Weekly Assignment 2 (5)
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School
University of California, Los Angeles *
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Course
MISC
Subject
Arts Humanities
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
Pages
2
Uploaded by UltraDonkeyMaster46
**Assignment Title: Nature and the Human Connection: Ecocritical Perspectives in
Contemporary Fiction**
**Objective:** To critically analyze and compare how contemporary authors explore the
relationship between humans and nature in their works of fiction, using ecocritical perspectives
to examine themes of environmental stewardship, ecological awareness, and the impact of
human activities on the natural world.
**Instructions:**
1. **Choose Two Contemporary Works with Ecocritical Perspectives:**
- Select two contemporary works of fiction that prominently feature ecocritical perspectives,
addressing the relationship between humans and nature. Examples include "The Overstory" by
Richard Powers, "Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Wall Kimmerer, "Barbara Kingsolver's "Flight
Behavior", or works of your choice.
2. **Introduction to Ecocritical Perspectives in Fiction:**
- Provide an introduction to the concepts of ecocritical perspectives in literature. Discuss how
contemporary authors use fiction to explore the interconnectedness between humans and nature,
addressing environmental issues and ecological awareness.
3. **Analysis of Human-Nature Relationship:**
- Analyze how each author portrays the relationship between humans and nature within their
work. Discuss the characters' interactions with the natural world, the impact of human activities
on the environment, and the overall ecological themes present in the narratives.
4. **Exploration of Environmental Stewardship:**
- Focus on the exploration of environmental stewardship within the narratives. Discuss how
characters engage in practices of sustainability, conservation, or activism to protect and preserve
the natural world.
5. **Ecological Awareness and Consequences:**
- Examine ecological awareness and the consequences of human actions depicted in the works.
Discuss how characters grapple with the consequences of environmental degradation, climate
change, or other ecological challenges.
6. **Symbolism of Nature:**
- Explore the symbolism of nature in the narratives. Discuss how the authors use elements of
the natural world as symbols, metaphors, or representations of broader ecological themes.
7. **Narrative Techniques for Ecocritical Commentary:**
- Analyze the narrative techniques used by each author for ecocritical commentary. Discuss
how storytelling devices, perspectives, and language contribute to the portrayal of the
human-nature relationship.
8. **Comparative Analysis of Ecocritical Themes:**
- Compare the exploration of ecocritical themes in the two works. Discuss similarities and
differences in how the authors approach and interpret the complexities of the human connection
to nature.
9. **Relevance to Contemporary Environmental Issues:**
- Reflect on the relevance of the themes presented in the works to contemporary environmental
issues. Discuss whether the issues explored by the authors remain pertinent in today's world and
contribute to ongoing conversations about environmental sustainability.
**Assessment Criteria:**
- Clear identification and explanation of ecocritical perspectives in literature.
- Thorough analysis of the portrayal of the human-nature relationship, environmental
stewardship, and ecological awareness in the selected works.
- Insightful exploration of the symbolism of nature and narrative techniques for ecocritical
commentary.
- Comprehensive comparison of ecocritical themes in the two works.
- Consideration of the relevance of ecocritical themes to contemporary environmental issues.
- Thoughtful reflection on the impact of the human connection to nature on the characters and
narratives.
**Submission Details:**
- Submit your assignment in the agreed format to the instructor by the specified deadline.
Feel free to reach out to the instructor if you have any questions or need guidance as you work
on the assignment.
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