Fictional orphan is a term used to describe characters in literature and film who have been orphaned, either through the death of their parents or other circumstances. Two examples of fictional orphans are EYRE and Heidi. EYRE is the protagonist of Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane EYRE, published in 1847. The novel follows EYRE's journey from an orphaned child to a woman with her own identity and independence. Heidi is the title character of Johanna Spyri's novel Heidi, published in 1880. The novel follows the story of Heidi, an orphaned girl who is sent to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps.