Poems At The Edge Of Differences: Mothering In New English Poetry By Women Mothering In New English Poetry By Women

This study consists of two parts. The first part offers an overview of feminism ́s theory of differences. The second part deals with the textual analysis of poems about "mothering" by women from India, the Caribbean and Africa. Literary criticism has dealt with the representation of "mothering" in prose texts. The exploration of lyrical texts has not yet come. Since the late 1970s, the acknowledgement of and the commitment to difference has been foundational for feminist theory and activism. This investigation promotes a differentiated, "locational" feminism (Friedman). The comprehensive theoretical discussion of feminism ́s different concepts of "gender", "race", "ethnicity" and "mothering" builds the foundation for the main part: the presentation and analysis of the poems. The issue of "mothering" foregrounds the communicative aspect of women ́s experience and wants to bridge the gap between theory and practice. This study, however, does not intend to specify "mothering" as a universal and unique feminine characteristic. It underlines a metaphorical use and discusses the concepts of "nurturing", "maternal practice" and "social parenthood". Regarding the extensive material, this study understands itself as an explorative not concluding investigation placed at the intersections of gender studies, postcolonial and classical literary studies. Most of all, it aims at initiating a dialogue and interchange between scholars and students in the Western and the "Third World." Renate Papke Poems at the Edgeof Differences......Page 5 Preface......Page 9 Table of Contents......Page 11 Difference concerning Gender......Page 19 Difference concerning Race......Page 24 Difference concerning Ethnicity......Page 31 III. Mothering – a Human Experience in Practiceand Theory......Page 39 IV. Why a Study about Poetry – not the Novel orDrama – on Mothering?......Page 43 V. Framework for a Pioneering Project......Page 45 VI. English Poetry by Women from India and theDiaspora: Kamala Das – Eunice de Souza –Melanie Silgardo – Sujata Bhatt – Imtiaz Dharker......Page 54 Kamala Das......Page 58 Eunice de Souza (*1940)......Page 68 Melanie Silgardo (*1956)......Page 74 Sujata Bhatt (*1956)......Page 78 Imtiaz Dharker (*1954)......Page 80 VII. English Poetry by Women from the Caribbeanand the Diaspora: Una Marson – Louise Bennett –Olive Senior – Lorna Goodison – Jean ‘Binta’Breeze......Page 99 Una Marson (1905–1965)......Page 101 Louise Bennett (*1919)......Page 107 Olive Senior (*1943)......Page 115 Lorna Goodison (*1947)......Page 128 Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze (*1956)......Page 138 VIII. English Poetry by Women from Africa and theDiaspora: Mary Laurene Browne – Ingrid Jonker –Ingrid de Kok – Mwana Kupona binti Msham –Micere Githae Mugo – Ama Ata Aidoo – Stella P.Chipasula – Jeni Couzyn – Kristina Rungano –Irène Assiba d’Almeida and by Men: Kofi Awoonor– Lenrie Peters......Page 159 Mary Laurene Browne......Page 160 Ingrid Jonker (1933–1965)......Page 164 Ingrid de Kok (*1951)......Page 166 Mwana Kupona binti Msham (c.1810–c.1860)......Page 170 Micere Githae Mugo (*1942)......Page 171 Ama Ata Aidoo (*1942)......Page 174 Stella P. Chipasula......Page 181 Kofi Awoonor......Page 183 Jeni Couzyn......Page 185 Kristina Rungano......Page 187 Lenrie Peters......Page 189 Irène Assiba d’Almeida......Page 193 IX. Outlook......Page 198 Selected Bibliography......Page 206 This study consists of two parts. The first part offers an overview of feminismś theory of differences. The second part deals with the textual analysis of poems about "mothering" by women from India, the Caribbean and Africa. Literary criticism has dealt with the representation of "mothering" in prose texts. The exploration of lyrical texts has not yet come. Since the late 1970s, the acknowledgement of and the commitment to difference has been foundational for feminist theory and activism. This investigation promotes a differentiated, "locational" feminism (Friedman). The comprehensive theoretical discussion of feminismś different concepts of "gender", "race", "ethnicity" and "mothering" builds the foundation for the main part: the presentation and analysis of the poems. The issue of "mothering" foregrounds the communicative aspect of womenś experience and wants to bridge the gap between theory and practice. This study, however, does not intend to specify "mothering" as a universal and unique feminine characteristic. It underlines a metaphorical use and discusses the concepts of "nurturing", "maternal practice" and "social parenthood". Regarding the extensive material, this study understands itself as an explorative not concluding investigation placed at the intersections of gender studies, postcolonial and classical literary studies. Most of all, it aims at initiating a dialogue and interchange between scholars and students in the Western and the "Third World." Renate Papke. Originally Presented As The Author's (doctoral)--universität Göttingen, 2007. Includes Bibliographical References.