Poems and Feminism: Insights from Adrienne Rich, Sylvia Plath, and Margaret Atwood

These flashcards cover major concepts related to feminism and the works of Rich, Plath, and Atwood.

Feminism

An ongoing movement to establish and defend women’s equality to men in all aspects of culture, life, law, and art.

First-wave feminism

Focused on women's legal and financial equality, emphasizing suffrage and property rights (c.1792-1925).

Second-wave feminism

Emphasized women's economic equality, sexual liberation, and reproductive rights (c.1950-1985).

The personal is political

A slogan signifying that private experiences reflect larger societal power structures.

Adrienne Rich

A poet whose work emphasizes the liberative power of poetry and its role in social change.

Extended metaphor

A metaphor that is sustained throughout a work, like the diver in Rich's poem 'Diving Into the Wreck'.

Sea metaphor

Represents mythology and explores the unique experiences of women compared to general mythology.

Lady Lazarus

A poem by Sylvia Plath, often interpreted as a confessional work exploring themes of rebirth and resilience.

Suffering as spectacle

The theme in Plath's work that portrays personal suffering in the guise of public display or entertainment.

Margaret Atwood

An author with a prolific body of work focusing on women's experiences, Canadian imagery, and historical narratives.

Death of a Young Son by Drowning

A poem exploring themes of loss, discovery, and personal connection to landscape, through the persona of Susanna Moodie.

Mythological references

In Atwood’s work, references to figures like Uranus suggest deeper connections to exploration and nature.