Ecocriticism Theory Research Articles

Ecocritical Concerns in the Selected Poems of Mahmoud Darwish and Naomi Shihab Nye

Ecocriticism is an advancing field in literature that has opened up avenues in reading world literature from a whole new perspective. This paper seeks to flesh out ecocritical concerns in the selected poems of Mahmoud Darwish and Naomi Shihab Nye by using selected concepts of the theory of ecocriticism given by Greg Garrard: pastoral, wilderness, and the sublime. An analysis of the poetry by the selected writers, sharing their roots from the Arab world, reveals their agenda of using nature as a trope in the form of resistance to colonialism. The writers give a glimpse of the people of their homeland and their culture imbued in nature.

Environmental Themes in Michael Punke's The Revenant: An Ecocritical Analysis of Human-Nature Interaction

The objective of this research is to explore the environmental themes shown in Michael Punke's novel, titled The Revenant, with a focus on the complex relationship between the protagonist, Hugh Glass, the surrounding environment, and interaction. This descriptive research uses the ecocriticism theory to analyze the data and address the related questions. The novel vividly depicts nature as the surrounding forest and the diverse array of animals as the central character. As a frontiersman, Glass perceives nature as a realm to be conquered, which resorts to actions such as felling trees and hunting animals. However, the consequences of these actions significantly impact the natural world. The research findings underscored the disadvantageous and imbalanced nature of the human-environment relationship driven by humans’ exploitative tendencies with little consideration for environmental preservation. The consequences of this one-sided relationship are evident in the ecological degradation and the personal suffering experienced by Hugh Glass, hence the novel's critique of this complex interaction between humans and the environment.

Ecocritical Analysis of Tte Marine Ecosystem in the "Documentary: Seaspiracy (2021)” Movie by Ali Tabrizi

The writer thinks to make the above topic as a matter that must be researched further because the writer sees something that can be used as material for analysis and can be an additional scientific value for knowledge and new learning in this literary science. The problem discussed in this research is what kind of ecocriticism is presented in the film "Documentary: Seaspiracy (2021)" by Ali Tabrizi? In this study the writer wants to provide ecocriticism of marine ecosystems with the title "ecocritical analysis of marine ecosystems" this research discusses literary ecocriticism, namely the relationship between nature and humans which focuses on the film "documentary: Seaspiracy". The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative, which describes the results of the research verbally. The writer also uses an ecological approach to focus and present the findings. The results of this study show that there are many criticisms that this movie wants to convey, and the images presented have many specific criticisms to show ecological damage, especially in the marine area. In this film, the author also uses Greg Garrard's theory of ecocriticism to clarify and dig deeper into the attitude of environmental criticism by the players in the form of images and conversations conveyed in through the "Documentary: Seaspiracy (2021)" movie.

The Ecological-Spiritual Complex in Novels of Southern Vietnam in the First Half of the 20th Century

Ecocriticism began in the 70s of the twentieth century. Up to now, the theory of ecocriticism is becoming more and more complete. Understanding the relationship between humans and nature, in the spirit of ecological humanism, non-anthropocentrism, philosophy of respect for life, and respect for “place” has brought ecocriticism to a new level in literary research. Ecocriticism elevates nature to the level of humans in the symbiotic relationship of coexistence in today's turbulent universe, especially with the threat of an increasingly harsh human living environment (drought, flood, earthquake, disease, etc.). Applying the theory of ecocriticism when studying classic literary works of the world helps scientists reconsider the concept of classical authors on the relationship between the natural environment and humans. With statistical analysis and comparative methods, we use ecological criticism theory to study some Southern Vietnamese novels of the early 20th century, especially the aspect of spiritual ecological complexity.

