Question

Gynocriticism is a concept introduced by ;

• A. Helen Cixous
• B. Elaine Showalter
• C. Simon de Beauvior
• D. Bell Hooks

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Elaine Showalter

Elaine Showalter and Gynocriticism: Key Concepts for Literary Analysis

Elaine Showalter's Contribution:

• Gynocriticism is a term coined by Elaine Showalter, an influential American literary critic and feminist scholar.
• She introduced this concept in her seminal work, "A Literature of Their Own: British Women Novelists from Brontë to Lessing" (1977).
• Gynocriticism focuses on the study of the female tradition in literature, distinct from feminist criticism which often analyzes the patriarchal structures within literature.

Core Principles of Gynocriticism:

• It aims to explore the history, themes, and forms of women's writing.
• Showalter proposed a "female literary tradition", suggesting that women writers have developed unique modes of expression and narrative strategies.
• She identified three phases in the development of this female tradition:
  • The Feminine Phase (approx. 1840-1880): Women writers imitated the dominant male literary modes, often writing under male pseudonyms and internalizing patriarchal norms. Key figures include George Eliot and the Brontë sisters (in their early works).
  • The Feminist Phase (approx. 1880-1920): Women writers began to assert their identity and protest against patriarchal oppression, advocating for women's rights and exploring themes of rebellion. Examples include George Gissing's "New Woman" characters and later works by the Brontë sisters.
  • The Female Phase (from 1920s onwards): Women writers embraced their own experiences and perspectives, developing a distinct female literary consciousness and exploring themes of female identity, sexuality, and subjectivity. Virginia Woolf is a prime example of this phase.

Significance in Literary Studies:

• Gynocriticism shifted the focus of feminist literary criticism from male-authored texts to the analysis of women's literary output itself.
• It provided a framework for understanding the evolution of women's writing and its unique characteristics.
• This approach is crucial for understanding the development of literary history from a more inclusive perspective.