natural world essay

The Beauty About The Nature

To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society. I am not solitary whilst I read and write, though nobody is with me. But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars. The rays that come from those heavenly worlds, will separate between him and what he touches. One might think the atmosphere was made transparent with this design, to give man, in the heavenly bodies, the perpetual presence of the sublime. Seen in the streets of cities, how great they are! If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty and light the universe with their admonishing smile.

The Stars Awaken a Certain Reverence, Because Though Always Present, They Are Inaccessible;

but all natural objects make a kindred impression when the mind is open to their influence. Nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man extort her secret, and lose his curiosity by finding out all her perfection. Nature never became a toy to a wise spirit. The flowers, the animals, the mountains, reflected the wisdom of his best hour, as much as they had delighted the simplicity of his childhood. When we speak of nature in this manner, we have a distinct but most poetical sense in the mind. We mean the integrity of impression made by manifold natural objects. It is this which distinguishes the stick of timber of the wood-cutter, from the tree of the poet . The charming landscape which I saw this morning, is indubitably made up of some twenty or thirty farms. Miller owns this field, Locke that, and Manning the woodland beyond. But none of them owns the landscape. There is a property in the horizon which no man has but he whose eye can integrate all the parts, that is, the poet . This is the best part of these men's farms, yet to this, their warranty deeds give no title. To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing. The sun illuminates only the eye of the man but shines into the eye and the heart of the child.

The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other;

who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood. His intercourse with heaven and earth becomes part of his daily food. In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows. Nature says, — he is my creature, and maugre all his impertinent griefs, he shall be glad with me. Not the sun or the summer alone, but every hour and season yields its tribute of delight; for every hour and change corresponds to and authorizes a different state of the mind, from breathless noon to grimmest midnight.

Nature is a setting that fits equally well a comic or a mourning piece. In good health, the air is a cordial of incredible virtue. Crossing a bare common, in snow puddles, at twilight, under a clouded sky, without having in my thoughts any occurrence of special good fortune, I have enjoyed a perfect exhilaration. I am glad to the brink of fear. In the woods too, a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life, is always a child. In the woods, is perpetual youth. Within these plantations of God, a decorum and sanctity reign, a perennial festival is dressed, and the guest sees not how he should tire of them in a thousand years. In the woods, we return to reason and faith.

There I feel that nothing can befall me in life,

— no disgrace, no calamity, (leaving me my eyes,) which nature cannot repair. Standing on the bare ground, — my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space, — all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God. The name of the nearest friend sounds then foreign and accidental: to be brothers, to be acquaintances, — master or servant, is then a trifle and a disturbance. I am the lover of uncontained and immortal beauty. In the wilderness, I find something more dear and connate than in streets or villages. In the tranquil landscape, and especially in the distant line of the horizon, man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature.

The greatest delight which the fields and woods minister, is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable.

I am not alone and unacknowledged. They nod to me, and I to them. The waving of the boughs in the storm is new to me and old. It takes me by surprise, and yet is not unknown. Its effect is like that of a higher thought or a better emotion coming over me, when I deemed I was thinking justly or doing right.

Yet it is certain that the power to produce this delight, does not reside in nature, but in man, or in a harmony of both. It is necessary to use these pleasures with great temperance. For, nature is not always tricked in holiday attire, but the same scene which yesterday breathed perfume and glittered as for the frolic of the nymphs, is overspread with melancholy today. Nature always wears the colors of the spirit. To a man laboring under calamity, the heat of his own fire hath sadness in it. Then, there is a kind of contempt of the landscape felt by him who has just lost by death a dear friend. The sky is less grand as it shuts down over less worth in the population.

Chapter I from Nature , published as part of Nature; Addresses and Lectures

What Is The Meaning Behind Nature, The Poem?

Emerson often referred to nature as the "Universal Being" in his many lectures. It was Emerson who deeply believed there was a spiritual sense of the natural world which felt was all around him.

Going deeper still in this discussion of the "Universal Being", Emerson writes, "The aspect of nature is devout. Like the figure of Jesus, she stands with bended head, and hands folded upon the breast. The happiest man is he who learns from nature the lesson of worship."

It's common sense that "nature" is everything you see that is NOT man-made, or changed by man (trees, foliage, mountains, etc.), but Emerson reminds us that nature was set forth to serve man. This is the essence of human will, for man to harness nature. Every object in nature has its own beauty. Therefore, Emerson advocates to view nature as a reality by building your own world and surrounding yourself with natural beauty.

• The purpose of science is to find the theory of nature.
• Nature wears the colors of the Spirit.
• A man is fed, not to fill his belly, but so he may work.
• Each natural action is graceful.

"Material objects are necessarily kinds of scoriae of the substantial thoughts of the Creator, which must always preserve an exact relation to their first origin; in other words, visible nature must have a spiritual and moral side."

This quote is cited in numerous works and it is attributed to a "French philosopher." However, no name can be found in association with this quote.

What is the main point of Nature, by Emerson?

The central theme of Emerson's famous essay "Nature" is the harmony that exists between the natural world and human beings. In "Nature," Ralph Waldo Emerson contends that man should rid himself of material cares and instead of being burdened by unneeded stress, he can enjoy an original relation with the universe and experience what Emerson calls "the sublime."

What is the central idea of the essay Nature, by Emerson?

For Emerson, nature is not literally God but the body of God’s soul. ”Nature,” he writes, is “mind precipitated.” Emerson feels that to realize one’s role in this respect fully is to be in paradise (similar to heaven itself).

What is Emerson's view of the Nature of humans?

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Ralph Waldo Emerson left the ministry to pursue a career in writing and public speaking. Emerson became one of America's best known and best-loved 19th-century figures. More About Emerson

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Helen Macdonald: The Things I Tell Myself When I’m Writing About Nature

One of our very best writers about the natural world has a little advice.

A not-too-serious and also quite serious list that is entirely non-prescriptive, and is absolutely not a set of instructions. Your mileage will vary wildly. There are as many ways to write about the natural world as there are kinds of beetles. But these are the things I really do tell myself when I write about nature, and today I decided I’d confess them all.

1. Avoid the Frederick Forsyth explanatory mode.

I adore the way Forsyth breaks the narratives of his thrillers in order to dump data on the reader. Here’s an example: after a character in The Dogs of War  discovers platinum deposits there follows a lengthy disquisition on the international platinum market, and shortly after this, a history of catalytic converters. I’m not complaining about this mode, but in writing about nature, I try to be more like John Le Carré. You don’t catch him explaining the history and workings of the British security services. He just puts two men in a club in Whitehall and you learn what you need from what they say. And what they don’t say.

2. Don’t talk down to readers.

They may know as much as you do about your subject, or more. If they don’t, they don’t want to be told how lucky they are to have you tell them all about it. Military techno-thrillers are often packed with acronyms like SOSUS and AIM-9s and Pratt & Whitney J-57s, and even if you don’t know what the hell those things are, you feel you’re being talked to as an equal when you encounter them on the page (and these days, it’s not difficult to look them up). Same goes for nature. And as for technology. . .

3. Don’t make the space pre-industrial.

This is such a classic genre move it’s almost automatic, and it works in the same way wildlife art hardly ever shows evidence that humans have ever existed. If there are burned-out cars and shotgun-addled road signs, or a creek full of trash and a high-security perimeter fence alongside the singing nightingale, don’t leave them out. That’s how this world is. Honor it.

4. Things allowed in nature writing include. . .

Jokes, sex, brand names, illness, food, insomnia, laziness, movie references, lovesickness, yeast cookery, even the history of armored vehicles, if that seems relevant—the list is pretty much endless (David Gessner’s wonderful essay collection Sick of Nature  is glorious on this—he complains productively of how tired and sick he is, not of nature, but the “hushed voice” and “saintliness” of a certain kind of writing about it.)

Also, the voices of other people. One of the joys of Tim Dee’s recent book on gulls, Landfill , is how, between his fiercely lyrical and thoughtful observations, he lets the people he meets talk at length over the book’s pages. He amplifies their voices; he lets them breathe; he never speaks for them.

5. Be honest when you don’t feel it.

Ambivalence is interesting and sometimes the natural world is boring. Sometimes you can be striding up a mountain trail, surrounded by clouds, and be thinking only of your malfunctioning washing machine. When the natural world offers only blankness, and doesn’t feel writable-about, it’s useful to start wondering why. Tugging on that thread can unpick a whole load of hidden assumptions about our relationship to natural environments; what we ask of them, what we want from them, and why.