Multiple levels of literacy in Kopano Matlwa’s literature. The case of Evening Primrose (2018)

The paper explores distinctive ways in which Kopano Matlwa’s novel Evening Primrose (2018) employs continuities and discontinuities between surface-level literary expression and underlying identity and cultural literacy. It is a desktop study centred on Kopano Matlwa’s novel Evening Primrose (2018) as a primary text, as well as of secondary expository texts for theoretical and earlier literary commentary that constitute the article’s conceptual matrix. I demonstrate how the author’s thematic manoeuvring challenges notions of determinist culture and official mapping as fixed, as well as espouse conceptions of globalism that accommodate identity and cultural heterogeneity. As I discuss stylistic dimensions of the narrative from the vantage point of the theory of ecocriticism, I include the tenets of Es’kia Mphahlele’s concept of African humanism as well as the concepts of ‘borderland’, ‘code-switching’ and ‘integration literacy’. My findings have led to the conclusion that the novelist’s discourses are encoded in the texture of the novel in ways that portray the South African post-apartheid milieu as informed by an intricate intersection of distinctive identity and cultural literacies that the various characters display. My scrutiny of the environment-adoptive cognitive processes in the mind of Matlwa’s characters has led to a novel analogy between integration identity and cultural literacy and unitary grammar, reached psycholinguistically through code-switching.Contribution: This study provides new insights into how the novelist Kopano Matlwa employs literary discourse uniquely to explore South Africa’s post-apartheid, evolving social psyche in ways that diagnostically assert alternative cultural identity intersections, readings and articulation. The paper plumbs beneath surface-level characterisation to externalise how key character categories of the novel under discussion do practicalise the potency of the post-apartheid context to forge a composite heterogeneity of cohabiting and mutually respecting cultures that have entered it. In novel ways, the theoretical matrix applied in the analysis of the novel galvanises a recognition of commonalities hitherto unidentified, mainly between tenets of originally Eurocentric ecocriticism and those of an Afrocentric African humanism. I compare the characters’ successful creation of new cultural literacies, integrated with a new environment, to a successful integration of unitary grammar related to the linguistic process of code-switching. In this way, a new kind of relationship is projected between literary analysis and language learning.

A Postmodern Eco-Critical Study of Identity Crisis in "The Winter of Our Discontent"

This paper examines the theme of identity crisis in John Steinbeck's novel "The Winter of Our Discontent" through the lens of ecocriticism theory. The novel is set in the postmodern era and explores the moral decay of American society, particularly the loss of traditional values and the rise of materialism. Through the analysis of the novel, this paper explores the relationship between human identity and the natural world and how the destruction of the environment can lead to a crisis of identity. It starts with theoretical background, introduction, theory, discussion and analysis and ends with a conclusion.

Kajian Ekokritik dalam Buku Kumpulan Cerita Rakyat Cilacap

Environmental issues are a major concern in society. This is caused by human behavior that adversely affects the environment. In relation to these issues, folklore or old literature has great potential to raise human awareness of the importance of maintaining the sustainability of nature. Folktales often contain values of local wisdom, human connection with nature, and moral learning that can be the foundation for ecological awareness. This study aims to describe the representation of ecocriticism in the Cilacap folklore collection book. This research is a qualitative research with content analysis approach. The data source of this research is the book Folklore of Central Java: Cilacap Regency. The sampling technique was done by purposive sampling. The result of this research is ecocriticism in the Cilacap folklore collection book can be known by Greg Garrad's ecocriticism theory (2004) in the form of pollutions, wilderness, disaster (apocalypse), dwelling, animals, and earth. This research contributes greatly to the understanding of ecocriticism and can enrich the repertoire of research on ecocritical studies in folklore which is currently still quite limited in Indonesia.

