History ThePollyanna / Literature

* ''Literature/ReignOfTheSevenSpellblades'': Fau in volume 8. Despite being [[OurGhostsAreDifferent literally dead for most of the story]], with TheGrimReaper waiting in the wings to kill her DeaderThanDead if she ever leaves her coffin, she's a sweet and cheerful girl who loves to tease {{necromancer}} Cyrus Rivermoore, who comes off as ComicallySerious in her presence.

* Tiny Tim of ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' even finds the silver lining in being crippled.
* Magnus Pym in Creator/JohnLeCarre's novel ''Literature/APerfectSpy''.
* In the fourth book of ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'', the character Phil is a clear Pollyanna. He remains quite upbeat for a guy who is working in a lumbermill, is paid with coupons, and has gum for lunch every day. When his leg is crushed, he says, "Well, this isn't too bad. [[MajorInjuryUnderreaction My left leg is broken, but at least I'm right-legged.]]" Somebody comments, "Gee, I thought he'd say something more along the lines of 'Aaaaah! My leg! My leg!'" When he shows up in the 9th book and the Baudelairs accidentally cause a spill in the submarine, they expect him to say, "oh nice, we have a swimming pool now!"
* In the novel ''Film/AWalkToRemember'', Jamie Sullivan fits this Trope throughout much of the book. She is a devoutly religious girl who is always optimistic because she assumes any and every perceivably negative circumstance, from Pop Quizzes to [[spoiler: the disease that's killing her]] must be in the Lord's plan. She later shows sorrow for [[spoiler: her impending death]], but she gets major Pollyanna points for holding it together so long, and even after her initial display of sorrow she thereafter returns to handling the circumstances relatively gracefully.

--> "''A low-hanging fog curled about the ankles of Ally-1243 as the young Cupid skipped cautiously through a dark forest. Twisting branches seemed to grasp at him from the shadows, but he had elected to pretend that each tree was a personal friend, reaching out to wave hello.''"
---> '''—''' ''[[https://thecrewofthecoppercoloredcupids.wordpress.com/2021/10/30/the-haunting-of-the-tavern/ The Haunting of the Tavern]]''

* Jill Mariner, impulsive heroine of Creator/PGWodehouse's ''Jill the Reckless'' (alternatively titled ''The Little Warrior'' with reference to her manner of handling life). Her Uncle Chris also qualifies; at one point she quotes ''Candide'', comparing him to Pangloss.
** Sally in The Adventures of Sally is a similar sort of character, cheerful, optimistic and good-hearted. Still, both girls also have a touch of clear-eyed cynicism about them.

* Joe Ben "[[MeaningfulName Joby]]" Stamper in ''Sometimes A Great Notion'' becomes one of these after becoming a born-again Christian. He always finds the good in every situation in spite of all the increasingly terrible things that happen to the Stamper family for breaking the lumber strike, insisiting that things will turn out okay and that they're "in God's pocket". He retains this cheerful attitude even when he's trapped under a massive log in the river, insisting that the rising water will float the log off him. [[spoiler: It doesn't. He drowns.]]
* The Jack Polo of Creator/CliveBarker's short story ''Literature/TheYatteringAndJack'' is like this because if he displays any negative emotions regardless of what happens to him, he will face eternal damnation. Meanwhile, if the minor demon tormenting him directly attacks him without provocation (rather than merely indirectly torturing him), it's broken the rules that govern it and has to be his servant for the remainder of his life as penalty. [[spoiler: This is actually Jack's goal in the entire exercise, although the Yattering discovers this far too late to avoid it.]]

* Elin from ''Literature/OfFearAndFaith'' is this. She's still all smiles and giggles even moments after almost being sacrificed by a crazy, demon worshipping cult. And while she does appear to have some StepfordSmiler qualities, it's clear that she is a very sincerely joyful and caring person.
* ''Literature/TimeOfDeath'' has the protagonist Emma Rossi react with good cheer and friendliness to all people in the ZombieApocalypse.
* Delly Cartwright in ''Literature/TheHungerGames''. Peeta is a pretty good example too, until [[spoiler:he is hijacked]].
* Even with an abusive stepdad and having to live in a Bed and Breakfast hotel, Elsa in ''The Bed and Breakfast Star'' tries to keep everyone happy by telling constant jokes to everyone.
* ''Literature/BeesongChronicles'': Joy is first encountered singing a song she made up about being a bee, after three days of being stuck alone on a flower with nothing to do (which she describes as the worst thing she can think of). Cora comes up with the name Joy for her because, well, what else are you supposed to name someone like that?
* ''Literature/RWBYFairyTalesOfRemnant'': In ''The Warrior in the Woods'', the hero can't understand why the Warrior is willing to protect people after learning that humans destroyed her family and left her alone with nothing. She tells him that she protects people because she can, and she's the only one who will. She also states that some people are good and that gives her hope.

* [[IllGirl Robin]] and Joey in the ''Literature/ChaletSchool'' series are a mixture of this and PluckyGirl. Both are susceptible to nasty illnesses, have lost parents and other loved ones, and are forced to flee from the Nazis for their own safety, but both of them manage to stay relatively cheerful throughout.

* Istvan Bathory in ''Literature/CountAndCountess''.

* Leonard Stecyk in ''Literature/ThePaleKing'', before his CharacterDevelopment.

* Annabeth from ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians''.

* Amber in ''Literature/JohnDiesAtTheEnd''. She is crippled in a car accident and loses her entire family; yet she appears so bubbly that when David initially meets her he speculates whether she is taking Vicodin.