Marissa Marshall loved clear, sunny spring days, and, so far, this early May one was reminding her why.
Having lived in Baltimore for five years, she was used to gray, smoggy skies during the cold, bleak winter, and hazy ones in the summer. Fall was nice, with changing leaves ranging from pale yellow to deep rust. But in spring, Maryland came alive.
There was so much color. Cherry blossoms and azaleas dotted the landscape with pink and red. Lush farmlands erupted in mixed tones of new, freshly turned earth. With the soft green waters of the Atlantic, and the warm yellow sun drenching the robin's-egg-blue sky with life, the state was an artist's palette.
Funny, though. Her favorite part of spring —the color she most enjoyed on a beautiful day like this—was no color at all.
It was white. Just white. A sea of it.
"Dazzling," Marissa said. Though she'd been speaking to a woman behind the counter of the coffee shop where she'd stopped for a caffeine injection, she was looking out the window.
Students from the U.S. Naval Academy, wearing their immaculate uniforms, filled the streets of Annapolis. Though now coed, the USNA's student body was primarily male. So on this lovely Saturday afternoon, the town appeared full to the brim of handsome young midshipmen —aka middies—in their dress whites, all celebrating making it through another tough year at the academy.
Women from all over the state flocked here on sunny spring days, just to have a good drool. Marissa among them.
Pride and Prejudice
IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
``My dear Mr. Bennet,'' said his lady to him one day, ``have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?''
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
``But it is,'' returned she; ``for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.''
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
``Do not you want to know who has taken it?'' cried his wife impatiently.
``You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.''
This was invitation enough.

ENG 4U1 Literary Theory: Feminist Criticism
Excerpt Book 4
1.
…where the Fiend
2.
Saw, undelighted, all delight, all kind
3.
Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange
4.
Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall,
5.
Godlike erect, with native honor clad
6.
In naked majesty seemed lords of all:
7.
And worthy seemed; for in their looks divine
8.
The image of their glorious Maker shone,
9.
Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure,
10.
(Severe, but in true filial freedom placed,)
11.
Whence true authority in men; though both
12.
Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed;
13.
For contemplation he and velour formed;
14.
For softness she and sweet attractive grace;
15.
He for God only, she for God in him:
16.
His fair large front and eye sublime declared
17.
Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks
18.
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
19.
Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad:
20.
She, as a veil, down to the slender waist
21.
Her unadorned golden tresses wore
22.
Disheveled, but in wanton ringlets waved
23.
As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied
24.
Subjection, but required with gentle sway,
25.
And by her yielded, by him best received,
26.
Yielded with coy submission, modest pride,
27.
And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay. …
Peter Paul Rubens
3.
1. Consider the 3 pieces of writing so far (Rapunzel, Harlequin Romance and Paradise Lost). What are the narrative elements they have in common? Be at least reasonably specific.
2. Consider some of the stylistic tendencies they have in common.

What are the connotations of the “typical” word choices? Provide reasonably specific evidence.

What are the “typical” image patterns and what are their connotations?
What argument do all 3 texts make, once you read them from a Feminist Critical perspective?