Feminist literary criticism also known as feminist criticism is the literary analysis that arises from the viewpoint of feminism, feminist theory, andor feminist politics. History launched in the twentieth century with virginia woolfs a room of ones own 1929 1969 kate millett examined how women are represented in text by famous men in sexual politics. Research assignment feminist literary theory in editha. Elaine showaiter, editor the new feminist criticism. Eagletons idea for this volume resulted from her desire to furnish her own students with an introduction to the central issues of feminist criticism and to. The cambridge companion to feminist literary theory feminism has dramatically in. It was my hope at the time that it would become a common definition everyone would use. Owens 1994 defines theory as a thought process or way of thinking about reality which becomes a model of that reality. A very short summary of liberal feminist theory and practice elizabeth cady stanton, 1880 many activists have offered theoretical defenses of equal rights for women, including important americans such as elizabeth cady stanton pictured above and frederick douglass seneca falls.
Entries found in this sixvolume set allow students to evaluate how authors portray. Aug 20, 2000 feminist theory and literary practice. A readers guide to contemporary literary theory raman selden peter widdowson peter brooker fifth edition a readers guide to contemporary literary theoryis a classic introduction to the everevolving field of modern literary theory, now expanded and updated in its fifth edition. Womens role in society as portrayed through texts woman as a. Most importantly, its fighting the good fight with all the tools it can musterrazor sharp tiaras, lassos, and.
This page intentionally left blank a history of feminist literary criticism feminism has transformed the academic study of literature, funda mentally. For instance, the concept of male requires encyclopedia of feminist literary theory 63 the concept of female, its oppositional element, in order to construct its meaning. The variety of feminisms and their contribution to gender. In the united states, this alternativenatural birth movement has come. The variety of feminisms and their contribution to gender equality introduction my focus is the continuities and discontinuities in recent feminist ideas and perspectives. Feminist literary criticism bell major reference works wiley. It never occurred to me to read morrison or any other novels through the lens of literary theory, which michael r. Feminist theory examining branches of feminism feminism defined what follows are different branches of feminism theory that are recognized by feminists and feminist scholars.
An interdisciplinary branch of scholarship that analyzes. A readers guide to contemporary literary theory 5th edition. There are at least two important ideas that come out of the definition of the term theory by owens 1994. According to this approach, which typically equates feminism with feminist theory, liberal feminists such as betty friedan see significant others, p. See stuart cunningham, some problems of feminist literary criticism, journal of womens studies in literature, 1. In this course, we will read feminist theory, queer theory, and other critical theory in order to examine constructions of gender and the roles legal systems play in those constructions. Problems in marxist feminist analysis michele barrett 45 writing race and the difference it makes henry louis gates, jr 46. Feminist literary theory and gender studies research papers. Defining liberal feminist theory liberal feminist theory can be explained by examining the term theory first.
Feminist literary theory in editha the feminist literary theory remains primarily concerned with approaches through which literature and other cultural materials undermine or affirm the political, economic, psychological, and social oppression of women. These different theories of feminism are widely acknowledged and taught in womens studies courses, gender studies courses, and the like. Feminist literary theory so far with regards to the ebook we now have sexualtextual politics. Gilbert and susan gubars newest collaboration, feminist literary theory and criticism. Feminist literary theory and gender studies research. Third wave feminism and feminist literary criticism is concerned more with the intersection of race and other feminist concerns.
A case study from the twenties paul lauter 39 womens oppression today. How to use feminist literary criticism pen and the pad. Womens role in society as portrayed through texts woman as a construct through literature. A history of feminist literary criticism edited by gill plain. Feminist literary criticism is a method for the analysis and interpretation of literary texts and other cultural productions through the lens of. Information on feminist literary criticism and theory, including autobiography, autography, autofiction, crime novels, detective stories, drama, theatre, plays. Pluto press, aug 20, 2000 literary criticism 253 pages.