Ecological Devastation in Annie Proulx’s Barkskins: A Byproduct of Capitalism

This research article deals with the ecological devastation of a part of North America or New France (today’s Canada) colonized by France in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The novel Barkskins on which the research is done is written by Annie Proulx, an American novelist. Firstly, the article reflects the portrayal of the environmental and ecological crisis of North America by European colonialists/capitalists. It shows Annie’s close observation of the chopping down of ancient American trees, the killing of wild animals, and the business of timber and fur by Europeans. Such commercial activities that reflect European capitalism cause the heavy loss of biodiversity. Their activities reflect their anthropocentric nature. Secondly, the article deals with how Native Americans encounter European capitalists. Even though they want to defend their true wilderness from the white Europeans, they prove to be weaker than the capitalists. However, their biocentric nature appears to be different from the anthropocentric nature of the European colonialists. So, one objective of the article is to discover how European capitalists/colonialists cause ecological devastation in North America. The second objective of the article is to examine why they demolish the true wilderness of North America and the third objective of the article is to scrutinize how the Native Americans react. Since the novel reflects the ecological crisis and the article deals with the impact of European capitalists/Colonists on ecology and the environment in North America, ecocriticism is a suitable theory to apply for textual analysis in the article. Hence, for a broad theoretical framework, Greg Garrard’s theory of Ecocriticism has been applied for textual analysis to explore how and why the biodiversity of North America has been affected since in Ecocriticism, Garrard’s definition of ecocriticism “Indeed, the widest definition of the subject of ecocriticism is the study of the relationship of the human and the non-human, throughout human cultural history and entailing critical analysis of the term ‘human’ itself” (5) becomes very contextual for textual analysis in the research.

An Explication of Anthropogenic Climate Change in Anuradha Roy’s An Atlas of Impossible Longing

Objective: Climate change is an alarming concept prevailing as a threat to human existence. The paper aims to emphasise on climate change, a concern for environment portrayed in Anuradha Roy’s novel An Atlas of Impossible Longing (2008). Extending this hypothesis, the paper aims to scrutinize the changes happening in the climate and environment in the novel during the partition period in India. Method: The researchers have used qualitative research and to bring this research with a descriptive approach. However, the researcher lays out the study under the main theory of ecocriticism and narrows it down to the specific concept of ‘Climate change’. Result: The novel An Atlas of Impossible Longing (2008) is set on the outskirts of West Bengal, which is located in the northern part of India. A widower character in the novel is finding it difficult to get attached to his motherless daughter who is quite close to an orphan boy named Mukunda, adopted by the family. The characters in the novel live in tune with nature and find certain difficulties to continue their lifestyle because of climate change. Conclusion: In the explication on the concept of ‘climate change’ the researcher examines the relevant concepts like anthropocentric and anthropogenic which might be the cause of climate change. The main scope of this paper is to prioritize the concept of climate change for sustaining nature.

Exploring Ecological Consciousness: An Ecocritical Analysis of Marjorie Evasco's Poetry through Commoner’s Ecological Laws

This study critically examined the textuality of select poems by Marjorie Evasco using ecocriticism theory based on Commoner's (1991) ecological principles: Everything Is Connected, Everything Must Go Somewhere, and Nature Knows Best. The research aimed to depict Evasco's writings' ecological messages and themes by line-by-line coding. Data were sourced from Evasco's book "Dreamweavers" and various theoretical texts. Findings revealed that Evasco’s poems reflect Commoner's (1991) ecological laws, portraying them figuratively and literally. The analysis highlights themes such as nature as a teacher, nature’s intrinsic value, hope in nature, conflicts with modernization, and human impacts on nature. The study recommends further analysis of Evasco’s work through ecofeminism and suggests including her poems in literature classes to serve as a platform for environmental awareness. Future research should explore other works of Evasco and similar authors.

