Question

What is the main goal of Showalter’s “Towards a Feminist Poetics”?

• A. To critique male writers
• B. To establish a framework for feminist literary criticism
• C. To analyze postmodern literature
• D. To reject all literary traditions

Answer 1

Answer:

B. To establish a framework for feminist literary criticism

The primary goal of Elaine Showalter's "Towards a Feminist Poetics" is to establish a framework for analyzing women's literature by advocating for a distinct "female" perspective, rejecting traditional male-centric literary criticism and instead focusing on the unique experiences and voices of female writers, thereby creating a new model for feminist literary analysis based on female experience rather than male-dominated traditions. 

Key points about Showalter's essay:

• Three phases of women's writing:

  Showalter divides the history of women's writing into three phases: "feminine" (imitation of male literary norms), "feminist" (protest against male dominance), and "female" (development of a distinct female literary aesthetic). 

• "Gynocritics":

  She coined the term "gynocritics" to describe this new approach to analyzing women's literature from a female perspective. 

• Criticizing male-centric criticism:

  Showalter argues that traditional literary criticism is often biased towards male authors and experiences, neglecting the richness and complexity of women's writing.