ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -An extension of feminism’s 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.

Detailed explanation-2: -Feminist literary criticism looks at literature assuming its production from a male-dominated perspective. It re-examines canonical works to show how gender stereotypes are involved in their functioning. It examines (and often rediscovers) works by women for a possible alternative voice.

Detailed explanation-3: -Feminist literary criticism recognizes that literature both reflects and shapes stereotypes and other cultural assumptions. Thus, feminist literary criticism examines how works of literature embody patriarchal attitudes or undercut them, sometimes both happening within the same work.

Detailed explanation-4: -An example of first wave feminist literary analysis would be a critique of William Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew for Petruchio’s abuse of Katherina. Elaine Showalter pioneered gynocriticism with her book A Literature of Their Own (1977).