ЖАНР NATURE WRITING У НОВІТНІЙ НІМЕЦЬКІЙ ЛІТЕРАТУРІ: УЛЬРІКЕ ДРЕСНЕР, МАРІОН ПОШМАН

Ecocriticism theory has been applied to analyze the artistic features of Nature Writing, an Anglophone genre recently fi rmly established in German-language literature. The study is based on theoretical and fi ctional texts of writers Ulrike Draesner and Marion Poschmann, recognized with the German Award in Nature Writing. The issue of translating the notion of “Nature Writing” and the use of adequate names for this type of literature (“nature writing”, “green literature”, and “language landscapes”) has been considered. Poetical properties of the genre have been identifi ed, and national diff erences between the writings in Anglophone countries and Germany have been highlighted in view of said properties. With reference to literary traditions of writing about nature, the conventions of German Nature Writing have been established, and its correspondence with the well-established Anglophone theory has been determined. The German writer Ulrike Draesner has been introduced as an author and thinker, actively participating in the theoretical discourse on ecology. Her work is a creative manifestation of the “writing according to nature” programme justifi ed in her poetological lectures. It implies “reading from the book of nature”, which is not open but actively constituting itself to promote the reading of the non-linguistic, alive element, skilfully expressed by the author on the level of language. Marion Poschmann, a poet, novelist, and essay writer, understands writing as “poetry of nature” and aims to achieve such a level of impact on the reader that they change their attitude towards the environment and rethink their role in it. According to the artist, specifi c for “nature writing” is the requirement of a high artistic level as we aim to combine observation and concentration in artistic expression. A study of German-language Nature Writing highlights the immediate relevance of a number of environmental issues that this literary genre addresses. Key words: Nature Writing, writing according to nature, poetry of nature, ecocriticism, linguistic experiments, Ulrike Draesner, Marion Poschmann.

Understanding Nature and Humanity: An Ecocritical Study of Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the relationship between humans, Nature, and humanity and establish a harmonious coexistence, particularly in the wake of industrialization. This article aims to analyze Thomas Hardy's novel, The Return of the Native, from an ecocritical perspective and shed light on Thomas Hardy's ecological consciousness as reflected through the novel's various characters, settings, and plot. The primary objective of this study is to assess how the novel's characters respond to and engage with environmental concerns. Another aim is to trace the evolution of the concern for Nature and humanity, from the Victorian era to the Present, among writers, artists, and intellectuals. The third and final objective is to underscore the significance of reconnecting with Nature, as depicted in the novel. Methodology: This study has used the theory of ecocriticism, a relatively recent theoretical framework. It investigates the intersection of literature and the environment from an interdisciplinary viewpoint, exploring potential solutions for our contemporary environmental predicaments. It constitutes a qualitative research endeavor predominantly employing ecocritical theory to investigate the relationship between the novel's characters and the natural world. Findings: The study concludes that interconnection between humans, humanity, and the natural world is needed to avoid the consequences of environmental degradation, which is being tolerated by humankind. This paper proposes several recommendations to ameliorate contemporary environmental challenges that hold value for researchers, environmentalists, and all stakeholders committed to environmental conservation.

Representation of Identity and Land in Waubgeshig Rice’s Legacy

This research study attempts to explicate the aspiration of returning to pristine nature in Waubgeshig Rice’s novel Legacy by applying the theory of eco-criticism. As Indigenous texts represent the symbiotic relationship between culture and nature, which serves as an essential feature of the Indigenous people being their attempt to reconnect to nature through land. The purpose of this is gaining Indigenous identity, which has its origins in peace among all living things. This writing has been analyzed based on nature-centered concepts, traditional and cultural practices, environmental respect and knowledge, and dependency on nature and its resources as portrayed in certain important excerpts. The study will demonstrate how Rice conveyed nature awareness by a simple depiction of the character’s harmony with their surroundings and how they find healing through nature. He demonstrates how the human’s connection with nature sheds light on postmodern themes such as identity and ethical decline. Rice promotes the idea that the environment plays a significant role as well as being a central factor in the Indigenous existence and how it has a direct influence on them. Discussing discrete characters and their various attributes, as well as the parts these characters are assigned in connection to the world around them through nature, is crucial to understanding the notion of man-environment interaction.

An Explication of Anthropogenic Climate Change in Anuradha Roy’s An Atlas of Impossible Longing

Objective: Climate change is an alarming concept prevailing as a threat to human existence. The paper aims to emphasise on climate change, a concern for environment portrayed in Anuradha Roy’s novel An Atlas of Impossible Longing (2008). Extending this hypothesis, the paper aims to scrutinize the changes happening in the climate and environment in the novel during the partition period in India. Method: The researchers have used qualitative research and to bring this research with a descriptive approach. However, the researcher lays out the study under the main theory of ecocriticism and narrows it down to the specific concept of ‘Climate change’. Result: The novel An Atlas of Impossible Longing (2008) is set on the outskirts of West Bengal, which is located in the northern part of India. A widower character in the novel is finding it difficult to get attached to his motherless daughter who is quite close to an orphan boy named Mukunda, adopted by the family. The characters in the novel live in tune with nature and find certain difficulties to continue their lifestyle because of climate change. Conclusion: In the explication on the concept of ‘climate change’ the researcher examines the relevant concepts like anthropocentric and anthropogenic which might be the cause of climate change. The main scope of this paper is to prioritize the concept of climate change for sustaining nature.

