Environmental Studies & Awareness (VAC)
Name of college:- maharani shree nandkuvarba manila arts and commerce college
Name :- Rathod trupti ashokbhai
Year :- F.Y.B.A
Sem :- 2
Subject:-
Papar name :- Environment studies & Awareness [vac]
Date:- 22/02/2026
Professor name :- rachana ma'am
Home assignment
1. What is Environmental Studies (in Literature)?
Environmental Science deals with the biological and chemical aspects of the earth, Environmental Studies in Literature (Ecocriticism) deals with how human beings think about, write about, and interact with the earth.
As M.H. Abrams notes in A Glossary of Literary Terms, it is a study of the relationship between literature and the physical environment. It looks at how our stories, poems, and films reflect our environmental values.
2. What is Ecocriticism (Green Studies)?
Ecocriticism is a literary movement that started in the 1990s. Its main job is to take a "green" look at books and art.
· The American View (Ecocriticism): As discussed by Harold Fromm, the American tradition often focuses on "Nature Writing." It celebrates the beauty of the wilderness and encourages people to go back to nature.
· The British View (Green Studies): As J.A. Cuddon mentions, the British tradition is often called "Green Studies." It is more concerned with how the landscape has been destroyed by industry and cities.
Basic Concepts:
Concept
Simple Definition
Ecocriticism
Studying the "Earth" through "Books."
Green Studies
The political/British side of environmental criticism.
Culture-Nature Binary
The false idea that humans are separate from the environment.
Goal
To create a sustainable future through better storytelling.
Class assignment:-
Poem:-
"On Killing a Tree” – Summary
“On Killing a Tree” is a poem written by Gieve Patel. The poem explains how difficult it is to kill a tree completely. Through simple but powerful language, the poet shows the strength and resilience of nature.
The poet says that a tree cannot be killed by just cutting it with a knife or axe. Even if it is chopped, it will grow again. The tree has grown slowly over many years by absorbing sunlight, water, and nutrients from the soil. Its roots are deeply fixed in the earth, which makes it strong.
To kill a tree completely, it must be uprooted. The roots must be pulled out of the soil and exposed to the sun and air. Only then will the tree dry up and die. The poet describes this process in detail to show how firmly the tree holds on to life.
The poem gives a deeper message about the cruelty of humans toward nature. It highlights how strong and determined nature is, but also how destructive human actions can be. The poem makes readers think about protecting trees and respecting the environment.
In conclusion, “On Killing a Tree” teaches us that trees are strong and valuable, and we should not destroy them carelessly. 🌳
Themes of “On Killing a Tree”
“On Killing a Tree” by Gieve Patel presents several important themes:
1. Power and Strength of Nature
The poem shows that a tree is strong and full of life. It cannot be destroyed easily. Even if it is cut, it grows again. This highlights the resilience and survival power of nature.
2. Man’s Cruelty Towards Nature
The title itself suggests violence. The detailed description of uprooting and killing the tree reflects how humans harm nature without thinking about the consequences.
3. Life and Growth
The tree grows slowly over many years by absorbing sunlight, water, and nutrients. This shows the natural process of life and development, emphasizing patience and steady growth.
4. Destruction and Violence
The act of killing the tree is described almost like killing a living being. Words used in the poem create a harsh and violent image, showing destruction as painful and unnatural.
5. Human Superiority and Control
The poem suggests that humans try to show their power by destroying nature. It reflects the belief that humans think they have control over the natural world.
Conclusion
The poem mainly teaches us to respect nature. It reminds us that trees are living beings and destroying them is a cruel act. The themes encourage awareness about protecting the environment. 🌿
Essay:-
Environment
The environment is everything that surrounds us, including air, water, land, plants, animals, and human beings. It plays a very important role in our lives. We depend on the environment for food, water, shelter, and many other basic needs. A clean and healthy environment is essential for the survival of all living beings.
Nature provides us with many valuable resources such as forests, rivers, mountains, and oceans. Forests give us oxygen, wood, fruits, and medicines. Rivers and oceans provide water and support aquatic life. Plants and trees help in maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Without nature, life on Earth would not be possible.
However, today our environment is facing many problems. Pollution is one of the biggest issues. Air pollution is caused by smoke from vehicles and factories. Water pollution happens when waste and chemicals are thrown into rivers and seas. Land pollution is caused by plastic and garbage. Deforestation, global warming, and climate change are also serious environmental problems. These issues harm animals, plants, and human health.
We must take steps to protect our environment. Planting more trees, reducing the use of plastic, saving water and electricity, and recycling waste can help. We should also spread awareness about the importance of protecting nature. Small efforts by individuals can make a big difference.
In conclusion, the environment is our lifeline. It is our responsibility to protect and preserve it for future generations. If we take care of the environment today, it will take care of us tomorrow. 🌍