6. The Great Nature Writing Debate

I’m a contrary person, and generally respond badly to being told what I should think, or how I should feel. Some writers are magnificently polemical. I am not good at being so, although the nightmarishness of our current political and environmental situation is spurring me to try harder to do so. What I have sought to do instead is offer readers complication and wonderment, as well as vantage on the issues that burn around us.

It’s important to consider how and why we value particular landscapes and creatures, and why we value some less than others. If you can instill wonderment and complication, you can forge in others attachments to the world. No one fights to save what they don’t love; no one can love what they don’t know. (NB: outside the remit of writing about nature: organize and make good trouble.)

7. It’s usually about you.

It’s not possible to write about nature without including a lot of information about yourself. Race, gender, class, and personal history will inform what you say, even if nature is supposed to be free of such concerns—in fact, particularly because  it is supposed to be free of them.

If you’re sad about the disappearance of a landscape or the local extinction of a creature, think about why exactly you are mourning them. It’s not going to be entirely conservation-led, nor simply a fascinating instantiation of an aspect of environmental philosophy. Do not shy away from the specificity of how you, as an individual, feel. If you mourn something, if you can communicate that loss, the reader can mourn with you.

8. But sometimes it’s not.

Sometimes it’s not about you. Encountering an animal is always a strange experience; they’re built of all the things you have learned about them, from books, television, magazines, conversations, images. But behind all those is a self-willed, non-human entity that exists in its own umwelten , its own life-world. Animals aren’t just repositories for human meanings, even if we unthinkingly use them to reflect our own selves and concerns. They are always more, always reminders that the world does not exist for us alone. They resist us. Behind all our human clutter, they are entirely, and perfectly, themselves.

9. Be specific.

The great English nature writer Richard Mabey has written beautifully on this. He quoted John Fowles’s suggestion that the name of a creature is a “pane of dirty glass between you and it” and then took righteous and blistering exception to it. “It seems to me,” he explained, “that naming a plant … is a gesture of respect towards its individuality, its distinction from the generalized green blur.”

His observation has extreme salience in terms of our understanding of biodiversity loss. As Barry Lopez wrote in his essay “The Stone Horse,” you have to be able to make such distinctions “to be able to talk clearly about the world.” Ryegrass monoculture and a verdant meadow are both green blurs, but one supports a complex wealth of lives and one does not. You can’t comprehend what is under threat, what has already gone missing, what we should fight to restore, unless you can see those differences.

10. But not too specific.

There’s joy in knowing things, and a delight in fine taxonomic distinctions. But one can go too far along the road of specificity. I’ve been known to fall into the nature-writers’ trap of wanting to demonstrate my expertise. I have fallen prey to the need to carefully look up the identities of various plants and insects and fungi I have seen so that I can state their names in a piece I’m writing. Then, one day, I realized that this is not honest, and neither is it generous. Say when you see something and you don’t know what it is. You can find out later, and you can write about that process too.

11. Sometimes what you think you are writing about is not what you are writing about.

I am sure this happens to everyone who’s tried to write anything, and particularly writers like me, who tend not to plan pieces but work on them organically (it’s inefficient, but I don’t seem to be able to do it any other way). It took me a long time to understand that sometimes, when I thought I was writing about ibises, I was really writing about homesickness, or when I thought I was writing about homesickness, what I was really writing about was ibises.

Homes, not spiders; loneliness, not riparian forest. I learned to listen very carefully to what was going on between the lines, to always pay attention to what the words in front of you are really saying. It’s never too late to stop and start again (unless you’re on deadline).

__________________________________

Helen Macdonald’s essay collection, Vesper Flights , is available now.

Helen Macdonald

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8.4: Writing about the Natural World - A Process Approach

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To review, ecocriticism provides us with a particular lens to use when we read and interpret works of literature. Such reading and interpreting, however, never happens after just a first reading; in fact, all critics reread works multiple times before venturing an interpretation. You can see, then, the connection between reading and writing: as Chapter 1 indicates, writers create multiple drafts before settling for a finished product. The writing process, in turn, is dependent on the multiple rereadings you have performed to gather evidence for your essay. It’s important that you integrate the reading and writing process together. As a model, use the following ten-step plan as you write using an ecocritical approach:

• Carefully read the work you will analyze.
• Formulate a general question after your initial reading that identifies a problem—a tension—related to a historical or cultural issue.
• Reread the work , paying particular attention to the question you posed. Take notes, which should be focused on your central question. Write an exploratory journal entry or blog post that allows you to play with ideas.
• What does the work mean?
• How does the work demonstrate the theme you’ve identified using a new historical approach?
• “So what” is significant about the work? That is, why is it important for you to write about this work? What will readers learn from reading your interpretation? How does the theory you apply illuminate the work’s meaning?
• Reread the text to gather textual evidence for support.
• Construct an informal outline that demonstrates how you will support your interpretation.
• Write a first draft.
• Receive feedback from peers and your instructor via peer review and conferencing with your instructor (if possible).
• Revise the paper , which will include revising your original thesis statement and restructuring your paper to best support the thesis. Note: You probably will revise many times, so it is important to receive feedback at every draft stage if possible.
• Edit and proofread for correctness, clarity, and style.

We recommend that you follow this process for every paper that you write from this textbook. Of course, these steps can be modified to fit your writing process, but the plan does ensure that you will engage in a thorough reading of the text as you work through the writing process, which demands that you allow plenty of time for reading, reflecting, writing, reviewing, and revising.

Peer Reviewing

A central stage in the writing process is the feedback stage, in which you receive revision suggestions from classmates and your instructor. By receiving feedback on your paper, you will be able to make more intelligent revision decisions. Furthermore, by reading and responding to your peers’ papers, you become a more astute reader, which will help when you revise your own papers. In Chapter 10, you will find peer-review sheets for each chapter.

Essay About the Beauty of Nature: 4 Examples and 9 Prompts

Read this article for essay examples and prompts to use so you can start writing essay about the beauty of nature.

Nature is complex and beautiful. Our ecosystem covers every aspect of Mother Earth, including the evolution of the earth & life, the various cycles, all the living things, and more. Collectively, they create something so beautiful and perfect that it can be hard to believe it exists. 

The beauty and power of nature can be pretty overwhelming. Whenever you want to feel these emotions, reading or writing essays about the beauty of nature can help you grasp those ideas. 

Below are examples of essays on nature and its beauty and prompts to help you get started on your next essay.

1. Essay on Beauty of Nature for Children and Students on Study Mentor

2. descriptive essay on beauty of nature on performdigi, 3. essay on beauties of nature by gk scientist, 4. descriptive essay on mother nature by neetu singh, 1. activities that appreciate nature, 2. the beauty of nature in renaissance art, 3. mindful methods of appreciating the beauty of nature, 4. literature pieces that define the beauty of nature well, 5. video games that captured the beauty of nature, 6. beautiful nature photo ideas and tips you can do with a phone, 7. difference between nature and science, 8. philosophical understanding of nature, 9. biomimicry: nature-inspired engineering.

“Each and everything in nature, including living or non-living organisms, play an important role in maintaining the balance to create a viable environment for all of us, which is called ecological balance. We need to make sure that the ecological balance should be maintained at all times to avoid a catastrophic situation in the future.”

The first essay discusses nature’s significance, the natural resources, and how to conserve them. It has an educational tone, encouraging the reader to care for nature and protect its beauty. The second essay focuses on the non-harmful ways of enjoying nature and protecting it from modern daily processes. You might also like these authors like Wendell Berry .

“Nature has many faces. They are everywhere. The human eye is always in contact with good things.”

This descriptive essay about the beauty of nature discusses the immortal, infinite, and eternal beauty of nature and nature as a reflection of the art of Allah. It covers the beauty of everything found in nature, including the changing seasons, birds, beasts, fish, reptiles, humans, the environment, and more.

“To enjoy these beauties of nature, one has to live in nature’s company. A countryman enjoys nature well. A town dweller cannot enjoy the beauties of nature.”

This essay on nature talks about nature and personifies it as a woman by using the pronouns she and her. The essay considers the various elements in nature, seasons, and unique environments. It also provides some wisdom to encourage the reader to care for nature.You might also be interested in these articles about the beauty of nature .

“As nature is the main life force of all living beings on earth. It is our duty to preserve and protect nature and all its creations alike. We must also love her in return as she loves us.”

