Ecocriticism:
A New Approach in Literary Studies
Before,
in theory and criticism, we usually focused on events, topics, and metaphysical
ideas. But now, we will examine a concrete reality: Ecocriticism, which
has recently attracted a lot of attention from scholars. We are looking at
nature—the ground we stand on and the air we breathe—moving away from abstract
thoughts. Nature is no longer just a background in literature; it takes centre
stage in the story. Ecocriticism studies the place and importance of nature in
literature. It tries to understand how people relate to nature, how they treat
it, and how these relationships are reflected in texts. This theory encourages
us not only to think about books but also about the world we live in. Because
nature is not just a background; it is the foundation of our lives.
Understanding and protecting it is everyone’s responsibility. First, we will start our
article by looking at the historical background of ecocriticism—how and why it
emerged. We will ask some questions and try to find the answers together. Then,
starting from the term Environmentalism,
we will meet some important writers. Moreover, we will explore key figures in
ecocriticism, such as Serpil Oppermann and Greg Garrard. We will also discuss the
main characteristics of ecocriticism and examine its different waves or phases.
By the end of our study, we hope to better understand how ecocriticism helps us
see the connection between literature and the environment, and why this
relationship matters today more than ever.
The Idea
of Ecocriticism
Ecocriticism came about
because of several natural crises we face today, such as:
- Pollution
- Global warming
- Overpopulation
- Waste disposal
(including nuclear waste)
- Climate change
- Deforestation
- Ozone layer depletion
These problems made people
ask important questions:
- What exactly is
nature?
- Where does humans’
place lie in nature?
- Is nature only here to
serve human needs?
- How should we
understand nature today, especially with ongoing ecological disasters?
- What role can
literature and literary studies play in ecology?
Ecocriticism studies the
relationship between literature and the environment from many different fields.
Critics look at how nature is shown in texts and think about possible solutions
to today’s environmental problems. They explore how literature talks about
nature and what it teaches us about our world.
Ecocriticism
is one of the newest movements that has changed the way we study the
humanities. It started to grow in the 1990s, mainly in the US and the UK. More
and more literary scholars began asking how their work could help us understand
the growing environmental crisis. So, what is this new theory about?
Ecocriticism asks us to rethink other types of criticism. It challenges traditional
ideas about language and offers a fresh way to look at literary works.
One of the leading figures in ecocriticism, Cheryll Glotfelty, explains it simply: “Ecocriticism is the study of the relationship between literature and the physical environment.”
Environmentalism
and Its Roots in Literature
Environmentalism is a broad
term that refers to caring for the environment and taking action to reduce the
harmful effects humans have on it. In the USA, ecocriticism draws inspiration
from 19th-century Transcendentalist writers who celebrated nature, life, and
wilderness. Some of these important figures are Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret
Fuller, and Henry David Thoreau.
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s first
short book, Nature (published in 1836), is an essay reflecting on how
the natural world affected him. His writing often shows a direct and powerful
connection with nature. For example, he writes:
"Crossing
a bare common, in snow puddles, at twilight, under a clouded sky, without
having in my thoughts any occurrence of special good fortune, I have enjoyed a
perfect exhilaration. I am glad to the brink of fear.” (Emerson 38)
Margaret Fuller and Her Connection to Nature
Margaret
Fuller’s first book, Summer on the Lakes (1843), is a powerful journal
about her experiences with the American landscape. Before writing this, she was
the first woman student at Harvard, which was a big achievement at the time.
In her
book, she describes places like Niagara Falls with strong and vivid language.
For example, she writes:
"For here there is no escape from the weight of perpetual creation;
all other forms and motions come and go, the tide rises and recedes, the wind,
at its mightiest, moves in gales and gusts, but here is really an incessant, an
indefatigable motion. Awake or asleep, there is no escape, still this rushing
round you and through you. It is in this way I have most felt grandeur—somewhat
eternal, if not infinite." (Fuller, 71)
Thoreau, Transcendentalism, and Differences Between US and UK
Ecocriticism
Thoreau’s
Walden tells the story of his two-year stay, starting in 1845, in a
small hut he built by Walden Pond in Massachusetts. This book is a classic
example of leaving behind modern life to find renewal by “returning to nature.”
Because of this, the three books by these Transcendentalist writers—Emerson,
Fuller, and Thoreau—are seen as foundational works of American ecocriticism.
On the
other hand, the UK’s version of ecocriticism, often called “green studies,” has
its roots in British Romanticism from the 1790s, rather than American
Transcendentalism of the 1840s.
In
general, the US prefers the term “ecocriticism,” which tends to have a more
positive, celebratory tone toward nature. In contrast, the British “green
studies” often sound more serious and warning, focusing on environmental
dangers caused by governments, industries, and businesses.
Major Figures in Ecocriticism
Cheryll Glotfelty
- The first Professor of
Literature and Environment in the USA.
- In 1996, she co-edited
The Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology with Harold
Fromm. This anthology helped bring environmental concerns into literary
studies.
- Co-founder and past
president of the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment
(ASLE).
Lawrence Buell
- One of the founding
scholars of ecocriticism, with many books and articles on nature and
literature.
- His key work, The
Environmental Imagination, traces how writers from Thoreau to the
present imagine nature.
- Buell argues that an
environmentally focused text should:
1. Treat the nonhuman
environment as an active part of the story, not just background.
