History Determinator / Literature

* ''Literature/AnimalFarm'': Boxer will build that goddamn windmill or die trying. [[spoiler: Of course, in the end, the latter came true.]]
* Almost every character in the cast of ''Literature/AnOutcastInAnotherWorld'' fits, but especially Rob due to his high HP that lets him take more punishment than anyone else. He's been chomped, cut, stabbed, bashed, crushed, and de-limbed, and every time he gets up and keeps going. Notably, he still feels all the pain from these injuries as a normal person would. And that's just the physical pain - the mental suffering might be worse.

* Kimball Kinnison and Literature/{{Lensmen}} in general:

* In the ''Oddjobs'' universe, pretty much everybody who works in the agencies trying to deal with the Venislarn incursion has to end up like this, because they ''know'' they are going to lose and everyone on Earth is going to die horribly (if they're ''lucky.'') But in the meantime: ""Yes, it is the end of the world. Yes, we are all going to die. But we are British. These things still need doing in an orderly manner and there is certainly no excuse to get all emotional about it.""
** In particular, Vivian Grey. Do not get in her way. And do not, ever, try to break the rules with her around. Even if you are a member of the nobility of the race of otherworldly horrors which is destined to destroy mankind. Just. Don't. Do it.
* All of the main characters from ''OfFearAndFaith'' have their moments, but North and Elin probably take the cake. North refuses to give an inch during the battle with [[TheDreaded Fear]] even after his legs fail him, and [[PluckyGirl Elin]] keeps her sunny disposition even when [[HopeCrusher Sorrow]] tries to MindRape her, to the point of laughing in the monster's face.

---> '''[[spoiler:The Opening Boy]]:''' Why won't you ''stop fighting?''

* Kirara, in ''Literature/GirlsKingdom'', will accomplish whatever goal she sets her mind to. She brekas several unspoken rules in regard to becoming a seraph by bowing to Kagura every day for the entire lunch period after asking to be her seraph. For a week. When she becomes her Exousia, one step below a seraph, she works hard to take that next step, via getting Minako agree to accept Kagura's sponsorship offer, starting by challenging the world class volleyball player to a match, and nearly getting her arm broken in the process. Despite Kirara's desire to continue, Minako calls it off for reasons of safety. Undaunted, Kirara tries to find another way to get Minako to accept said offer, eventually landing one in part due to sheer stubbornnness.

** She was, in many respects, a woman after her husband Hurin, who refused to break and tell the truth even while being tortured by Morgoth personally, remaining defiant in the face of a dark god. In fact, Hurin's determination is so great that Morgoth decides to break him personally by not only cursing his entire family but also [[ForcedToWatch forcing him to watch everything that happens to them over decades]] while telling him that everything from that point on is his fault. Though Hurin never tells Morgoth what he wants to hear, the experience does end up finally breaking him.

* Roran of the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'', a man whose determination carries him to accomplish almost ludicrously extreme feats. When his village becomes condemned by TheEmpire, he uses his potent charisma to convince his people to flee their homes and travel from the northern tip of Alagaesia to the sun-drenched country of Surda in the far south, avoiding [[EvilOverlord Galbatorix's]] troops all the while. He joins the [[LaResistance Varden]], kills the Twins (two extremely powerful magicians) with his hammer, [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill slaughters 193 enemy soldiers in one go]], survives being given 50 lashes to the back by [[GeneralRipper Nasuada]] for insubordination and is up and fighting again a few days later, journeys across Alagaesia to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend from the mountain lair [[EvilTowerOfOminousness Helgrind]], wrestles a battle-crazed [[OurOrcsAreDifferent urgal]] to the ground until the beast surrenders and acknowledges Roran as the stronger, and rises his way up to a commander in the Varden after only a couple of months of service. And he does this all [[BadassNormal without any magic whatsoever]]. Yeah, [[{{Farmboy}} Eragon]] doesn't look so impressive next to that, does he?

** The protagonist Emily displays this quality both before and after she infiltrates the evil WizardingSchool where most of the story is set. Even when Emily’s totally outmatched, and no matter how dangerous the situation, she keeps on fighting. An evil witch named Lauren claims this is one quality which makes her think Emily would make a good student at [[AcademyOfEvil the Scholomance]].

** The protagonist Emily displays this quality. Even when she’s totally outmatched, and no matter how dangerous the situation, she keeps on fighting. An evil witch named Lauren claims this is one quality which makes her think Emily would make a good student at [[AcademyOfEvil the Scholomance]].
** Lima, another rookie in Emily's class at Myth/TheScholomance, also demonstrates this trope. During a brutal WizardDuel where the rookies are given rocks that let them feel whatever the combatants feel, most of the rookies drop the rocks after one of the combatants starts taking excruciating blows. Lima, however, grimly hangs on even as the pain becomes immense.

* In "Literature/TheLadyOrTheTiger", only the guards know in advance which door in the DoorRoulette will lead to certain death by tiger. The princess, whose lover is about to face this trial, uses her gold, womanly wiles, and sheer force of character to find out... setting up the dilemna of the title.