In this essay, nature is God’s most tremendous boon to humanity. Thus, we must protect it from corruption, pollution, and other artificial and harmful manufactured things. The essay also gave examples of environmental problems that have impacted nature significantly. The end of the essay states that we must stand, preserve, and protect nature.

9 Prompts for Writing an Essay About the Beauty of Nature

Writing an essay about the beauty of nature can feel repetitive and overdone. You can avoid repeating the usual themes or ideas you saw above. Instead, use the essay prompts on nature below.

Here’s a tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

Do you want other people to enjoy and appreciate nature? With this essay, you can list the various methods of appreciating nature. The activities can be simple such as planting a tree, hugging a tree, and watching sunsets.

For help with this topic, read this guide explaining what persuasive writing is all about.

Renaissance art is rich with meanings and symbolism portrayed through nature. For example, although flowers universally stand for beauty, different flower types can have different meanings. Dark clouds and streaks of lightning in the skies can portray dark moods or omens. Many renaissance male artists saw nature as a mother, mistress, or bride. If you like interpreting renaissance art, you’ll enjoy this essay topic.

Mindfulness and nature share a very positive relationship. Being in nature can make you more mindful. Being mindful while in nature enhances your connectedness to it. This essay focuses on mindfulness in nature.

 Consider your connection to it, be aware of your surroundings, and actively appreciate its various parts. Connecting to nature will open you to change, the natural cycle of life and death, and more.

Literature is more flexible than visual art because it taps the imagination through ideas and concepts rather than images. For example, various poets, writers, and playwrights have likened the beauty of nature to love, characters, powerful forces, and intense emotions. 

Avid literature readers will enjoy writing about the beauty of nature through their favorite authors, themes, and stories.

No matter what their genre, more video games today feature realistic graphics. One of the best ways to show off these high-tech graphics is by showing nature’s beauty in a scene or environment. 

Some examples of the top video games that have captured the beauty of nature include Ghost of Tsushima, Red Dead Redemption II, and The Last of Us: Part Two. Write about how the beauty of nature can be captured in a video game and the methods used to create vivid digital worlds.

Are you an enthusiast of nature photography and amateur photography? Bring these two things together by writing an essay about taking nature photos with a phone. Write what you learned about taking nature photos. 

You can also provide sample nature photos you or others took with a smartphone. Remember, nature photography can cover many subjects, like animals, plants, landscapes, etc.

Have you ever stopped to think about the difference between nature and science? Science has many methodical and measurable aspects and is as young as humanity. The opposite is true for nature because it has existed far longer than humans have. Yet, we can use science to study nature. 

When you pick this essay idea, discuss the loose ideas mentioned above in more detail. Researching and reading about nature vs. science can also help. Discuss this in your next essay for an inspiring and intriguing essay topic.

Philosopher students will enjoy writing an essay about the beauty of nature. You can argue that nature does not exist because it is not measurable. It doesn’t exist outside of any solid examples we can give, like the environment, animals, weather, and plants. 

You write about the philosophical aspects of nature and use key research to back up your ideas and arguments made in the essay. Look for scientific research papers, books by philosophers, and opinion essays to create this essay.

Biomimicry is a sustainable solution to human challenges. It imitates the designs found in nature’s time-tested strategies and patterns and incorporates them into technology. 

This is a fascinating essay topic that can inspire your next written piece. Conduct research into biomimicry, and let the reader know your thoughts and opinions on this subject.

 Do you need more inspiration? Read these 13 essays about nature .

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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The Role of Nature in Human Life

Regardless of the period the literary text is written, the message it tries to express through black ink is often relative for many decades. An example of this kind of works is the excerpts written by Keats, Yeats, and Orwell. The writers invoke philosophical ideas and provoke readers’ thoughts by revealing many critical aspects of human life. Besides, these authors’ three works have a common theme: the distancing of humanity from their origin. They describe the beauty of nature and its effortlessness in its self-recreation and art. On the contrary, humankind is portrayed as evil and spiteful, which destroys nature to create humans’ own ‘art.’ The works call for attention on the environmental rupture caused by humans bringing calamity and misery, while harmony gives individuals freedom and delight.

Most importantly, the writings picture the artistry and elegance of nature which give pleasure and freedom. Ode to a Nightingale transmits the charming sound coming from a bird and the allurement of the surrounding trees. Keats says that the tree the nightingale is sitting on is like a Dryad, the spirit of trees. The sunlight rays passing through a tree create a stunning image contrasting with light and shadows. He is amazed by its beauty by saying, “tasting of flora and the country green, dance, and provençal song, and sunburnt mirth!” (Keats). The author writes that the music the songbird creates reminds a sunny summary that warms his heart. Keats gives a tribute to the nightingale and thinks about the artistry of mother nature. He introduces nature as an engaging sort of inventiveness that is simple and unadulterated.

Similarly, Orwell talks about the grace and effortlessness of the spring and natural world. For instance, he writes, “the leaves are thickening on the chestnut trees, the daffodils are out, the wallflowers are budding, the policeman’s tunic looks positively a pleasant shade of blue” to describe the blooming Earth (Orwell). In addition, he praises nature by saying, “birds living inside the four-mile radius, and it is rather a pleasing thought that none of them pays a halfpenny of rent” (Orwell). He refers that all the creatures live a life that is far from humanity’s notions and understanding. They do not need to pay rents for their house. Animals and plants just live as they please without complicating things. The writer describes how a toad welcomes the coming of spring. He wonders about nature’s self-regulation abilities since a toad always knows the exact time of waking.

Furthermore, the writings describe the humans’ greed and their destructive behavior and serve as reminders to humankind to introspect their disruptive and pointless activities for the sake of reaching endurance and sovereignty. As predetermination would have it, at present living under the shadow of an uncontrollable pandemic, the progressing political wars, and steady decay of nature because of human misuse, the world is in suffer and needs a recuperating. Yeats’s poem conveys that the world will be in chaos because of wars, pollution, and massacre induced by people. He says, “and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned,” demonstrating that the humans are no longer pure (Yeats). He, together with Keats and Orwell, talk about humanity distancing from their origin.

Yeats warns humanity about the apocalyptic future if people do not take accordant steps. His poem predicts that the time is over for humankind and that development, as the readers probably know it, is going to implode. Yeats suggests people forgot their goal, and they are blinded by their aimless ambitions. Humans’ chase after the technological development and building of strong governments which separate them from nature. This deviance destroys both the surrounding environment and people.

Likewise, Thoughts on the Common Toad is about humans being submerged in their routine and strive for better living conditions and missing important parts of their life. The short passage gives off a sad atmosphere despite its description of a beautiful spring. According to Orwell, “those who really have to deal with the soil, so it is argued, do not love the soil.” People do not value what they have and cannot see the wonders right in front of them. They are always in a hustle to survive in the modern world, and they even do not notice the coming of spring, unlike the common toad.

Keats also speaks about how he is tired of challenges faced as a human being. The civilizational world is demanding and merciless, and those who stop fighting for their place under the sunlight are swept by this world’s cruelty. The narrator of the poem comes to listen to the nightingale’s song to escape the suffocating reality. He desires a glass of wine that would let him forget his problems as a human being and be unconscious about them. The writer even wishes to die in order to leave the life of a human that is full of “the weariness, the fever, and the fret” (Keats). The poem suggests that people tend to ruin everything around them and, what is more critical, themselves by seeking progress.

Ode to a Nightingale is brimming with logical inconsistency, including the logical inconsistency between man and nature, and the inconsistency between the realistic and the ideal worlds. This resistance of two distinct kinds of magnificence is shown from the earliest starting point of the sonnet. Keats notes people always contend with nature to create their own art. Nevertheless, the author concludes nature’s skill is more prominent and greater than humans’ technology. People make weapons and machines that bring mostly harm to the surroundings. Keats tells people their efforts are meaningless, and they will eventually destroy everything they have worked for.

The work asks whether nature – spoke to by the songbird and its tunes – implies a sort of magnificence more unprecedented than anything people can deliver, a marvel that is some way or another pure and everlasting. According to Sengupta (71), Lethewards is a waterway in the lower world. Its water causes individuals to fail to remember when they drink it. The water of Lethe-wards is expected to have the inebriating power that causes the artist to fail to remember the unpleasant truth of life. He accepts the songbird as a light-winged Dryad of the trees. Dryad is a wood fairy, likewise called hamadryad, in Greek folklore, a sprite or nature soul who lives in trees and appears as a wonderful young lady. Dryads were initially the spirits of oak trees, yet the name was later applied to all tree sprites (Sengupta 71). With the mistake and grumbling to the general public, Keats picks songbird as the theme and composes this sonnet.

