Page 293 - DENG501_LITERARY_CRITICISM_AND_THEORIES

Unit 26 : Elaine Showalter: Four Models of Feminism in 'Ferminist Criticism in the Wilderness'

26.6 Key-Words Notes

1. The Old Testament : The Old Testament is associated in this essay with the restrictive
practice of the feminist critique. The New Testament is associated in
this essay with the more liberating practice of gynocritics. The
excitement of the wilderness is due to the excitement of the challenges
and ‘difference’ of women’s writing. It is preferred in this essay to the
serenity of the Promised Land which is that of the unchallenged, stable
canon.
The body of writings in the Bible about the cultural and spiritual
development of Israel before the birth of Jesus. They were guided by
a stern and punishing God, the Ten Commandments and the prophets.
2. The wilderness : The desert area in which the Israelites wandered when they were led
by Moses from Egypt.
3. Egypt : where they had been slaves to the Egyptians, to...
4. The Promised Land : of Canaan which God gave them for their own country.
5. Jeremiah : A prophet who led Israel and warned them about the birth and
ministry of Jesus and the development of the Church. It has a vision
of a Loving, compassionate God who is there for all people not only
the Israelites.

Answers: Self–Assessment
1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (a) 4. (b)
26.7 Review Questions

1. Analyse the constituency of ’Feminist Criticism in the Wilderness’ and suggest possible ways
in which it might have shaped the essay.
2. Evaluate gynocriticism against any one other critical model (discussed by Showalter in this
essay) using ‘An Introduction’ to make the comparison.

26.8 Further Readings

1. Showalter, Elaine (ed.) The New Feminist Criticism; Essays on Women, Literature,
and Theory. 1984, repr. London : Virago, 1985.

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