"We Were Sisters Of A Strange, Isolated Little Family"-On "Sisterhood" In Amy Lowell's Poetry

Amy Lowell,American woman poet and promoter of the Imagist movement, played an important role in the "poetic renaissance" of the early twentieth century. Her poetical work is full of complication as she not only experimented with different rhythms and patterns,but also wrote on a wide variety of subjects.But many of her poems have been undervalued after her death.As written by a woman poet whose life is far from conventional,Lowell's poems about women are significant for the understanding of her poetry and need a more sufficient study. Thus,this dissertation is intended to discuss Amy Lowell's poems about women with the help of the feminist theory of "sisterhood".Amy Lowell presents "sisterhood" of women in her poetry,which is manifested in female intimacy and solidarity of female poets.Her presentation of "sisterhood" also suggests that she is aware of its significance.Lowell reveals the repression of women's passions in heterosexual relationships and shows how women release their passions in female intimacy.Through female intimacy,the woman speaker as well as the poet gain emotional support."Sisterhood" in Lowell's poetry is also presented in female solidarity.Revealing the marginalization of female poets in patriarchy,she further discusses the solidarity of female poets,according to her identification with other female poets,her appreciation of them and her examination of their limitations."Sisterhood" in female solidarity provides the poet with a sense of identification and a tentative identity as a woman poet.In the early twentieth century,when "sisterhood" was exploited by only a few women writers,Lowell's presentation of "sisterhood" is rather daring. Therefore,her contribution to modern poetry and to feminist study cannot be overlooked.