Contribution to Literary Movements

     Ursula K. Le Guin can be placed in various literary movements such as postmodernism, ecofeminism, and the New Wave.  She is mostly known for contributing to the science fiction theme in her novels and stories.    

     Postmodernism is the period of literary criticism that took place near the end of the twentieth century.   Postmodernists do not believe in universal truths, or that “language conveys an absolute meaning”, or even that there is truth in history other than what people tell.  Ursula Le Guin creates different worlds in her writing and mixes both fact and fiction.  In her story “The Left Hand of Darkness,” the Gethenians can become either a man or a woman and conceive a child. That means they can “experience both fatherhood and motherhood at different times.”  Le Guin also falls into postmodernism because she grew up in a household unbiased towards religion.  Religion is seen as too much of a one directional truth.

     Ecofeminism is the motherly nurturing of Earth and the environment.  Ecofeminism can be seen in the styles of authors as early as the 18^th century and has carried into the 21^st century.  Ursula Le Guin contributed to the renewed respect of the Earth in the 1900’s with the Earthsea series.  She wrote about many environmental aspects such as the appreciation of fresh water and living on a fish and seaweed diet.  “All citizens support a silkworm culture by tending orchards until apathy causes them to abandon their traditions and squander their natural resources.”  Ecofeminism stresses the beauty of nature and the importance of preserving it.

     The New Wave is the literary movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s that focused on the style of science fiction rather than the “scientific accuracy.”  Ursula Le Guin’s literature consists of psychology and sociology, but her science fiction is often considered fantasy.  The New Wave promotes social change and blurs the line between real and unreal. Le Guin has many stories with make believe aspects, fitting her into the New Wave movement.

     Postmodernism, ecofeminism, and the New Wave are all literary movements that Ursula K. Le Guin has contributed to.  Her literature allows a wide variety of criticism and interpretation.

    

          

Works Cited

Barr, Marleen S. "Science Fiction." New Dictionary of the History of Ideas. Ed. Maryanne Cline Horowitz. Vol. 5. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2005. 2188-2191. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Tarrant County College Lib., Fort Worth, TX. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. <http://ezp.tccd.edu>.

"Le Guin, Ursula K. (1929-)." Modern American Literature. 5th ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: St. James Press, 1999. 164-167. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Tarrant County College Lib., Fort Worth, TX. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. <http://ezp.tccd.edu>.

"Postmodernism." Literary Movements for Students: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Literary Movements. Ed. Ira Mark Milne. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2009. 615-653. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Tarrant County College Lib., Fort Worth, TX. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. <http://ezp.tccd.edu>.

Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. "ecofeminism and feminist literature." Encyclopedia of Feminist Literature. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Tarrant County College Lib., Fort Worth, TX. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. <http://ezp.tccd.edu>.

Wilson, Christine. "Ecofeminism." Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender. Ed. Fedwa Malti-Douglas. Vol. 2. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 431-432. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Tarrant County College Lib., Fort Worth, TX. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. <http://ezp.tccd.edu>.