An Ecocritical Approach To Robert Frost's Poetry

The earth is beset with serious ecological crises such as air pollution, acid precipitation, global warming, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity. Some traditional worldview and philosophical ideas are confronted with unprecedented challenges. Following feminism and post-colonialism, ecocriticism became another subversive critical approach in the 1980s, and now it has developed into a distinct subject, drawing attention from scholars of various fields in different countries. Ecocriticism is applicable to the study of any forms of literary works and in so doing it absorbs from literary works the ideas and thoughts that are helpful in dealing with the relationship between man and nature, and even contributes as much as possible to the cause of environmental preservation. The first chapter of this thesis introduces the historical background of the birth of ecocriticism, its definition, emergence, theoretical sources as well as its main ideas.Robert Frost is one of the most important poets in the 20th century American literature. He stuck to writing and publishing fine poetry for decades, and many of his poems are popular with people worldwide. The honors he enjoyed throughout his career were unparalleled to those of any other American poet of his time. Frost has left us a legacy of fine poetry and his nature lyrics form a great proportion of it. Frost's nature poetry, characterized by its simple language, graceful conception and profound meaning, is well received by readers. However, traditional readers and critics only notice that his nature poems mirror a certain relationship between human beings and nature, but they fail to specify what relationship it is, let alone the poet's ecological consciousness implied in the poems. Actually, in such an ecological-crisis-ridden time, it is very realistically significant to analyze Frost's ecological consciousness, as he is still widely read even today. This thesis attempts to summarize, analyze and expound his ecological consciousness, and further point out the implication of his ecological consciousness. The second part of the thesis is an ecocritical reading of Frost's poems. The author of this thesis argues that his ecological consciousness can be summarized as: 1) human beings are a part of nature; 2) human beings depend on nature; 3) some of Frost's poems imply the idea of anthropocentrism.First, in Frost's poems, human beings have no privilege over other creatures and they are only a part of nature."At Wood's Garden"is a good example. Secondly, humankind depends on nature. For one thing, nature is the source of human wisdom. Nature in"Time Out"is like an enlightening book. And"Birches"is a wonderful example of Frost's mode that poetry should"begin in delight and end in wisdom". For another, nature satisfies man's spiritual and psychological needs. Without nature's satisfying man's various needs for feelings of threat, fear, loss and mystery, man cannot have a colorful emotional experience and spiritual life."Mending Wall","Bonfire"and"For Once, Then Something"reflect such an idea. Lastly, such poems as"The Census Taker"and"Our Hold On the Planet"do imply anthropocentric idea.Through close reading, the author also discovers that Frost not only presents the close relationship between man and nature in some poems but also teaches us how to achieve a harmonious coexistence with nature. First, we should exploit nature moderately. Frost's spokesman in"The Gum Gatherer"iterates this point. Secondly, we should give something back to nature."A Tuft of Flower","Rose Pogonias"and"West-Running Brook"express Frost's sense of reciprocation. Thirdly, we should try not to interfere with nature."Riders"manifests man's failure in conquering nature;"Good-By and Keep Cold"suggests that the best way of living with nature is not to interfere with it. Lastly, we must substitute ecocentrism for anthropocentrism."The Need of Being Versed in Country Things"is a case in point.The study of Frost has been uninterrupted since the poet became famous. But if we take a closer look at the recent studies, at home and abroad, we found the poet's ecological consciousness as a whole does not attract enough attention. My humble intention of writing this thesis is to direct more attention to Frost's ecological consciousness. I hope that this study of mine could enhance people's understanding of Frost's poetry and poetics. It is also my hope that readers might get some enlightenment in handling the relationship between man and nature after reading this thesis.