Women the world over search to find and hold onto the inner strength that is unique to their gender. Why then, are female characters in all genres and forms of media often portrayed as the classic "damsel in distress?" The want to see strong women on the page and screen is not a want limited only to adult women. Adolescent females also, and maybe especially, want to harness the power that they see in heroines of both print and screen.
It is also important to note that the genre of fantasy literature, and all other medias (television, film, animation, video games, etc.) that present the fantasy world is growing by leaps and bounds among young adult readers. Anita Silvey states in her article "The Unreal Deal" that "instead of craving realistic stories about people like themselves, today's teens are crazy about characters (and scenarios) that have little in common with their own everyday lives." She states further that "As one young reader put it, his peers are hunting for novels that will 'take them away to another world, not like this one.'"
Merging these two ideas: one, that fantasy literature is wildly popular with young adults; and two, that adolescent females desire to see strong, female characters, leads to this list of eleven Heroines of Fantasy Literature. While these female characters are unique in their own ways, they all have two characteristics in common: strength and courage. These, along with their unworldly super powers, make for exciting media.
It is also important to note that the genre of fantasy literature, and all other medias (television, film, animation, video games, etc.) that present the fantasy world is growing by leaps and bounds among young adult readers. Anita Silvey states in her article "The Unreal Deal" that "instead of craving realistic stories about people like themselves, today's teens are crazy about characters (and scenarios) that have little in common with their own everyday lives." She states further that "As one young reader put it, his peers are hunting for novels that will 'take them away to another world, not like this one.'"
Merging these two ideas: one, that fantasy literature is wildly popular with young adults; and two, that adolescent females desire to see strong, female characters, leads to this list of eleven Heroines of Fantasy Literature. While these female characters are unique in their own ways, they all have two characteristics in common: strength and courage. These, along with their unworldly super powers, make for exciting media.
Work Cited: Silvey, Anita. "The Unreal Deal." School Library Journal. Print.