Behind a Mask: or, a Woman’s Power by Louisa May Alcott

Slides:

Advertisements

Similar presentations

A Framework for Literary Criticism

Advertisements

Kate Chopin and the Female Realists Mrs. Sikora American Literature.

Literary Terms for Study

Fairy Tales History and Interpretation Vulnerability, Imagination, and the Transition from Childhood to Adulthood.

Utilizing the Metaphor of a Critical Lens.  Reader Response  Talking to the Text  Read Aloud.

Feminist-Based Ethics By: Ashley Scheuers Christina Olson Andrea Walsdorf Amanda Theune Monday 1:30 November 2, 2009 Ethical Theories Presentation.

Introduction to Literary Theory, Feminist and Gender Criticism

FEMINIST LITERARY CRITICISM TRIFFLES BY SUSAN GLASPELL.

Literary / Critical Theories: A How To Guide Each of the literary theories analyzes one aspect of literature. Each of the literary theories analyzes one.

Elements of a Short Story

A short story contains all the same literary features as a novel, in a shorter format. Compression: unnecessary details and information are left out.

 Alliteration- A repetition of the initial sounds of several words in a group.  Allusion- A reference in one literary work to a character or theme found.

Literary Elements and Devices Plot The action or sequence of events in a story. It is usually a series of related events that build up on one another.

F EMINIST A PPROACHES TO M AXINE H ONG K INGSTON ’ S N O N AME W OMAN Canby High School Literature 120 Dr. Amy Berry and Mrs. Barrie Citrowske 15 February.

What parts make up a a story? ges/literary_elements.ppt.

8 CRITICAL APPROACHES FOR STUDYING LITERATURE

Short Story Elements and Terms. A short story is … a brief fictional narrative in prose Sometimes only a few pages in length!

Approaches to Reading the Novel THE AWAKENING BY KATE CHOPIN.

Utilizing the Metaphor of a Critical Lens.  Reader Response  Talking to the Text  Read Aloud.

Carl Jung and Archetypes. Carl Jung Freud’s BFF Friendship ended over furious argument over the nature of the unconscious Psychotic breakdown.

LITERARY THEORIES An Introduction to Literary Criticism.

Literary Terms English 11 The narrative perspective from which a story is told.

Narrator and frame story

Plot: sequence of events in a story; a blueprint of what happens, when it happens, and to whom it happens. FICTION NOTES.

1 Literary Criticism Exploring literature beneath the surface.

Feminism S(he) concerned with the ways in which literature (& other cultural productions) reinforce or undermine – the economic, – political, –

Character Archetypes A brief overview of the basics of archetypes in literature. Ms. Mitchell’s Class.

Existentialism Simone de Beauvoir. Existentialism: de Beauvoir Why look at de Beauvoir? – Philosophy is dominated by men – Feminist philosophy is a 20th.

Examining a literary text through a specific lens

Literary Theory Different Perspectives For Thinking About Texts.

Four Critical Lenses or The Four Faces of Cinderella

Three Critical Lenses or The Three Faces of Cinderella

Fairy Tales. A fairy tale is a story of marvels and magic, often including stock characters such as the fairy, the ogre, a Prince Charming, a persecuted.

FEMINIST. FEMINIST CRITICISM Concerned with the ways in which literature reinforces or undermines the… o Political o Economic o Social o Psychological.

Literary Terms In Film. Characterization …the different things that make a character unique. Appearance Voice Clothing Age Gender Actions Thoughts Interests.

DICTION. WORD CHOICE DENOTATION DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF A WORD.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS. Stages of plot Plot: is the series of events that make up the story. Initiating incident: the event that begins a conflict Rising action:

Schools of Critical Literary Analysis What you need to know how to do for your Critical Essay.

Feminist Literary Criticism. Origin Grew out of the women’s movements following WWII.

A Literature of Their Own!. What is Lit Crit? A very basic way of thinking about literary theory is that these ideas act as different lenses critics use.

LITERARY TERMS OMAM CHAPTER 2. DIALECT Definition: the form of language spoken by people in a particular region or group *may involve changes to the pronunciation,

English 11 Glossary of Terms

LITERARY CRITICISM FEMINIST.

The Bloody Chamber By Angela Carter

English 11 Glossary of Terms

GLOSSARY OF TERMS.