All feminist activity, including feminist theory and literary criticism, has as its. In doing so, feminist theory shines a light on social problems, trends, and issues that are otherwise overlooked or misidentified by the historically dominant male perspective within social theory. It provides suggestions for how material on the great writers inspire site can be used as a starting point for exploration of or classroom discussion about feminist approaches to literature. Request pdf psychoanalysis in feminist literary theory pychoanalysis in feminist literary criticism feminist literary theory was born as a. Feminist theory is a major branch within sociology that shifts its assumptions, analytic lens, and topical focus away from the male viewpoint and experience toward that of women. After reading this chapter, i started to reconsider the work of my favorite novelists in a new light. Most english teachers think literary theory is such a complex field.
A s feminist ideology would have it, the world presents a harsh and alien landscape to woman. As an oppressed group, women have been unable to achieve their potential, receive rewards, or gain full participation in society. By naming sexism as the problem it went directly to the heart of the matter. Rush, autumn grubbswetnam, and christina lane the focus of this chapter is the ways in which communication theory and method can provide a richer, more complex and enlightening canvas of. Some feminist critics seek to interpret the works of male authors, with particular attention to women characters, in order to explore the moral, political and social restrictions. Feminist approaches to literature great writers inspire. Feminist legal theory spring 2016 professor laura rosenbury. Key concepts hegemonic masculinity patriarchal dividend. A study in marxist literary theory, revised edition. Feminist literary criticism is literary criticism informed by feminist theory, or more broadly, by the.
I liked this definition because it did not imply that men were the enemy. Pdf a history of feminist literary criticism alexander kasilag. The cambridge companion to feminist literary theory edited by. The first major book of feminist critical theory published in the united states is now available in an expanded second edition. Feminist literary theory and criticism a norton reader sandra m. Feminist literary theory suggestions people are yet to yet eventually left the writeup on the game, or otherwise read it but. Poststructuralism, as a general term for recent developments in literary theory and criticism, became common the 1970s. I am going to discuss the development of feminist theories as to the sources of gender inequality and its pervasiveness, and the different feminist political solutions and.
Indeed, virtually all dimensions of sociological theory have been reevaluated through the lens of feminist theory. Like feminism itself, feminist literary theory asks us to consider the relationships between men and women and their relative roles in society. The theory and practice of feminist criticism sage journals. For these reasons, you will find in the second edition of critical theory today a good deal of new material. This book offers an exploration of womens writing that focuses on the close links between literary texts and the theories that construct those texts as womens writing. View feminist literary theory and gender studies research papers on academia. Feminist literary criticism the new york public library. Mackinnon sexuality is to feminism what work is to marxism. The hows and whys of literature feminism part i there are significant connections between marxism and feminism and their roles in contemporary literary scholarship, the most notable and well remarked being that they rise out of movements that were. Feminist practice and poststructuralist theory chris weedon 36 race and gender in the shaping of the american literary canon. Briefly, feminist criticism aims to reinterpret literature from a female point of view. I once these issues have been raised, i hope to show briefly that the difficulties and rewards of such a critical approach bear some resemblance to those attached.
Eagletons idea for this volume resulted from her desire to furnish her own students with an introduction to the central issues of feminist criticism and to make some of the main texts often originally published in journals available. Apr 17, 2017 feminist literary criticism is used to explore the inequalities, social injustices and abusive messages directed toward women within patriarchal societies and cultures. Patriarchy is a system of social organization that traces descent through the male line and bestows privilege and power to males on the assumption of. Feminist literary criticism is used to explore the inequalities, social injustices and abusive messages directed toward women within patriarchal societies and cultures. Jan 29, 20 introduction to feminist literary criticism 1. Third wave feminist theory and beyond has striven to include more identities and aspects of intersectionality, and feminist literary criticism has followed suit. Feminist literary theory, then, engages with the political and social goals of feminism, and it concentrates on literary culture and theory as a possible site of.
