In the first chapter,the issues as indicated above are laid out along with a brief history of the development of feminist literary theory.In addition,introductions to the three writers are given in which the "scene of writing"of each one is brought to the foreground along with her special interests in and use of language.Chapters two, three and four consists of close readings of several works of each writer that are informed by several of the newer approaches to literature:psychoanalysis,semiotics, linguisitics,and deconstruction.Each of the readings discovers the scene of writing of each writer through the language of the text and shows how each has used language usually in ways not read or remarked before.In this manner the relation of women's experience and literary experiment is articulated. The Afterword explains that there is no one defintive answer to the opening question,"Why are so few women writing in the postmodern vein?"and that the question constitutes the "scene of writing"of this dissertation which records the struggle for the answer. (Signature) u小B4 323ld Major Professor /DateIn the first chapter, the issues as indicated above are laid out along with a brief history of the development of feminist literary theory. In addition, introductions to the three writers are given in which the "scene of writing" of each one is brought to the foreground along with her special interests in and use of language. Chapters two, three and four consists of close readings of several works of each writer that are informed by several of the newer approaches to literature: psychoanalysis, semiotics, linguisitics, and deconstruction. Each of the readings discovers the scene of writing of each writer through the language of the text and shows how each has used language usually in ways not read or remarked before. In this manner the relation of women's experience and literary experiment is articulated. The Afterword explains that there is no one defintive answer to the opening question, "Why are so few women writing in the postmodern vein?" and that the question constitutes the "scene of writing" of this dissertation which records the struggle for the answer. (Signature)