Elements of Literature

Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism

Literary Criticism An Introduction.

A Tale of two cities Honors English 9

Types of Critical Lenses

The Feminist Perspective

Critical Theory: Feminist and Gender Criticism

Information taken from Purdue Owl/Survival Guide—p ;

LITERARY THEORIES ENG4U.

Chapter 9: Feminine Thought and the Ethics of Care

Critical Theory of Feminism

Introduction to Feminist Theory

Introduction to Literary Theory, Feminist and Gender Criticism

Multicultural Literature

A Framework for Literary Criticism

Next few weeks 11/17  Finish up “How to write essays!”

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Warm-Up: Vocabulary Chart Directions: Copy down the word and definition on to your vocabulary chart.

Who, What, Where, How and Why of a story…

Feminist Criticism.

To know the key ways that women are presented in Gothic literature

Themes in Harriet Jacob's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Archetypal Literary Theory

Presentation transcript:

Behind a Mask: or, a Woman’s Power by Louisa May Alcott The Femme Fatale Behind a Mask: or, a Woman’s Power by Louisa May Alcott

Jean Muir: Femme Fatale Alcott identifies Jean as a femme fatale in Chapter 1: “Come now! The curtain is down! So I may be myself for a while, if actresses ever are themselves!”

Archetype: Definition A character type that follows a patterned sequence of actions or traits.

Femme Fatale: Definition French for “Fatale or Deadly Woman” She is a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations.

The Archetypal Traits and Behaviors of the Femme Fatale

1. Mysterious and Seductive When does Jean demonstrate this archetypal trait?

How does Gerald characterize Jean this way? 2. Bewitching In early literature, was portrayed as having magical powers (having mystical abilities akin to a witch, enchantress, vampire, or demon). How does Gerald characterize Jean this way?

3. Misleading A femme fatale tries to achieve her hidden purpose by using feminine wiles such as beauty, charm, and seduction. In some situations, she uses coercion or lying rather than charm.

How does Jean demonstrate this trait? 4. Needing Rescue? She may also be (or imply to be) a victim, caught in a situation from which she cannot escape. How does Jean demonstrate this trait?

How may Jean be viewed as heroic? 5. An “Anti-heroine”? Although typically villainous, femme fatales have also appeared as anti-heroines in some stories, and some even repent and become heroines by the end of the tale. How may Jean be viewed as heroic?

How does Jean do this to men in the novella? 6. A Heart Breaker In social life, the femme fatale tortures her lover in an asymetrical relationship, denying confirmation of her affection. She usually drives him to the point of obsession and exhaustion so that he is incapable of making rational decisions. How does Jean do this to men in the novella?

Why Artists Depict Her: Sociological Interpretations of the Femme Fatale Many scholars have theorized varied social reasons for the popularity of the femme fatale archetype throughout history...

Why did Alcott write about a femme fatale? In other words, which of the following causes, prompted Alcott to make the protagonist of her thriller, a FEMME FATALE?

Theory #1: Misogyny Some sociologists say that the femme fatale expresses misogyny (the hatred or dislike of women).

Theory #2: Growing Independence and Feminist Movement Other sociologists say the Femme fatale remains an example of female independence and a threat to traditional female gender roles

Theory #3: Matriarchy & Physical Control Other sociologists claim that the femme fatale “expresses woman's ancient and eternal control of the [physical] realm” (i.e., “Mother Earth”, reproduction, etc.)

Closing Questions: Unmasking Theme What social criticisms does Alcott make through her characterization of femme fatale, Jean Muir? How does the motif of performance and masking support these criticisms? What is Alcott’s message about a “woman’s power” and Victorian gender roles? (Hint: See title)

Literary Techniques Allusion (Judith & Holofernes, Rachel & Jacob, Coventry Patmore, etc.) Repetition (“Witch”, “Enchant”, “Spell”, “Charm”, “Good Angel” etc.) Tone (Satirical towards Victorian Courtship Practices & Gender Roles) Motif (Performance, Masks, Power, Gender, Courtship—i.e. Knights & Maidens) Foil Characters & Contrast (Jean/Lucia & Gerald/Ned) Suspense & Irony (Particularly in Concluding the Novella) Theme/Moral (Containing Statement and Warning about Gender Oppression)