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.

In every British town, large and small, you will find shops that sell secondhand goods. Sometimes such shops deal mostly in furniture, sometimes in books, sometimes in ornaments(装饰物) and household goods, sometimes even in clothes.

The furniture may often be “antique”(古董), and it may well have changed hands many times. It may also be very valuable, although the most valuable piece will usually go to the London salesroom, where one piece might well be so1d for hundreds of thousands of pounds. As you look around these shops and see the polished wood of chests and tables, you cannot help thinking of those long dead hands which polished that wood, of those now—closed eyes which once 1ooked at these pieces with love.

The books, too, may be antique and very precious; some may be rare first printings. Often when someone dies or has to move house, his books may all be sold, so that sometimes you may find whole libraries in one shop. On the border between England and Wales, there is a town which has become a huge bookshop as well. Even the cinema and castle have been taken over, and now books have replaced sheep as the town’s main trade.

There are also much more humble shops, sometimes simply called “junk shops”, where you can buy small household pieces very cheaply. Sometimes the profits from these shops go to charity. Even these pieces, though, can make you feel sad; you think of those people who once treasured them, but who have moved on, to another country or to death.

Although the British do not worship their ancestors(祖先), they do treasure the past and the things of the past. This is true of houses as well. These days no one knocks them down. They are restored until they are often better than new. In Britain, people do not buy something just because it is new. Old things are treasured for their proven worth; new things have to prove themselves before they are accepted.

1.What is the small town on the border between England and Wales famous for?

A. Its sheep. B. Its bookshops. C. Its cinema. D. Its castle

2.Secondhand goods sometimes fill you with sadness because _______.

A. they are too expensive for average buyers

B. they remind you of the original owner

C. they are now neglected

D. they are sold for charity

3.What does the underlined word “them” (Paragraph 4) refer to _____?

A. Junk shops B. Profits from shops

C. Small household pieces D. Old houses

Learners of English, especially self-taught learners may have trouble in understanding speeches by native speakers. The following ways might help improve their listening ability.

First of all, do things step by step. It is not good to listen to something beyond your level. Better choose a suitable course and start with the first book. Go on to the second book only after you are sure you understand the first one.

Secondly, stick to one course of study. Don’t change books often. Never let your attention be attracted by another course just because it seems to be more “fashionable”.

Thirdly, listen to the English news program over the radio from time to time. Better go through the news stories in the Chinese-language newspaper first. That will make it easy for you to understand the English news on the radio.

Fourthly, if you have time, listen to some interesting stories in some special English programs, such as VOA. or other listening materials of the same level as that of your textbook.

1.This is a piece of advice to learners of English on how to______.

A. improve their listening ability B. read fast

C. write better English and read faster D. speak correctly

2.If you want to understand the English news program on the radio, you should________.

A. read the Chinese language newspaper step by step

B. read again and again the Chinese language newspaper

C. go through the Chinese language newspaper first

D. be able to recite the Chinese language newspaper

3.The author advised that once you have taken up a course, you _______.

A. should stick to it.

B. should begin with the last book

C. should take up other courses if they are more fashionable

D. shouldn’t do anything else

4.In this passage, VOA stands for_______.

A. a book B. a magazine C. a text-book D. a radio station

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