Three literary texts imply that men became slaves and machines who work to survive losing their opinions and spirits. In this exhaustion and fret world, material interests overtop all other matters. The deficiency of self-character causes them to lose basic freedom. Correspondence, opportunity, and equity do not have a place in modern society. The best way to live in wealth and joy and to have strong social relationships is to react to the energy and power coming from natural sources. The tune of the songbird is the call of nature to people.

The main message the three readings aim to deliver is the significance of a strong bond between humans and nature. The authors suggest people should stop craving progress and civilization but pause and live in the present. Keats claims that humans always desire development and innovations, while the little bird’s melody stays unchanged. The time freezes when the nightingale sings, but the human’s lifespan is short, and it should not be spent it on trivial matters. People instead need to enjoy their life as it is and spend more time surrounded by the natural landscape. Distancing themselves from nature will only provoke unhappiness and self-degradation. In this case, the world will achieve balance and peace.

In a similar manner, Orwell comments on the humans’ inability to relax and enjoy the daily gifts given by nature. Humans are the children of the Earth, and they derive their energy from it. Thus, it is essential to treat other living organisms as equals without dominating them and overestimating self-importance. Thoughts on the Common Toad reminds the readers of their pure love for “trees, fishes, and butterflies” when they were children and how unconditionally happy kids are because of this love (Orwell). Moreover, when Orwell talks about spring being a miracle, he discusses how London transforms when spring comes, and “down the square, the smoky privet turned bright green, the leaves thickened” (Orwell). This excerpt uses many images, and it shows how people seem to be happier when they spend time in the environment.

The Second Coming emphasizes the urge to change the situation and that the problems can be overcome if humans listen to nature. People are losing their moral standards, but it can be reverted if they stop distancing from the environment. They will lose anxiety, nervousness, and wariness caused by the difficulty they face as human beings. Consequently, people can revive the moral standards as they drop the need to chase satisfaction. Humans are happier if they are closer to nature since people are part of it in general. People keep on fighting with the world to survive, but it always leads to even more disaster. They should consider praising and caring for the environment if they want to live on the lands created by the Earth. Therefore, returning to the origin is a central theme the authors try to achieve in their writings.

In conclusion, the literary works by Keats, Orwell, and Yeats demonstrate the common issues of the planet, which are bounded to humans’ divergence from nature. All three texts describe the beauty of nature and its magnificence. The authors are impressed by nature’s ability to create lives and bring unrepeatable art. They also illustrate the destructive behavior of humankind and how it leads to absolute chaos and the crises of the ecology and intense logical inconsistencies of the present reality. People became distant from their origin and forgot about pure emotions and morals they had as children. The writers characterize the excellence and balance of the perfect life and tenderly express the call for harmony.

Works Cited

Keats, John. “Ode to a Nightingale.” 1819.

Orwell, George. “Thoughts on the Common Toad.” 1946.

Sengupta, Gaurab. “Tracing the Past: Revisiting Greek Myths in John Keats’ Poetry.” Literary Herald , vol. 5, no. 6, 2020, pp. 66–73.

Yeats, William Butler. “The Second Coming.” 1919.

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Earth Day is upon us!

Two years ago to the day, my colleagues at Lit Hub put together a giant round up of books about ecology, nature, climate change, and other environmental topics (365 books, to be exact) to encourage reading, learning, and acting on behalf of the jeopardized natural world. This year, I wanted to spotlight some of the books that have come out since thuen that have contributed to this crucial mission. (If you think I’ve missed a very important book, check the aforementioned Lit Hub master list.)

Here are 50 nonfiction books about animals, science, nature, that all have to do with learning about the wonders of the natural world, as well as the damages that have been wrought to it. 

Merlin Sheldrake, Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures

Aside from having possibly the best name in the world, the biologist Merlin Sheldrake does an enthusiastic and inspiring job presenting the many marvels of the mycological world. Trust me, your mind will be blown upon reading about the extraordinary powers of even a single fungus that lives among us. After reading my copy, I went out and bought a bunch more to give as gifts. A book like no other!

Aimee Nezhukumatathil, World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments

This masterful essay collection by the poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil is a memoir secretly concealed inside a multifaceted appreciation of the extraordinary qualities of animals of all different kinds. You will want to give this book to everyone you know.

Jonathan Meiburg, A Most Remarkable Creature: The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World’s Smartest Birds of Prey

More than anything else, rock musician Jonathan Meiburg’s book A Most Remarkable Creature: The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World’s Smartest Birds of Prey, seems so attuned to the personalities, intelligences, and feelings of the animals he encounters. The book chronicles his journey across South America, in pursuit of the brilliant, and extremely rare, species of bird, the striated caracara, and Meiburg’s tone is awed that the magnificent creatures around him might even acknowledge or pay attention to him. It’s a humble, grateful book, full of wonderful ornithological knowledge. 

Helen MacDonald, Vesper Flights

I can’t better articulate how Vesper Flights triumphs than Parul Sehgal in The New York Times Book Review , who noted that Macdonald’s writing provides “an antidote to so much romantic, reductive writing about the natural world as pristine, secret, uninhabited—as a convenient blank canvas for the hero’s journey of self-discovery.” Yes, indeed! In both of her books (this, and its predecessor H is for Hawk ), Macdonald both observes and participates in nature in a manner which is free of philosophical entanglements. But her relationships with and observations of animals are not excuses for personal reflection. Her writing is free of human hang-ups and thought spirals, thereby debunking the primacy of common human opinions about nature. She meticulously and devotedly presents complicated facets of the natural world, not to try to make metaphors out of them, but to appreciate them for what they are.

Jessica J. Lee,  Two Trees Make a Forest: In Search of My Family’s Past Among Taiwan’s Mountains and Coasts

After Jessica J. Lee accidentally encounters letters written by her immigrant grandfather, she heads to her ancestral homeland of Taiwan. This book is a presentation of the island itself: its natural landscape and how it has shaped and is shaped by the culture that it begot; in the words of Sangamithra Iyer at The Rumpus , it  is “a stunning reconnaissance effort to uncover and connect with family history through language and landscape.”

Tucker Malarkey, Stronghold: One Man’s Quest to Save the World’s Wild Salmon

The novelist Tucker Malarky undertakes a very compelling feat in this pseudo-biography of her first cousin, Guido Rahr, a fly fisherman, advocate for salmon populations, and all-around misfit. But his life’s goal, to save the world’s wild salmon populations, began when he noticed that the salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest had dwindled… and he was one of very few people who could figure out why. It’s a fascinating and essential story.

Michael E. Mann, The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet

This isn’t just a book; it’s a PLAN. To quote Book Marks , “Recycle. Fly less. Eat less meat. These are some of the ways that we’ve been told can slow climate change. But the inordinate emphasis on individual behavior is the result of a marketing campaign that has succeeded in placing the responsibility for fixing climate change squarely on the shoulders of individuals. The result has been disastrous for our planet. In The New Climate War , renowned climate scientist Mann argues that all is not lost. And he outlines a plan for forcing our governments and corporations to wake up and make real change.

Julia Rothman, The Anatomy Books

Julia Rothman’s four Anatomy books are the ultimate endorsements of the sheer educational power of illustration, while also being actual works of art, themselves. Farm Anatomy, Ocean Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy (with the Ocean and Nature installments co-authored by John Niekrasz and Food co-authored by Rachel Wharton) are brilliant taxonomies of all the “parts” of all the tools and participants within various natural and agricultural systems. With their (it must be noted) rich illustrations, they push the boundaries of what scientific illustration can do, and who can benefit from it. An ageless accomplishment, it’s the perfect series to read with your kid or just curl up with, yourself.

Arik Kershenbaum, The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy: What Animals on Earth Reveal about Aliens—And Ourselves

In this “wonderful mix of science-based speculation and entertaining whimsy,” in the words of critic David P. Barash , the Cambridge zoologist Arik Kershenbaum conducts a hypothetical exploration of what alien life might be like, given what we know about the “universal laws that govern life on Earth and in space,” to quote the Book Marks summary. Out of this world.

