ECOCRITICISM IN CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH LITERATURE: NARRATIVES OF CLIMATE AND CATASTROPHE

Abstract

Ecocriticism in contemporary English literature explores the intricate relationships between humans and the natural environment, particularly as they are represented in narrative forms. With the growing urgency of climate change and ecological degradation, literary texts have increasingly become spaces for reflecting environmental anxieties and advocating for ecological awareness. This paper examines how modern English literary works—ranging from novels and poetry to speculative fiction—deploy themes of climate crisis, environmental justice, and anthropogenic catastrophe. It analyzes how narrative strategies such as dystopian settings, non-human perspectives, and environmental symbolism are employed to engage readers in ecological discourse. By investigating the evolving role of nature in literary imagination, this study highlights literature's potential not only as a mirror of ecological concerns but also as a catalyst for environmental thought and action.