Revelation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s
Eco-consciousness in the Secret Garden
Abstract
The central task of this paper is to explore how nature is described by Frances Hodgson Burnet and what her ecological attitude toward nature contains in her work—The Secret Garden. Through this study, we hope to gain a view of Burnett’s eco-consciousness from an eco-critical perspective and a better understanding of Burnett who concerns more about the harmony, mutual benefit and equality between man and nature rather than man’s mastery over other forms of life. It begins with a primary study of the eco-critical theory and then turns to the analysis of several representative characters to reveal the ecological theme in this novel. The literary analyses of this paper all centers on the relationship between man and nature.
Key words: The Secret Garden; eco-consciousness; relationship between man and nature
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, lecturer Wu Ling. Without his guidance, support and encouragement throughout the process, this thesis would never have become a reality.
Then I would like to thank all the teachers of English Department at Sichuan International Studies University (SISU). Their instructions and guidance have made my four years at this university a truly rewarding experience.
My special gratitude also goes to my classmates for their care in my life and for their insightful ideas in my learning.
Last but not the least, I would also like to sincerely thank my parents and grandparents for getting me here and keeping me going all the years.
Contents
中文摘要………………………………………………………………………..i
Abstract………………………………………………………………………....ii
Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………….iii
Introduction……………………………………………………………………..1
A Brief Introduction to Eco-criticism………………………………………3
Ecology…………………………………………………………………3
Eco-criticism…………………………………………………………….4
The Significance of Eco-criticism in Literary Criticism………………..4
Eco-criticism and Burnett’s The Secret Garden…………………………….6
Burnett’s Emotional Ties with Nature…………………………………..6
Nature in The Secret Garden……………………………………………6
Eco-consciousness in The Secret Garden……………………………….7
The Relationship Between Man and Nature………………………..7
Anthropocentric Consciousness and Eco-centrism………………..12
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………..15