The Portrayal of Apocalypse in Jules Hogan’s Those They Left Behind: An Ecocritical Analysis

Literary works can show problems in our life, such as the ones in the relationship between human beings and nature. Through this paper, the researcher aims to find out the portrayal of the apocalypse in a short story entitled Those They Left Behind by Jules Hogan. To reveal how the apocalypse is represented, there are two problems to answer: (1) how the condition of the environment is depicted in the story and (2) how the condition affects the characters. The study is qualitative research, applying the theory of ecocriticism proposed by Greg Garrard. The tropes discussed in this research are pollution, pastoral, and apocalypse. It is found that the apocalypse happened because of the great number of pollution, the rising cases of catastrophes, and modernization. Therefore, the Ascent project was established to send human beings to start a new life on another planet. The apocalyptic state affected the characters in significant ways. They had to change their lifestyles to survive, starting from recycling waste, living from natural resources, and finding ways to reduce pollution.The short story leaves the reader with the idea that if human beings do not change their ways, the Earth will eventually be destroyed.

Dysphemism in the form of hatred and profanity towards forest destroyers in Indonesian poetry

Environmental challenges have inspired poets to use poetry as media to convey protest, sadness, or anger toward environmental damage. As a form of artistic expression, poetry is a powerful medium to convey concerns about ecology. This study aims to describe expressions of dysphemism in the form of hatred and profanity towards forest destroyers in Indonesian poetry. This qualitative study collected data from the three anthologies, namely (1) Riwayat Asap Membungkam Jerebu Lewat Sastra (The History of Smoke Silencing Haze through Literature), (2) Puisi Hijau Resonansi Serindit (Green Poetry: The Resonance of the Magpie Robin), and (3) Metamorfosis Rimba Sehimpun Puisi Hijau Warga SMA Cendana dan Penyair Tamu (Metamorphosis of the Jungle: A Collection of Green Poetry by Cendana High School Students and Guest Poets). The data were analyzed based on the theory of ecocriticism. The study shows that Indonesian poets (1) expressed hatred using the diction of greed combined with avarice expressions, and (2) expressed profanity using curse expressions. These dictions or expressions show that Indonesian poets are concerned about nature’s existence. If the situation is reversed, i.e., the forest and the earth are damaged, poets can act harshly according to the context and situation; they hate and condemn through their poetry. Through the use of dysphemism, environmental poetry encourages reflection and awareness of environmental damage caused by irresponsible human actions. The poem invites readers to consider the consequences of these actions and encourages changes in behavior to protect nature.

Balinese peasants’ resistance in two short stories tahun baru di sawah bapak and pura subak (an analysis of ecocriticism)

Tourism is the most beneficial sector in Bali, Indonesia. Either domestic or foreign tourists visit Bali to enjoy its beauty and unique culture. Tourism in Bali is based on society, nature, and culture. One of the interesting tourist attractions comes from Bali’s amazing nature. To accommodate nature-based tourism, many hotels, villas, and resorts are built. It requires a broad area, and sometimes land conversion from the agricultural sector into the tourism sector happened. The phenomenon of agricultural land conversion is reflected in two stories Tahun Baru di Sawah Bapak and Pura Subak. The analysis is about the main characters who are peasants. They do resistance and fight against land conversion. Both stories are analyzed using the theory of ecocriticism. The research method uses qualitative research. The result of the analysis is that conversion is not suitable with the Balinese value, Tri Hita Karana. The analysis ends up with similarities and differences between the two stories. Those conclude that land conversion which happened in holy areas may trigger problems. Nevertheless, it has been happening since a long time ago and still going on.

