Question

What does the term “gynocriticism” mean?

• A. A critique of women by men
• B. Study of women’s literature and writing traditions
• C. Examination of feminist political movements
• D. Rejection of male literary traditions

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Study of women’s literature and writing traditions

"Gynocriticism" refers to a type of feminist literary criticism that focuses specifically on the study of women's writing, analyzing works written by female authors and examining the unique themes and experiences expressed within them; essentially, it aims to create a framework for analyzing literature through a female perspective, highlighting the historical and cultural significance of women as writers. 

Key points about gynocriticism:

• Origin: The term was coined by feminist literary critic Elaine Showalter. 

• Focus: Analyzing women's writing as a distinct literary tradition, exploring female subjectivity and experiences within literature. 

• Goal: To recover and recognize "lost" or neglected women writers, and to understand how women construct meaning within their texts.