Thesis (MA) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research English Language and Literature

Includes bibliography (sheets 41-45)

ABSTRACT
Ecocriticism is the practice of reading, comprehending, and evaluating literary works
from an environmental perspective. Ecocritics attempt to understand and analyse
literary works in the context of environmental concerns. Determining how literary
texts help readers develop an ecological awareness and an eco-activism is the main
goal of ecocriticism and ecocritics. The main objective of this research is to attempt
an ecocritical analysis of two short stories. The first story is A White Heron by Sarah
Orne Jewett and the second story is Death of the Trees by Ruskin Bond. This
research uses qualitative content analysis methodology to examine the two selected
short stories. Students of literature who intend to perform extra environmental studies
research will find the study's findings helpful. The results revealed that both Sarah
Jewet in her short story entitled A White Heron and Ruskin Bond in his short story
entitled Death of the Trees dedicate their literature to teach their readers the value of
maintaining the ecosystem balanced. Throughout their literary works they also try to
raise an ecological awareness and eco-activism. Moreover, the characters in both
stories live in harmony with nature and try to protect it. Hopefully, this study will
increase readers' knowledge of environmental concerns and promote ecological
awareness.
Keywords: A White Heron, Death of The Trees,Ecocriticism, Ecocritical Study, Ecotheory Environmental issues in literature, Ruskin Bond, Sarah Orne Jewett