| | FEMINIST
CRITICISM Possibly
the easiest school of literary criticism to define is Feminist Criticism. This
school deals primarily with the roles of women throughout literature and the various
challenges that they faced within the male-dominated "canon." Feminist
Criticism concerns itself with gender oppression and pays special attention to
the way in which literature, or society, constructs certain identities for each
gender. Key words in identifying this school are patriarchy, misogyny, essentialism,
constructivism, and gender.
Major Critics: Elaine Showalter, Helene Cixous
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