Morality and Maidens: The Ethics of Women in Literature

by Joanna Johnson

Key Concepts

Key Concepts and Vocabulary

Literary canon: an authoritative list, or standard, of works of literature
Gender vs. biological sex: gender is whether something is masculine or feminine, and is not necessarily the same as the biological sex, which is male or female.  In other words, something or someone who is male, could be feminine, or vice versa.  The terms are not interchangeable.

Vocabulary

Journal - a daily record (like a diary) of things that happen, observations and feelings.

Discourse - communication with words through writing or talking.

Domestic - of the home or household.

Drama - a play that is acted by actors on a stage or an episode or work that is very emotional.

Poetry - writing in metrical form, or and writing that resembles poetry.

Prose - novels or short stories, not poetry.

Subjugated - completely controlled or mastered by someone or something else.

Subservient - acting or serving in a less important or secondary way.