Question

Identify the commonality shared by the authors of Mansfield Park and Middlemarch:

• A. Both the novels were authored by men who were sent on exile.
• B. Both the novels were authored by political prisoners.
• C. Both the novels were written by children who were not allowed to publish their works.
• D. Both the novels were written by women who wrote under pseudonyms.

Hint:

In the 19th century, many women novelists (e.g., the Brontës, George Eliot, Jane Austen) used pseudonyms or anonymity to avoid prejudice in publishing.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Identify authors
- Mansfield Park (1814) — written by Jane Austen. While published under the simple attribution "By a Lady," Austen did not openly use her name. This is a form of pseudonymous/anonymous authorship common for women in her era.
- Middlemarch (1871–72) — written by Mary Ann Evans, who adopted the pen name George Eliot to be taken seriously in a male-dominated literary field.

Step 2: Eliminate distractors
(A) Men in exile — false; both were women.
(B) Political prisoners — not true for Austen or Eliot.
(C) Written by children — false; both were accomplished adult authors.
Thus, both shared the commonality of being women novelists who concealed their identity under pseudonyms/anonymous authorship. \[ \boxed{\text{Mansfield Park = Jane Austen (as "A Lady"); Middlemarch = George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)}} \]