Feminist criticism
A critical approach that analyses how literature represents gender, often revealing patriarchal assumptions, female subordination, and alternative possibilities for gender relations. Feminist criticism reads texts for what they assume and how they challenge gender norms.
Real World
Sylvia Plath's *The Bell Jar* is frequently read through a feminist lens: critics like Sandra Gilbert have shown how Esther Greenwood's breakdown reflects societal pressure on women to conform to domestic roles in 1950s America.
Exam Focus
When applying feminist criticism, always link your reading back to specific textual evidence — examiners reward interpretation grounded in close analysis.
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