10.4.1

Eco-Critical Analysis

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Eco-Critical Analysis

Like feminism and Marxism, eco-criticism examines power relations but it does so from the perspective of our natural environment and the impact humanity is having on it.

Eco-criticism

Eco-criticism

  • Eco-criticism is a relatively new way of examining texts, emerging from the Green movement which began to organise politically in the 1980s.
  • Like feminism and Marxism, eco-criticism examines power relations but it does so from the perspective of our natural environment and the impact humanity is having on it.
1. Connection

  1. Connection

  • The following ideas are central tenets of eco-critical thinking:
      1. “Everything is connected to everything else” and eco-criticism should explore how nature and humanity are interconnected.
2. Contrast

  1. Contrast

    1. Early forms of nature writing (e.g. the pastoral tradition of the 16th and 17th centuries) would contrast rural and urban life, associating the countryside with innocence and the town or city with corruption.
3. Realities of the countryside

  1. Realities of the countryside

    1. More modern criticism (the post-pastoral tradition) considers earlier ideas of the pastoral as being “false” or “escapist” in that they hide or cover over the realities of the countryside.
  • E.g. the unequal power relations between landowner and labourer
4. Exploitation

  1. Exploitation

    1. The exploitation of the planet is connected to the traditional exploitation of women and minorities – eco-feminism.
Eco-critical considerations

Eco-critical considerations

  • As a result, eco-critical approaches to literature may include:
    • Exploring how nature (or the wild, or the city) is represented in a text.
    • Examining how a writer creates and uses settings.
    • Analysing the imagery used to describe nature.
    • Considering if men and women write about nature differently.
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1

Introduction

1.1

Introductions

1.1.1Author1.1.2Historical Context1.1.3Setting1.1.4Social Issues
2

Act One

2.1

Key Events

2.1.1Staging2.1.2Key Events 1&22.1.3Key Events 3&42.1.4Key Events 5&62.1.5Key Events 7&82.1.6Key Events 9&102.1.7Key Events 11&12
2.2

Key Themes & Literary Techniques

2.2.1Foreshadowing, Flashbacks, Settings2.2.2Family, Reality, Fantasy
3

Act Two

3.1

Key Events

3.1.1Key Events 1&23.1.2Key Events 3&43.1.3Key Events 5&63.1.4Key Events 7&83.1.5Key Events 9&10
3.2

Key Themes & Links

3.2.1Pride3.2.2Metaphor3.2.3Self-Realisation
4

Extended Passage Analysis

4.1

Act One

4.1.1Staging4.1.2The Woman
4.2

Act Two

4.2.1In Howard’s Office4.2.2The Final Confrontation4.2.3The Requiem
5

Character Profiles

5.1

Willy & Linda Loman

5.1.1Willy Loman5.1.2Linda Loman
5.2

Biff & Happy Loman

5.2.1Biff Loman5.2.2Biff's Relationship with Willy5.2.3Happy Loman
5.3

Other Characters

5.3.1Uncle Ben5.3.2Charley5.3.3Bernard
6

Key Themes

6.1

Concepts

6.1.1The American Dream6.1.2Fathers & Sons6.1.3Nature & the City6.1.4Success6.1.5Men & Women
7

Writing Techniques

7.1

Structure

7.1.1Act One7.1.2Act Two
7.2

Realism

7.2.1Introduction7.2.2Staging7.2.3Language
7.3

Expressionism

7.3.1Introduction7.3.2Staging7.3.3Music
7.4

Symbolism

7.4.1The Garden / Seeds7.4.2Diamonds7.4.3Alaska & Africa
7.5

Motifs

7.5.1Introduction7.5.2Cars7.5.3Silk Stockings7.5.4Money7.5.5Mythological Figures
8

Historical Context

8.1

Historical Context

8.1.1Miller’s Family & The Great Depression8.1.2America’s Recovery
9

Literary Context

9.1

Tragedy

9.1.1Introduction
9.2

Applying Tragic Concepts

9.2.1The Tragic Hero9.2.2The Tragic Flaw9.2.3Recognition9.2.4Emotional Release9.2.5Chaos & Disorder9.2.6Revenge9.2.7Inevitability
10

Critical Debates

10.1

Introduction

10.1.1Introduction
10.2

The Marxist Reading

10.2.1Marxist Analysis10.2.2The Marxist Reading
10.3

The Feminist Reading

10.3.1Feminist Analysis10.3.2The Feminist Reading
10.4

The Eco-Critical Reading

10.4.1Eco-Critical Analysis10.4.2The Eco-Critical Reading10.4.3Post-pastoral
10.5

Other Debates

10.5.1The Play as Tragedy10.5.2The Critics
11

Recap: Main Quotes

11.1

Characters Quotes

11.1.1Willy Loman11.1.2Linda Loman11.1.3Biff Loman11.1.4Happy Loman11.1.5Uncle Ben11.1.6Charley11.1.7Bernard
11.2

Quotes by Act

11.2.1Act One: Key Events 1-3 Quotes11.2.2Act One: Key Events 4-6 Quotes11.2.3Act One: Key Events 7-9 Quotes11.2.4Act One: Key Events 10-12 Quotes11.2.5Act One: Stage Direction Quotes11.2.6Act One: The Woman Quotes11.2.7Act Two: Key Events 1-2 Quotes11.2.8Act Two: Key Events 3-4 Quotes11.2.9Act Two: Key Events 5-6 Quotes11.2.10Act Two: Key Events 7-8 Quotes11.2.11Act Two: Key Events 9-10 Quotes11.2.12Act Two: Howard's Office Quotes11.2.13Act Two: The Requiem Quotes

Practice questions on Eco-Critical Analysis

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  1. 1
    Central ideas of eco-criticism:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Examples of eco-critical approaches to literature:Fill in the list
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The Feminist Reading

The Eco-Critical Reading