WHAT IS A CRITIQUE?

Critique is derived from ancient Greek (“kritike”). It is defined as a careful judgment in which you shape
your opinion about the strengths and weaknesses of a piece of writing or work of art.

Depending on the instruction of your teacher, its length may vary from 100 to 750 words or more. It is
not a summary of the piece, rather, it is the critical evaluation to further understand validity, worth,
effect, use of the material that interests readers, and/or the recommendation or appeal for further
appreciation.

This could be possible by way of subjecting the piece of writing on the critical approaches in analyzing
the piece using appropriate evidences and arguments. Proper and acceptable reasons or proofs are
necessary to ensure quality and substance of the opinions you have cited which reinforces relevant
persuasion.

After all, writing a critique paves to a better understanding and for you to respond in a more analytic,
balanced, and convincing manner.

FEMINISM

This approach emphasizes the importance or relevance of women as subjects and how gender been
perceived in the piece. The images of women and the underlying concepts of femininity including
economic, societal, psychological and archetypal nature of women are examined. This approach likewise
stresses equality for a male dominated society.

The following guide questions are helpful in framing you’re working outline using the feministic point of
view:

1. How are women’s lives portrayed in the work?

2. Is the form and content of the work influenced by the writer’s gender?

3. How do male and female characters relate to one another? Are these relationships sources

of conflict? Are these conflicts resolved?

4. Does the work challenge or affirm traditional views of women?

5. How do the images of women in the story reflect patriarchal social forces that have

impeded women’s efforts to achieve full equality with men?

6. What marital expectations are imposed on the characters? What effect do these

expectations have?

7. What behavioral expectations are imposed on the characters? What effect do these

expectations have?

8. If a female character were male, how would the story be different (and vice versa)?

9. How does the marital status of a character affect her decisions or happiness?
10. How does culture view women vs. men?

11. How is the relationship between men and women portrayed?

12. What are the power relationships between men and women (or characters assuming

male/female roles)?

13. Do characters take on traits from opposite genders? How so? How does this change

others’ reactions to them?

14. What does the work reveal about the operations (economically, politically, socially, or

psychologically) of patriarchy?

15. What does the work imply about the possibilities of sisterhood as a mode of resisting

Patriarchy?

16. What role does the work play in terms of women's literary history and literary tradition?