Melanie Challenger, How to Be Animal: A New History of What It Means to Be Human

Melanie Challenger’s excellent, excellent new book cannot be described in better terms than it was by Charlotte Shane at Bookforum , so I’m just going a paste a chunk of that review here: “How to Be Animal begins with the premise that our collective self-regard depends on the idea that we are superior to every other type of being. This fiction is predicated on a denial of other animals’ inner complexity, or at least a belief that it can’t approximate, let alone surpass, our own … Challenger’s book is a dizzyingly ambitious attempt to correct this destructive logic by examining its genesis, and I don’t mean ‘dizzying’ figuratively. How to Be Animal induces the type of vertigo I experienced as a child while pondering where I was before I was born, if I could exist without a body, and what it would be like to have never existed at all. The book aims to convince readers that our earthbound, embodied existences are precious and absolute.”

Scott Weidensaul, A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds

This lovely book is an investigation into the phenomenon of global bird migration, and when I say it pulls this off, I do not mean it lightly. This is a comprehensive approach that goes hard on the science while also bursting with emotion. You’ll feel like running underneath a V of geese with your arms spread out when you’re done.

Andreas Malm, How to Blow Up a Pipeline

This passionate, fiery book by respected climate scholar and activist (and, ahem, saboteur) Andreas Malm is a call to action for the climate movement, begging those who care about the earth to advance tactics in order to prevent complete planetary destruction. Marches and petitions aren’t good enough, he argues: what we actually need to do, to end fossil fuel extraction, is to blow up oil pipelines. And the like. What’s so clever about this ride-or-die account is that it’s also a wry history of the successes of more assertive types of activism. 

David Allen Sibley, What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing—What Birds Are Doing, and Why

My boyfriend is an avid birder, so I got him this coffee-table-book-sized nonfiction book that goes deep in analyzing what birds are doing, and why they’re doing it… but it doesn’t do it from a human’s perspective! It does it from a bird’s perspective! A real eagle eye view, if you will!

Sierra Crane Murdoch, Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman’s Search for Justice in Indian Country

This remarkable work of journalism chronicles the work of Lissa Yellow Bird, a Native American woman who was released from prison in 2009 to find that her home had been ravaged by an oil boom. When she learns that a young white oil worker has mysteriously disappeared, she begins an investigation into the shady interlopers who have invaded the landscape.

Patrik Svensson, tr. Agnes Broomé, The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World

What actually IS an eel? I don’t know, but I am very curious. The good news is that in this book, Svensson starts with this inquiry, a very helpful bit of  “what actually IS this thing” groundwork that builds into an actual thesis. Yes, the book attempts to reveal the enigma that is the eel, but it also defines the eel as an entity that has long drawn clueless fascination and resisted classification. He then takes this inquiry to metaphysical places, meditating about the nature of life and death, which may not be for everyone, but it is thematically cohesive: the eel is just one glaring mystery in the mystery that is nature.

Peter Godfrey-Smith, Metazoa: Animal Life and the Birth of the Mind

Do you remember that mind-blowing book about the octopus from a few years ago? Well noted philosopher and scuba diver Peter Godfrey-Smith’s next book similarly explores the vastness of animal consciousness and what it reveals about the origins of the human mind. As Robert Eagan wrote in Library Journal, “An astonishing range of creatures are considered and a fascinating argument advanced about how evolutionary innovations can give rise to animal minds.”

Erin Brockovich, Superman’s Not Coming: Our National Water Crisis and What We the People Can Do about It

Hooray for Erin Brockovich! The crusader who took down Pacific Gas and Electric has not stopped her activism and she will not stop! As Gabino Iglesias writes for NPR , the book “is a brutally honest look at how mismanagement, chemical spills, mishandling of toxic waste and sludge, and even fake studies have created the perfect storm in terms of damaging water systems in the United States … Brockovich delves deep into places where there are unreported cancer clusters to show us the extent of it.”  

N. Scott Momaday, Earth Keeper: Reflections on the American Land

Diego Báez at Booklist calls this beautiful book “a profound reflection on humanity’s relationship with its terrestrial home, the planet Earth. In this ‘spiritual autobiography,’ Momaday addresses his intimate, evolving relationship with the land in quick vignettes composed of disarmingly short paragraphs that depict moments big and small.”

Wendy Williams, The Language of Butterflies: How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists, and Other Obsessives Unlocked the Secrets of the World’s Favorite Insect

Don’t just take my word for it… here’s what Adrian Wolfson from The Washington Post has to say about it: “In her glorious and exuberant celebration of these biological flying machines, The Language of Butterflies, Wendy Williams takes us on a humorous and beautifully crafted journey that explores both the nature of these curious and highly intelligent insects and the eccentric individuals who coveted them. En route we discover, among other things, the remarkable interconnectivity of living things, the deceptions that insects deploy to trick predators and the complexities that present a significant challenge to our attempts to conserve the rapidly disappearing natural world.”

Tim Birkhead, The Wonderful Mr. Willughby: The First True Ornithologist

Have you heard of Francis Willughby? Probably not, but, in the words of the Book Marks summary , in  his very short life he “helped found the Royal Society, differentiated birds through identification of their distinguishing features, and asked questions that were, in some cases, centuries ahead of their time.” This lovely biography attempts to restore his legacy and bring him the credit his many ornithological accomplishments deserve.

Matthieu Ricard, A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion

This beautiful, heartbreaking treatise by French Buddhist monk and animal activist Matthieu Ricard gutted me when I read it a few years ago. Its argument is simple: that humans are not the only creatures who can feel pleasure and plain, and who deserve lives free of pain and torture. He declares that it is a moral obligation to treat all animals with compassion. The hard part about this book is that Ricard outlines the countless ways in which our society does not, in fact, treat animals with respect, and his breakdown of the ways in which the animals that we turn into food, clothing, decoration, entertainment, test subjects, and other entities suffer greatly is beyond devastating. Everyone should read this book.

Stefano Mancuso tr. Gregory Conti,  The Nation of Plants

Italian plant neurobiologist Stefano Mancuso’s framework (which understands the floral world as its own “nation”) is only the first of the countless innovative scaffoldings that he uses to present the truths of the botanical world to us. 

Helen Scales, The Brilliant Abyss, Exploring the Majestic Hidden Life of the Deep Ocean, and the Looming Threat That Imperils It

This might be cheating, because it’s not out yet, but I hope everyone picks up Helen Scales’s The Brilliant Abyss when it hits shelves in July of this year! Scales is a marine biologist, and in this book, she presents to us the limits of our knowledge about the world’s ocean ecosystems. She notes that we’re actually at a historical watershed in terms of deep-sea exploration: very soon, our technology will make it possible to examine the unfathomable depths of the oceans. But, Scales warns, while this is a thrilling possibility for science, it’s also possibly another doomed frontier, about to be mined and exploited. 

Bruno LaTour, Down to Earth, Politics in the New Climatic Regime

The French philosopher Bruno LaTour takes on the Climate Crisis. I agree with James Delbourgo, who masterfully noted in the LARB that “It’s fascinating to see a thinker like Latour grapple with the political moment and deploy the abstractions of his intellectual program to help clarify it. His book is a success in this regard.” Delbourgo continues, “Latour’s point is that crises of migration, inequality, and environment are linked by a politics of denial: we finally have an environmentally based politics, but it’s one of negation… The protagonist of his book is not a person but a mythology: the idea of ‘attachment to the soil’ (‘ attachement au sol ’). This attachment is characterized by a yearning to retreat from ‘the global’ to ‘the local,’ and to define ourselves as defending our soil from external enemies who will not only land but also somehow destroy us. Ironically, such nativism — truth to soil, if you like — is driven by escapist flight: flight from the reality of anthropogenic climate change, and flight from empirical evidence to ‘alternative facts.’ Trumpism is the ultimate mental staycation: there is only here, and there is nothing outside of here to care about. Let’s lock ourselves in. In other words, the political world now under construction is one of paradoxical flight toward the local, rather than away from it ; we don’t share the same planet, and so there’s no common ground. If any grassroots connected all of us once upon a time, those roots seem to have been pulled up like so many inconvenient weeds in the name of protection from our enemies.”

Peter Wohlleben, tr. Jane Billinghurst, The Inner Life of Animals: Love, Grief, and Compassion–Surprising Observations of a Hidden World

A follow-up to his bestseller, The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben’s new book moves in steps to bring our understanding of humankind’s mental and emotional abilities as relating to animals; each chapter hones a particular “human” emotional state that appears in animal, too.