What are some main concerns of feminist literary theory. After reading this chapter, i started to reconsider the. In her essay, feminist criticism in the wilderness, showalter, a major representative of angloamerican feminist literary theory, talks about two kinds of feminist criticism. This widely cited pioneering work presents a new introduction by the editor and a new bibliography of feminist critical theory from the last decade. The feminist reader essays in gender and the politics of literary. What are some main concerns of feminist literary theory and. Questions for reflection or discussion are highlighted in the text. Ecofeminism is a practical movement for social change that discerns interconnections among all forms of oppression. Key concepts queer theory heterosexual matrix performativity. Psychoanalysis in feminist literary theory request pdf. The chapter on feminist criticism now contains sections on. Application of literary theory in teaching literaturea. A reader is an indispensable guide, companion and handbook for students and teachers of womens literature. Most importantly, its fighting the good fight with all the tools it can musterrazor sharp tiaras, lassos, and loaded literary terms included.
In this course, we will read feminist theory, queer theory, and other critical theory in order to examine constructions of. A section on lacanian psychoanalysis has been added to the chapter on psycho. This research guide will assist you in finding sources for feminist literary criticism. One of the most common is according to politicalideological orientation. Pdf encyclopedia of feminist literary theory souhila. Feminist theory an extension of feminisms critique of male power and ideology, feminist theory combines elements of other theoretical models such as psychoanalysis, marxism, poststructuralism, and deconstruction to interrogate the role of gender in the writing, interpretation, and dissemination of literary texts. These misconceptions blur the true meaning of the feminist theory. Feminist criticism is concerned with the ways in which literature and other cultural. Much feminist literary theory reminds us that the relationship between men and women in society is often unequal and reflects a particular patriarchal ideology. While in practice feminist critics continue to use a variety of methodological approaches to literature, there are common assumptions that underlie a feminist approach to anything. Cambridge core literary theory a history of feminist literary criticism. It is upon this commonality that i wish to dwell, so as to place feminist literary criticism within the context of a more general critical theory. Links in the text point to resources in the great writers inspire site. There is no original or primary gender a drag imitates, but gender is a kind of.
A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Get an answer for what are some main concerns of feminist literary theory and criticism. No other anthology offers so many bitesized tasters of work on gendered authorship, literary production, critical reception, sexuality and genre from romantic fiction to travel writing. Cambridge core literary theory the cambridge companion to feminist literary theory edited by ellen rooney. The definition of the feminist theory grew larger in time crowd of womens suffrage supporters demonstrating with signs reading, wilson against women, in chicago on october 20, 1916. Shaped against her grain by a tradition that has left her true identity out of account, she must articulate her very grievances in a language created by her oppressor. A norton reader, is the first collection to trace the historical evolution of feminist writing about literature in english from the middle ages to the twentyfirst century. Unlike some other critical schools you might encounter cough new criticism cough, feminist theory is always evolving and adapting to new cultural and academic environments.
Spiller defines as the study of the abstract, often philosophical ideas about meaning and literariness. Rush, autumn grubbswetnam, and christina lane the focus of this chapter is the ways in which communication theory and method can provide a richer, more complex and enlightening canvas of the human condition, when they draw their. Is the relation to structuralism one of succession or supercession. In 1977, at the first summer institute of the newly formed marxist literary group, eagleton, along with fredric jameson and stanley aronowitz, lectured for three weeks, explaining the literary criticism which was based on louis. Women have something valuable to contribute to every aspect of the world. This paper, therefore, seeks to establish the feminist literary theory in editha. Pdf this book is a collection of eighteen major essays on feminist criticism, which is basically concerned with the literary representations of sexual. College, gohana sonepat a type of literary criticism that became a dominant force in western literary studies in the late 1970. Feminist theory an extension of feminisms critique of male power and ideology, feminist theory combines elements of other theoretical models such as psychoanalysis, marxism, poststructuralism, and deconstruction to interrogate the role of gender in the writing. Critical methodology a feminist literary critic resists traditional assumptions while reading a text. With selections by more than 100 writers and scholars, the reader is an ideal companion for literature surveys where. Ecofeminist literary criticism is the first collection of its kind. Marxist theory argues that society is fundamentally constructed of the relations people form as they do and make things needed to survive humanly. A very short summary of liberal feminist theory and practice.
586 309 1678 716 1624 1122 1453 116 345 627 1615 618 1563 1138 1507 1152 654 988 299 1322 1502 514 1483 61 552 49 1240 336 750 1313 241 949