By: Eli, Hope, Niko, and Dan

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The Feminist Approach

• By Eli, Hope, Niko, and Dan

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What exactly is the Feminist approach?

• Feminist criticism is focused on a specific
  gender
•  
• Feminist critics look at gender specific pieces
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• They try to disect those pieces to show what the
  piece is dictating about that gender
•  
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The History of the Theory

• Feminism has been going on for thousands of
  years 
•  1790s-  Mary Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication
  of the Rights of  Women
•  Beginning of first-wave feminism focused on
  gaining basic women's rights internationally
  (i.e. suffrage, ending foot-binding) 
• Second-wave feminism- 1960s focused on changing
  roles of women
• Third-wave feminism- late 80s focused on
  continuing the first and second waves, but in a
  more modern world.

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The Good, the Bad... and the Theory

• The Bad (Cons)
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• This form of criticism is misunderstood as being
  sexist towards males
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• It can turn a piece into a political debate
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• The feminist approach is viewed as too theoretical

• The Good (Pros)
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• This approach shows women not as victims, but
  having their own power
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• It has led to social reforms that have helped
  women across the world
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Applied Criticism

• The poem deals with the hardships of women in
  modern society.
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• Dahlia Ravikovitch's mother was raised in a very
  religious household
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• The poem often talks about the importance of
  flowers which is a feminine symbol.  The last
  part implies that she is the one who cares for
  the flowers.
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• Another feministic symbol is the "beauty of
  nature"
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• "My mother" is the main character of the poem and
  the key feministic symbol as it is also
  repetition

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Works Cited

• McManus, Barbara F. "Feminist Literary Approach."
  Characteristics of a Feminine Approach. N.p.,
•  
•         1998. Web. 26 Apr. 2010. 
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• Karpel, Dalia. "The Essential Dahlia
  Ravikovitch." Haaretz.com. Haaretz, 17 Aug. 2006.
  Web. 26
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•         Apr. 2010.
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• "Feminism." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010.
  Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 26 Apr. 2010