ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN ENGLISH LITERATURE: A REVIEW OF ECO-CRITICAL APPROACHES

Abstract

This paper explores the emergence and development of environmental consciousness in English literature through the lens of eco-criticism. It examines how literary works across different periods have reflected and responded to ecological concerns, from the Romantic era’s reverence for nature to contemporary literature’s focus on environmental degradation and sustainability. By reviewing key texts and authors, the paper highlights how eco-criticism has provided valuable insights into the complex relationship between humans and the natural world, and how literature has played a critical role in shaping and reflecting environmental awareness.