作用，特别注意辨别各种信息，确认各种信息。比如第一问According to the passage, Aphra Behn’s plays mainly concern________，根据Aphra Behn定位到第一段，根据这一段中She wrote a number of plays that dealt with topics such as racism and slavery.可知，她写了很多诸如种族主义和奴隶制度话题的戏剧，也就是她的戏剧关注奴隶制和种族主义，故选C。