2.
Show that human interests
are not the only important ones.
3. Include human
responsibility to nature as part of its ethical message.
Greg Garrard
- FCCS Sustainability
Professor at the University of British Columbia and a National Teaching
Fellow in the UK.
- Founding member and
former Chair of the Association for the Study of Literature and the
Environment (UK & Ireland).
- Author of Ecocriticism
(Routledge, 2004; 2nd ed. 2011) and editor of:
- Teaching Ecocriticism
and Green Cultural Studies
(Palgrave, 2011)
- The Oxford Handbook
of Ecocriticism (OUP, 2014)
- Co-editor of Green
Letters: Studies in Ecocriticism, with essays on eco-pedagogy, animal
studies, and environmental criticism.
Serpil Oppermann
- A leading Turkish
scholar in ecocriticism.
- Published many
research articles on ecocriticism and postmodern English literature.
- Editor of Material
Ecocriticism, a recent volume that brings new perspectives on how we
study nature in literature.
What Are the Main Characteristics of Ecocriticism?
Ecocriticism is a literary
approach that explores the connection between nature and culture. It asks
important questions about how nature is shown in literature and how we, as
humans, interact with the environment.
One of the key ideas in
ecocriticism is that not everything is created by society or language. In other
words, nature exists outside of human systems too. Ecocritics believe we must
look beyond just human-centered (anthropocentric) views.
A well-known definition of
ecocriticism comes from The Ecocriticism Reader (1996), a major book in
the field. In it, Cheryll Glotfelty writes:
“Simply put, ecocriticism
is the study of the relationship between literature and the physical
environment. Just as feminist criticism focuses on gender and Marxist criticism
focuses on class, ecocriticism takes an earth-centred approach to literature.”
(Glotfelty 1996: xix)
Glotfelty also lists the
kinds of questions ecocritics ask, such as:
- How is nature shown in
this poem or novel?
- How has the idea of
"wilderness" changed over time?
- Can science be
examined in a literary way?
- How can literary
studies work together with history, philosophy, art, or ethics to
understand the environment better?
Ecocriticism also
challenges the old belief that humans are the rulers of nature. But it doesn’t
see nature as a passive victim either. Instead, it highlights balance and
respect.
Ecocritics encourage us to reread important literary texts with new eyes—to move away from the idea that humans are always at the centre. They often use ideas from philosophy and biology to better understand the ties between people, culture, and the natural world. By doing so, ecocritics aim to create ecological awareness and build eco-ethics—a way of thinking that respects both nature and culture together.
Key Concepts in Ecocriticism
What does it mean to read literature through the eyes of the Earth?
Ecocriticism—a poetic rebellion against human-centred narratives—invites us to
see the world not as a backdrop to human drama, but as a character in its own
right.
Anthropocentrism: Human at the Centre
Anthropocentrism is the
belief—sometimes quiet, sometimes thunderous—that humans matter more than
everything else.
In this worldview:
- Nature exists for
human use.
- The environment is
shaped to suit our needs.
- Other life forms
become secondary or invisible.
This can manifest as:
- Strong
anthropocentrism – a confident belief
in human dominance over nature.
- Weak anthropocentrism – the view that while nature matters, human
interests still take precedence in practice, due to necessity or
strategy.
But here's the paradox:
Can we hold biocentric
values in our hearts, yet act within anthropocentric boundaries?
The ecocritic answers: Yes, but we must be honest about it.
Biocentrism: Life at the Centre
Biocentrism shifts the
focus. Now, the forest speaks. The rivers have rights. The butterfly matters.
All life forms—including
humans—are part of a vast biotic web.
In biocentric or ecocentric
thinking:
- Human concerns do not
override the needs of other beings.
- The Earth is not ours
to conquer, but ours to commune with.
This view challenges the literature to stop seeing nature as a silent stage and start hearing it as a vibrant, complex voice.
What Do Ecocritics Do?
Ecocritics are the
wanderers of literary landscapes who listen for the rustling of leaves between
the lines. Their tasks include:
- Re-reading
literature through an ecocentric lens—paying attention
to how nature is represented.
- Expanding
critical tools: using concepts like
growth, energy, symbiosis, sustainability—not just metaphorically, but
ethically.
- Highlighting
authors who place nature at the centre of their
works, such as the American Transcendentalists or British Romantics.
- Valuing
‘factual’ writing—essays, travelogues,
memoirs, regional literature—where human interaction with nature is directly
expressed.
- Turning
away from purely linguistic theories, favouring
ethical responsibility and ecological awareness.
“The world is not just a
text. The world is the world.” — The Ecocritic’s Creed
Conclusion
The ecocritical approach allows us to read literature not
only through human perspectives but also through its relationship with nature.
In this view, nature is not just a background, but an active element in the
creation of meaning.
In Shakespeare’s As You Like It, the forest becomes
a place where people reconnect, simplify their thoughts and emotions. Nature
plays a healing and instructive role here.
On the other hand, in King Lear, nature appears as a
powerful force that witnesses the character’s inner breakdown. Lear’s
confrontation with the storm reflects not only the weather but also the turmoil
within his soul.
These examples show that nature is not a passive ornament in
literary works; it is a presence that thinks, speaks, and transforms alongside
humans. Ecocritical readings invite us to reconnect with nature and to listen
to its voice in literature.