Elena Passarello, Animals Strike Curious Poses

In each of Elena Passarello’s sixteen essays in this gorgeous and unconventional collection, she focuses on an animal that has been celebrated by humans: named, celebrated, venerated, memorialized. 

Dina Gilio-Whitaker, As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, From Colonization to Standing Rock

In their excellent 2019 Book Marks list in honor of Indigenous People’s Day , Sarah Neilson praises this meticulous book by Dina Gilio-Whitaker (of the Colville Confederated Tribe): “In this short but dense primer, Gilio-Whitaker brings her vast knowledge and experience to the page as she charts the history of environmental (in)justice (EJ) in North America since colonization. The book opens with a detailed account of Standing Rock and moves outward, highlighting the ways in which western colonial expansion, the Industrial Revolution and its legacy, and the mainstream EJ movement continue to exclude, marginalize, harm, indeed kill, First Nations people. Drawing connections between Indigenous health, sacred sites, and the essential leadership of Indigenous women, she illustrates capitalism as a manifestation of settler colonialism that is fundamentally incompatible with Indigenous ways of thinking/being and, therefore, with environmental justice. Gilio-Whitaker makes a comprehensive, urgent and compelling argument for the indigenization of the EJ movement.”

Michelle Nijhuis, Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction

You’ve definitely seen this cover on display if you’ve been inside a bookshop lately—you can’t miss the neon. Michelle Nijhuis’s excellent new book is a history of the conservation movement. As Donna Seaman writes in Booklist , “Nijhuis parses thorny social and ethical issues, while anchoring this exceptionally comprehensive and enlightening history of conservation to incisive profiles of many ardent and intrepid individuals devoted to protecting animals and their habitats … Along the way, she exposes the racism inherent in environmental decimation, chronicles the struggle to establish community-based conservation initiatives, and explains efforts to protect common species before they decline, introducing heroic contemporary innovators.”

Terry Tempest Williams, Erosion: Essays of Undoing

The environmental and feminist activist Terry Tempest Williams is an urgent cry to save the withering away of America’s public lands, which are constantly besieged by endless corporate and industrial entities. Diane Ackerman writes in The New York Times Book Review , “It is in this spacious, all-encompassing spirit that Terry Tempest Williams imagines erosion in her new book, as a process that also weathers the body, mind and spirit … If Williams’s haunting, powerful and brave book can be summed up in one line of advice it would be this: try to stare down the grief of everyday life, speak out and find solace in the boundless beauty of nature.”

Kathleen Dean Moore, Earth’s Wild Music: Celebrating and Defending the Songs of the Natural World

This evocative essay collection, which spans the career of noted climate activist Kathleen Dean Moore, brings together new and classic essays to encourage people to witness and listen to (this is key) the wonders of the world, along the path to trying to save it.

Zach St. George, The Journeys of Trees: A Story about Forests, People, and the Future

So, one of the most interesting scientific tidbits I have ever heard is that trees actually move. They do! They aren’t fixed entities… they expand, and they migrate! Zach St. George’s impeccably well-researched and groundbreaking (admittedly less literally than the trees he writes about) study is a necessary uncovering of the sentience and capabilities of plants.

Carl Safina, Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace

New York Times bestselling author Carl Safina takes us into the worlds of three separate animal species, to learn as much about them as possible. As Katharine Norbury writes in The Washington Post , “In this superbly articulate cri de coeur, Safina gives us a new way of looking at the natural world that is radically different from our usual anthropocentric perspective. Becoming Wild demands that we wake up and realize that we are intrinsically linked to our other-than-human neighbors.”

Toby Musgrave, The Multifarious Mr. Banks: From Botany Bay to Kew, the Natural Historian Who Shaped the World

In this impressive and comprehensive biography, Toby Musgrave introduces us to a lost figure of the Enlightenment: Sir Joseph Banks, a historian and designer of gardens whose horticultural cultivation shaped the landscapes of the Western world.

Thomas D. Seeley, The Lives of Bees: The Untold Story of the Honey Bee in the Wild

No list on animals and nature should be without a book on bees! And honey, do I have a great one for you! Thomas D. Seeley brings us dispatches from the cutting-edge scientific hive-mind exploring the complex behavioral, social, and survival dynamics of bee colonies.

Kazim Ali, Northern Light: Power, Land, and the Memory of Water

Kazim Ali was inspired to write this book by the local Pimicikamak community’s challenges brought to them by the Canadian government, following the building of an electric utility on the shores of the Cross Lake Dam. As Rachel Jagareski writes in Foreward Review , “Kazim Ali’s eloquent memoir Northern Light reports on the complicated history of a Canadian landscape and its Pimicikamak residents, who endure human-made challenges every day … This book began as a nostalgic inquiry into that place, but grew into an exploration of human connections to land and water, personal and cultural identities, and the meaning of home.”

Douglas W. Tallamy, The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees

In this new and enlightening book from New York Times bestselling author Douglas W. Tallamy, our man focuses his attention on the great monolith of the arboreal world: the mighty oak! It’s a rich explanation of exactly what oaks are and how they thrive, plus it’s got a bunch of tips for how you can maintain your own oaks!

Nathaniel Rich, Second Nature: Scenes from a World Remade

To quote Book Marks , “The author of Losing Earth returns with an exploration of our post-natural world in which scientists race to reanimate extinct beasts, our most essential ecosystems require monumental engineering projects to survive, chicken breasts grow in test tubes, and multinational corporations conspire to poison the blood of every living creature.”

Catherine Zabinski, Amber Waves: The Extraordinary Biography of Wheat, from Wild Grass to World Megacrop

In this high-fiber read, plant ecologist Catherine Zabinski follows the evolution of wheat, from its wild origins to its highly modified existence as a staple of modern agriculture. Forrest Pritchard writes, in The Wall Street Journal , that“ Amber Waves nimbly segues into a socio-agro primer, providing a crash course in genetics, plant breeding and agronomy,” but that it is still “replete with heartbreak, endless drama and even an unlikely love affair.”

Kenneth Catania, Great Adaptations: Star-Nosed Moles, Electric Eels, and Other Tales of Evolution’s Mysteries Solved

This book is a delightful series of “aha!” moments. After doing impressive biological detective work, Kenneth Catania theorizes why some of the most fascinating animal qualities wound up evolving into existence. Tons of fun.

Callum Roberts, Reef Life: An Underwater Memoir

Callum Roberts is the world’s leading coral reef scientist, and has written a fascinating, loving reflection on his career, and his field. As Caspar Henderson writes in The Guardian (UK) , “ Reef Life is a vibrant memoir of the joys, as well as the grind, of a research career beginning in the 1980s that has spanned a golden age of coral reef science. It is also a fine introduction to the ecology of reefs and the existential threats they now face.”

Naoko Abe, The Sakura Obsession: The Incredible Story of the Plant Hunter Who Saved Japan’s Cherry Blossoms 

This lovely, exacting book tells the story of two lives: that of the Japanese cherry blossom tree, which has lived for 1,200-years—and the English gardener who was determined not to let it go extinct.

Raynor Winn, The Wild Silence: A Memoir

This book is the sequel to Winn’s bestselling memoir The Salt Path , about her life with her beloved, ill husband Moth. But in the words of Heller McAlpin in The Wall Street Journal , “… where The Salt Path stayed on a relatively narrow but propulsive narrative track, The Wild Silence roams further afield. It’s a more expansive memoir, ranging from backstory to update, with meditations on death, sustainable farming, trust, the meaning of home and the central importance of deep engagement with the great outdoors … As always, Ms. Winn exquisitely captures the raw intensity of untamed environments … a full-throated paean to the fundamental importance of nature in all its glory, fury and impermanence.”

Gretel Ehrlich, Unsolaced: Along the Way to All That Is

Gretel Ehrlich’s reverent, roaming memoir is, to quote the Book Marks description , “a meditation on how water, light, wind, mountain, bird, and horse have shaped her life and her understanding of a world besieged by a climate crisis.”

Noé Álvarez, Spirit Run: A 6,000-Mile Marathon Through North America’s Stolen Land

This is a moving (literally, it’s about running) debut memoir, part coming-of-age story, part environmental reflection, part social critique. Álvarez runs in a Native American marathon from Canada all the way to Guatemala, reflecting on his family’s history, as Mexican immigrants who worked in fruit-packing plants before coming to America, and the identity of North America as a whole.        

