Literary Environmental Criticism in Children's Stories, on Theory of (Greg Garrard's)

Abstract

This research explores ecocriticism in children's literature, as children's literature is an integral part of the literary creation process. Thus, children's literature, particularly storytelling, has been used by authors to instill environmental awareness and ethical values in children regarding nature and the environment, addressing environmental issues. This study follows a (content-analytical) approach and draws on (Greg Garrard’s) theoretical framework, which highlights three key aspects: the form of the literary environmental movement, the relationship between humans and nature, and ecological values. The research aims to answer several questions: Has ecocriticism found a place in literature? Can literary works serve as a medium for conveying human perspectives on environmental issues to children? To what extent are Garrard’s ecocritical elements present in the children’s stories published in (Sivore) magazine? The study finds that children’s story writers in (Sivore) magazine contribute to environmental awareness through their literary works by incorporating educational values related to environmental protection, making them key themes in their stories and presenting them in engaging ways. These themes include (pollution, deforestation, natural disasters, environmental conservation, animal protection, human dependence on nature, the impact of humans on the environment, adaptation to nature, and environmental ethics) The research consists of two main sections: the first section presents the theoretical framework, discussing the concept and emergence of ecocriticism and the relationship between literature and the environment, while the second section, the applied part of the research, focuses on Garrard’s ecocritical principles and their application in children’s stories from (Sivore) magazine.