Improving Students' Critical Thinking on Environment Through Creative Writing Class Applying Project-Based Learning Approach

The issue regarding the existing condition of our environment has become more intense to be criticized at any level of society, including scholars. It has become a multidisciplinary topic that is not related to biological students or conservationists only as the entire people worldwide are responsible for this earth's condition. Students in university also grasp an important role in the environment and ignorance is not compromised, no matter what subject they are studying, even for English Literature students. In literature itself, as proof of the importance of environmental and ecological issues, students are acknowledged by the ecocriticism theory which intertwines literature, biology, and the environment in the same state. Even though it has its own obstacles in triggering the issue of the environment for English literature students, it is important and worth trying. Through this study, using a project-based learning approach which lets the researcher help and assist the students to expand and elaborate their way of thinking resulting in the form of creative writings, students are triggered by their own close surroundings, vehicles, and knowledge of how far they could imagine the degradation caused by their own daily acts and how severe the impact really takes. The outcome of this study varies based on the student’s background. Those who are originally from villages and coastal areas could imagine vividly the degradation that happened or the worst that might happen sooner or later, while those who live in the urban areas struggle to find out the severe impact more than pollution in their writings.

The Impact of Western Civilization on Forests in Barkskins

This research article very critically scrutinizes how forests in North America are devastated by the growing human civilization. It deals with ecological degradation in an American novelist Annie Proulx’s novel Barkskins whose location is North America. In course of analysing the novel critically, the article describes how Barkskins revolves round the story of white colonists and indigenous Indians in North America or today’s Canada. Firstly, it reveals how two families: Sel family (a poor biracial family of French and Mi’kmaq) that cuts trees and Duke family (rich French family) that does business of fur are linked to trees and deforestation. Secondly, the article focuses on the impact of western civilization on forests regarding forests as the antagonist to western civilization. Western colonialism is also a vehicle of civilization that causes deforestation. Due to civilization, humanism is developed. So, anthropocentric nature of people causes deforestation. Thirdly, European civilization has a negative impact on Indigenous people and their culture. Apparently, forests are shown as a symbol of darkness, evil forces, backwardness and an obstacle for human progress, but in the name of civilization, whites do deforestation due to their greed of colonization and anthropocentric nature. Hence, the first objective of the research is to explore why the whites regard forests as the antagonist to civilization. Likewise, the second objective of the article is to discover the real cause of them to do deforestation. Besides, as for the broad theoretical methodology, Greg Garrard’s theory of Ecocriticism is applied for the textual analysis of Barkskins since the article deals with the ecological destruction of North America by whites and ecocriticism has emerged as a response to the heavy damage done to ecology by human beings.

Nature and Environmental Security in Philip Onuoha’s “Song for my Mother”

This paper critically examines the centrality of nature and environmental security in the poetry of Philip Onuoha. It deploys the theoretical framework of Ecocriticism to appraise the selected poems from Onuoha’s Song for my Mother. The literary theory of Ecocriticism which was foretold through a seminal article by William Rueckert in 1978 was given breath in the latter part of the 20th century by Cherryl Glotfelty. Since then, studies in nature and environmental issues have developed in geometric dimensions. Critics foresee an unimaginably large harvest of literary productions on nature and the environment due to the daily vitiation of nature and its consequences to the human world. From time immemorial, literature has always served as a credible pendulum that gauges the activities of man. This paper, therefore, adds to knowledge forms because it underpins the seriousness of nature in the survival of mankind. Its uniqueness derives from the fact that the poems examined are Children’s works. The age of childhood is an age of innocence hence it veritably serves as a fertile period for the indoctrination of nature ideals. The methodology deployed in the study is qualitative as relevant symbols, exerts and images in the verses are romanticized in the light of their natural aesthetics. The aim principally is for child readers of the works to be taken in by nature and its verities. The psychological effect of this inspires them to grow up to become conscious of the ideals of nature and the environmental security it guarantees. The study thus takes a refreshing approach in the areas of nature and environmental security by examining the representation of nature in selected Children’s poems. It further opens vistas into the centrality of literature in the global fight against environmental security.