Felicia Luna Lemus, Particulate Matter

This scintillating, multifaceted book is a look at Lemus’s “place”: the state of her marriage (which has been rocked), her identity as a woman of color and a queer woman, her residence in Los Angeles, a place whose land, water, and air have become toxic and compromised, and her identity as a human on a planet that is being destroyed by climate change. As Jason Heller writes in NPR , “it’s more than just a cautionary tale about how climate change and its manmade causes have affected the life of the author. It’s a love story that’s profoundly rooted in the emotional, geographical, and sociopolitical terrain of today.”

Elizabeth Kolbert, Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future

Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Kolbert’s beat is examining the impact of humans on the environment and she does it better than basically everyone. Her new book takes this damage as a starting point rather than a focus, asking how to reconstruct, preserve, and even save nature, going forward.

Ernest Freeberg, A Traitor to His Species: Henry Bergh and the Birth of the Animal Rights Movement

One of the biggest legacies of history is that Western civilization has been hell for animals. I’ve long been fascinated by Henry Bergh, the wealthy nineteenth-century man who founded the ASPCA and spent his life championing animal rights. Not only did he work for the protection of animals, he also worked to establish corresponding public health protocols. He took on everyone from local gangs to P.T. Barnum, helping to establish laws that protected all animals, from trolley horses, to stray dogs. I’m so grateful to Freeberg for writing this excellent biography.

ed. by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson, All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis

This remarkable, hyper-collaborative book expands our understanding of how those affected by climate change might all work together to stop it, and how female leadership (particularly leadership undertaken by women of color) has proven to be more successful. I really like the summary on Penguin’s website , so I’m just going to quote a chunk of it. Forgive me for the giant paragraph: “There is a renaissance blooming in the climate movement: leadership that is more characteristically feminine and more faithfully feminist, rooted in compassion, connection, creativity, and collaboration. While it’s clear that women and girls are vital voices and agents of change for this planet, they are too often missing from the proverbial table. More than a problem of bias, it’s a dynamic that sets us up for failure. To change everything, we need everyone. All We Can Save illuminates the expertise and insights of dozens of diverse women leading on climate in the United States—scientists, journalists, farmers, lawyers, teachers, activists, innovators, wonks, and designers, across generations, geographies, and race—and aims to advance a more representative, nuanced, and solution-oriented public conversation on the climate crisis. These women offer a spectrum of ideas and insights for how we can rapidly, radically reshape society.”

Roland Ennos, The Age of Wood: Our Most Useful Material and the Construction of Civilization

This fascinating book (besides being the perfect Father’s Day gift for your dad, obviously) is an eye-opening history of WOOD! What? I know! From how trees, and our interactions with trees, have shaped ecosystems, to how wood itself has been incorporated into societies, to how wood functions as a material, it gives a rundown like no other.

David Roberts, The Bears Ears: A Human History of America’s Most Endangered Wilderness  

This sprawling, exuberant, well-researched study of the Bears Ears National Monument and its surrounding lands provides a long history of the formation, chronicling its significance to the Indigenous tribes who lived in the Southwest, to the modern effort to save it.

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Literary Theory and Criticism

Home › Eco Criticism › Ecocriticism: An Essay

Ecocriticism: An Essay

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on November 27, 2016 • ( 3 )

Ecocriticism is the study of literature and environment from an interdisciplinary point of view where all sciences come together to analyze the environment and brainstorm possible solutions for the correction of the contemporary environmental situation. Ecocriticism was officially heralded by the publication of two seminal works, both published in the mid-1990s: The Ecocriticism Reader , edited by Cheryll Glotfelty and Harold Fromm , and The Environmental Imagination, by Lawrence Buell.

Ecocriticism investigates the relation between humans and the natural world in literature. It deals with how environmental issues, cultural issues concerning the environment and attitudes towards nature are presented and analyzed. One of the main goals in ecocriticism is to study how individuals in society behave and react in relation to nature and ecological aspects. This form of criticism has gained a lot of attention during recent years due to higher social emphasis on environmental destruction and increased technology. It is hence a fresh way of analyzing and interpreting literary texts, which brings new dimensions to the field of literary and theoritical studies. Ecocriticism is an intentionally broad approach that is known by a number of other designations, including “green (cultural) studies”, “ecopoetics”, and “environmental literary criticism.”

Western thought has often held a more or less utilitarian attitude to nature —nature is for serving human needs. However, after the eighteenth century, there emerged many voices that demanded a revaluation of the relationship between man and environment, and man’s view of nature. Arne Naess , a Norwegian philosopher, developed the notion of “Deep Ecology” which emphasizes the basic interconnectedness of all life forms and natural features, and presents a symbiotic and holistic world-view rather than an anthropocentric one.

Earlier theories in literary and cultural studies focussed on issue of class, race, gender, region are criteria and “subjects”of critical analysis. The late twentieth century has woken up to a new threat: ecological disaster. The most important environmental problems that humankind faces as a whole are: nuclear war, depletion of valuable natural resources, population explosion, proliferation of exploitative technologies, conquest of space preliminary to using it as a garbage dump, pollution, extinction of species (though not a human problem) among others. In such a context, literary and cultural theory has begun to address the issue as a part of academic discourse. Numerous green movements have sprung up all over the world, and some have even gained representations in the governments.

Large scale debates over “dumping,” North versus South environmentalism (the necessary differences between the en-vironmentalism of the developed and technologically advanced richer nations—the North, and the poorer, subsistence environmentalism of the developing or “Third World”—the South). Donald Worster ‘s Nature’s Economy (1977) became a textbook for the study of ecological thought down the ages. The historian Arnold Toynbee recorded the effect of human civilisation upon the land and nature in his monumental, Mankind and Mother Earth (1976). Environmental issues and landscape use were also the concern of the Annales School of historians , especially Braudel and Febvre. The work of environmental historians has been pathbreaking too. Rich-ard Grove et al’s massive Nature and the Orient (1998), David Arnold and Ramachandra Guha’s Nature, Culture, Imperialism (1995) have been significant work in the environmental history of India and Southeast Asia. Ramachandra Guha is of course the most important environmental historian writing from India today.

Various versions of environmentalism developed.Deep ecology and ecofeminism were two important developments. These new ideas questioned the notion of “development” and “modernity,” and argued that all Western notions in science, philosophy, politics were “anthropocentric” (human-centred) and “androcentric”(Man/male-centred). Technology, medical science with its animal testing, the cosmetic and fashion industry all came in for scrutiny from environmentalists. Deep ecology, for instance, stressed on a “biocentric” view (as seen in the name of the environmentalist group, “ Earth First! !”).

Ecocriticism is the result of this new consciousness: that very soon, there will be nothing beautiful (or safe) in nature to discourse about, unless we are very careful.

Ecocritics ask questions such as: (1) How is nature represented in the novel/poem/play ? (2) What role does the physical-geographical setting play in the structure of the novel? (3) How do our metaphors of the land influence the way we treat it? That is, what is the link between pedagogic or creative practice and actual political, sociocultural and ethical behaviour towards the land and other non-human life forms? (4) How is science —in the form of genetic engineering, technologies of reproduction, sexualities—open to critical scrutiny terms of the effects of science upon the land?

The essential assumptions, ideas and methods of ecocritics may be summed up as follows. (1) Ecocritics believe that human culture is related to the physical world. (2) Ecocriticism assumes that all life forms are interlinked. Ecocriticism expands the notion of “the world” to include the entire ecosphere. (3) Moreover, there is a definite link between nature and culture, where the literary treatment, representation and “thematisation” of land and nature influence actions on the land. (4) Joseph Meeker in an early work, The Comedy of Survival: Studies in Literary Ecology (1972) used the term “literary ecology” to refer to “the study of biological themes and relationships which appear in literary works. It is simultaneously an attempt to discover what roles have been played by literature in the ecology of the human species.” (5) William Rueckert is believed to have coined the term “ecocriticism” in 1978, which he defines as “the application of ecology and ecological concepts to the study of literature.”

Source: Literary Theory Today,Pramod K Nair

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Categories: Eco Criticism

Tags: Annales School , Arne Naess , Arnold Toynbee , Cheryll Glotfelty , Deep Ecology , Earth First! , Ecocriticism , green studies , Harold Fromm , Literary Theory , Mankind and Mother Earth , Nature and the Orient , Nature's Economy , The Comedy of Survival: Studies in Literary Ecology , The Ecocriticism Reader , The Environmental Imagination

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Essay on Earth

500 words essay on earth.

