Ecocritical Reading
some potential dissertation writing objectives for an Eco-critical reading of a literary text:
To examine the representation of the natural environment in the text and how it is used to convey themes and motifs.
To analyze the ways in which the text engages with ecological issues, such as climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
To explore the ways in which the text portrays the relationship between human beings and the natural environment.
To examine the portrayal of the impact of human actions on the environment, and how it is used to comment on contemporary societal and political issues.
To analyze the ways in which the text engages with Eco-critical theory and the impact of the text on Eco-critical discourse.
To compare and contrast the representation of the environment in the text with other literary works of the same period and in the context of the author's other works.
To examine the ways in which the literary text reflects on the societal and cultural context in which it was written and how it reflects on the contemporary world.
To explore the ways in which the literary text resonates with contemporary readers, particularly with regards to issues of environmentalism and sustainability.
These objectives will help you to focus on what you want to achieve while writing the dissertation on Eco-critical reading of a literary text.
Literature Review Guidelines
A literature review for research in Eco-critical reading of a literary text should focus on the ways in which the environment is depicted, represented, and engaged in the literary text under analysis. The literature review should examine the historical and cultural context in which the text was written, as well as the literary and critical traditions that inform the text.
Here are some key steps you can take to conduct a literature review in Eco-critical reading of a literary text:
Research and review relevant scholarship in Eco-criticism, including the origins and development of the field, key theorists and critics, and major debates and controversies.
Study the historical and cultural context in which the literary text was written, including the social, economic, and political conditions of the time, as well as the literary and artistic movements that were influential.
Analyze the literary text in light of the Eco-critical framework, paying particular attention to the ways in which the environment is depicted, represented, and engaged in the text.
Synthesize the research and analysis to develop a thesis or argument about the text's treatment of the environment, and how it relates to the broader Eco-critical conversation.
Conclusion and recommendations for future research in the field of Eco-criticism.
Remember that a literature review is a critical analysis of existing research on a topic, rather than a summary of that research. It should be a critical evaluation of the studies you have found and their contribution to the understanding of the subject at hand.
Resources
Here are some key resources for studying Eco-critical reading of literary texts:
"The Eco-criticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology" edited by Cheryll Glotfelty and Harold Fromm: This anthology provides a comprehensive overview of the field of ecocriticism, including seminal essays, critical reviews, and creative writing.
"Green Cultural Studies: Nature in Film, Novel, and Theory" by Lawrence Buell: This book examines the ways in which nature is represented in literature and culture, and how these representations reflect and shape human attitudes towards the environment.
"Deep Ecology and World Religions: New Essays on Sacred Grounds" edited by J. Baird Callicott and Roger T. Ames: This collection of essays explores the intersection of deep ecology and world religions, and how religious traditions can inform an Eco-critical reading of literary texts.
"The Environmental Imagination: Thoreau, Nature Writing, and the Formation of American Culture" by Lawrence Buell: This book examines the ways in which American literary and cultural traditions have shaped our understanding of nature, and how these traditions continue to influence contemporary environmental thinking.
"Eco-feminism: Women, Culture, Nature" edited by Karen J. Warren: This anthology provides a comprehensive overview of the field of Eco-feminism, including essays on the intersection of feminist and environmental thought, and how this intersection informs an Eco-critical reading of literary texts.
"The Environmental Justice Reader: Politics, Poetics, & Pedagogy" Edited by Joni Adamson, Mei Mei Evans, Rachel Stein : This anthology provides a comprehensive overview of the field of Environmental Justice, including essays on the intersection of race, class, and gender with environmental issues and how this intersection informs an Eco-critical reading of literary texts.
These resources will provide you with a solid foundation of knowledge and critical perspectives on Eco-criticism and will help you to develop your own thesis and arguments about the literary texts you are studying.