Question

Which of the following statement(s) is/are true regarding Elaine Showalter’s essay “A Literature of Their Own”?

• A. Showalter argued that a canon of women authors does exist.
• B. Showalter observed that in the Feminine phase (1840-1880), women authors mostly imitated the male authors’ models.
• C. Showalter observed the Feminist phase which began in the 1880s and 1890s is the period when women authors rebelled against prevalent patriarchal attitudes.
• D. Showalter observed that the Female phase which began from the latter half of the twentieth century is marked by the women authors’ disavowal of sexuality as the possible source of creativity.

Hint:

Elaine Showalter's essay "A Literature of Their Own" offers valuable insights into the evolution of women writers' roles in literature, categorizing their works into three phases: Feminine, Feminist, and Female.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A, B, C

Understanding Showalter's phases.
(A) Showalter argued for the existence of a distinct canon of women authors that reflects the unique experiences and perspectives of women writers.
(B) In the Feminine phase (1840-1880), women authors were heavily influenced by male literary models, often imitating their structures and themes.
(C) The Feminist phase, starting in the 1880s and 1890s, marked a shift where women authors began to challenge and rebel against patriarchal norms and expectations in their writing.
(D) The Female phase, starting in the later half of the 20th century, actually emphasized sexuality as a source of creativity for women authors, contrary to the statement that disavowed sexuality.
Final Answer: (A) Showalter argued that a canon of women authors does exist, (B) Showalter observed that in the Feminine phase (1840-1880), women authors mostly imitated the male authors’ models, (C) Showalter observed the Feminist phase which began in the 1880s and 1890s is the period when women authors rebelled against prevalent patriarchal attitudes is correct.