ECOLOGICAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN J. C. GEORGE’S THE TALKING EARTH: AN ECOCRITICAL STUDY
Abstract
This research is an ecocritical study that has two objectives; to reveal the kinds of ecological
consciousness and to identify the ways of the ecological consciousness portrayed in J. C. George’s The Talking Earth. The data were analyzed based on ecocriticism theory, ecological consciousness theory proposed by Bannan-Watts (2009) and by Chang (2002), and literary elements of children’s literature by Luken, Smith, & Coffel (2013). This research was analyzed qualitatively by using content analysis method to examine the data. The main data of the research were in the form of sentences related to the kinds of ecological consciousness and the ways of the ecological consciousness portrayed in the novel. This research reveals that there are four kinds of ecological consciousness in The Talking Earth: (1) understanding the essence of nature, (2) showing concern to the condition of nature, (3) understanding the interdependence between living beings and nature, and (4) knowing the ways nature speak. In addition, there are four literary elements used by the writer to portray ecological consciousness in the novel. Those are character, setting, point of view, and theme. Ecological consciousness can be depicted through the character’s action, speech, and the author’s comment. Meanwhile, setting as symbol portrays the essence of forest as a home for many living beings. Moreover, omniscient point of view is used by the author to narrate the story and to give additional information. Lastly, explicit theme is revealed in the story to show many significant insights. All in all, this research discovers that ecological consciousness is strongly embodied in The Talking Earth into four kinds. The emergence of four literary elements in the novel supports the portrayal of ecological consciousness. As a result, The Talking Earth can be one of storybooks in fulfilling the need of children to grow their awareness toward their surroundings in order to know and understand the sustainability of the environment.
Keywords: Ecocriticism, ecological consciousness, literary elements of children’s literature, J. C. George’s
The Talking Earth
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