This document provides an overview of feminist criticism and key related terms. It explains that feminist criticism uses assumptions of feminism to analyze literature and how it examines works through the lens of patriarchy, gender roles, and women's concerns. It also discusses how feminist criticism aims to bring attention to overlooked women authors and address the historical imbalance in favor of male writers. The document notes some common questions feminist critics may ask of a work and defines terms like patriarchy, gender, and essentialism. It also briefly discusses the history of the "literary canon" and how feminist critics seek to expose its patriarchal biases.