The earth is the planet that we live on and it is the fifth-largest planet. It is positioned in third place from the Sun. This essay on earth will help you learn all about it in detail. Our earth is the only planet that can sustain humans and other living species. The vital substances such as air, water, and land make it possible.

All About Essay on Earth

The rocks make up the earth that has been around for billions of years. Similarly, water also makes up the earth. In fact, water covers 70% of the surface. It includes the oceans that you see, the rivers, the sea and more.

Thus, the remaining 30% is covered with land. The earth moves around the sun in an orbit and takes around 364 days plus 6 hours to complete one round around it. Thus, we refer to it as a year.

Just like revolution, the earth also rotates on its axis within 24 hours that we refer to as a solar day. When rotation is happening, some of the places on the planet face the sun while the others hide from it.

As a result, we get day and night. There are three layers on the earth which we know as the core, mantle and crust. The core is the centre of the earth that is usually very hot. Further, we have the crust that is the outer layer. Finally, between the core and crust, we have the mantle i.e. the middle part.

The layer that we live on is the outer one with the rocks. Earth is home to not just humans but millions of other plants and species. The water and air on the earth make it possible for life to sustain. As the earth is the only livable planet, we must protect it at all costs.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

There is No Planet B

The human impact on the planet earth is very dangerous. Through this essay on earth, we wish to make people aware of protecting the earth. There is no balance with nature as human activities are hampering the earth.

Needless to say, we are responsible for the climate crisis that is happening right now. Climate change is getting worse and we need to start getting serious about it. It has a direct impact on our food, air, education, water, and more.

The rising temperature and natural disasters are clear warning signs. Therefore, we need to come together to save the earth and leave a better planet for our future generations.

Being ignorant is not an option anymore. We must spread awareness about the crisis and take preventive measures to protect the earth. We must all plant more trees and avoid using non-biodegradable products.

Further, it is vital to choose sustainable options and use reusable alternatives. We must save the earth to save our future. There is no Planet B and we must start acting like it accordingly.

Conclusion of Essay on Earth

All in all, we must work together to plant more trees and avoid using plastic. It is also important to limit the use of non-renewable resources to give our future generations a better planet.

FAQ on Essay on Earth

Question 1: What is the earth for kids?

Answer 1: Earth is the third farthest planet from the sun. It is bright and bluish in appearance when we see it from outer space. Water covers 70% of the earth while land covers 30%. Moreover, the earth is the only planet that can sustain life.

Question 2: How can we protect the earth?

Answer 2: We can protect the earth by limiting the use of non-renewable resources. Further, we must not waste water and avoid using plastic.

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Short Essay: Beauty Of Nature

A couple of short essay examples on beauty of nature.

Table of Contents

Beauty Of Nature Essay Example 1

Nature is a beautiful and awe-inspiring force that surrounds us every day. It is impossible to deny the stunning beauty of nature’s landscapes, the changing seasons, and the sounds and smells that evoke feelings of peace and tranquility. In this essay, I will explore the beauty of nature through its diverse landscapes, changing seasons, and sensory experiences.

The first aspect of nature’s beauty that I will explore is its diverse landscapes. From the vast forests of the Amazon to the towering mountains of the Himalayas, nature presents us with a breathtaking array of landscapes. The oceans and deserts, too, have their unique beauty, with the former offering an endless expanse of water, and the latter providing a stark and arid landscape that is both unforgiving and beautiful. Each of these landscapes offers its unique beauty, and it is impossible not to be amazed by the incredible diversity of nature.

The changing seasons provide another opportunity to witness the beauty of nature. With each season comes new colors and natural phenomena, such as blooming flowers in the spring or fall foliage in the autumn. In the winter, the snow and ice can transform even the most mundane landscapes into a winter wonderland. The summer sunsets and beach landscapes offer a warmth and beauty that is unparalleled. Each season has its unique beauty, and it is impossible not to be moved by the changing colors and natural wonders that each one presents.

Finally, nature’s sounds and smells offer a sensory experience that is unparalleled. The sound of birds singing, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the roar of the ocean waves all evoke feelings of peace and tranquility. The scent of pine trees, the salty sea air, and the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers can transport us to another world, one that is filled with beauty and wonder. Even the sound of rain can be beautiful, with the pitter-patter of raindrops on leaves and the soft thunder in the distance offering a soothing and calming effect.

In conclusion, the beauty of nature is evident in its diverse landscapes, changing seasons, and sensory experiences. From the towering mountains to the vast oceans, from the blooming flowers to the winter snow, nature presents us with a breathtaking array of beauty. The sounds and smells of nature only add to this beauty, evoking feelings of peace and tranquility that are impossible to find elsewhere. It is no wonder that so many people find solace and inspiration in nature, for it is truly a wonder to behold.

Beauty Of Nature Essay Example 2

Nature is an endless source of inspiration for humanity. It is the beauty of nature that keeps us connected to the natural world, and its diversity is something that never fails to amaze us. From stunning sunsets to pristine forests, nature offers us a wealth of landscapes and ecosystems that are both awe-inspiring and calming. In this essay, we will explore the beauty of nature and how it has inspired countless artists, poets, and writers throughout history.

Nature offers us a diverse range of landscapes and ecosystems that are unlike anything else on earth. From towering mountains to vast oceans, the natural world is full of breathtaking scenery that has the power to inspire and awe us. Mountains, for example, are some of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders on earth. With their towering peaks and rugged terrain, they are a testament to the raw power and majesty of nature. The oceans, on the other hand, are vast and mysterious, with an almost infinite depth and complexity that we are only beginning to understand. The diversity of nature is what makes it so beautiful, and it is this diversity that has captured the hearts and minds of so many people throughout history.

The sights and sounds of nature are incredibly calming and soothing. The chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves, and the gentle sound of a babbling brook are all examples of the soothing sounds of nature. These sounds have the power to calm us and put us at ease, and they are often used in meditation and other relaxation techniques. The same can be said for the sights of nature. A beautiful sunset or a serene forest can have a calming effect on our minds and bodies, helping us to relax and unwind. The beauty of nature is a powerful antidote to the stresses and strains of modern life.

The beauty of nature has inspired countless artists, poets, and writers throughout history. From the romantic poets of the 19th century to the impressionist painters of the 20th century, nature has been a constant source of inspiration for creative minds. The beauty of nature has been captured in countless works of art, from paintings and sculptures to poetry and literature. The great naturalist John Muir once said, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” This sentiment is echoed by countless artists and writers who have found solace and inspiration in the beauty of the natural world.

Beauty Of Nature Essay Example 3

Nature is an endless source of beauty that surrounds us, from the majestic mountains to the serene beaches. The natural world provides us with breathtaking landscapes, changing seasons, and intricate designs that leave us in awe. In this essay, we will explore the beauty of nature and the different ways it manifests itself in our world.

The first aspect of nature’s beauty is found in its natural landscapes. Mountains, forests, and beaches provide us with some of the most stunning views we can experience. The towering peaks of mountains, the vast expanse of forests, and the endless stretches of sand on beaches all offer unique sights that leave a lasting impression on us. Mountains have a way of making us feel small yet significant, while forests transport us to a different world, and beaches offer a sense of peace and tranquility. The natural landscapes of our world are a testament to the beauty and power of nature.

Another way nature showcases its beauty is through the changing seasons. Each season offers its unique charm and beauty, from the vibrant colors of autumn to the blooming flowers of spring. The crisp air of autumn, the first snowfall of winter, the lush greenery of spring, and the warm sun of summer all provide us with different experiences that make us appreciate the beauty of nature. The changing seasons remind us of the constant cycle of life and the beauty that can be found in every stage.

Finally, the intricate patterns and designs found in nature are a testament to the wonder and complexity of the natural world. The symmetry of a butterfly’s wings, the spiral of a seashell, and the intricate patterns of leaves all showcase the beauty of nature at its finest. These designs not only serve a purpose but also leave us in awe of the natural world. The intricate patterns and designs found in nature remind us that there is beauty in every detail, and we need to take the time to appreciate it.

Nature’s beauty is all around us, and it is up to us to take the time to appreciate it fully. The natural landscapes, changing seasons, and intricate designs of the natural world all showcase the wonder and complexity of nature. We need to take care of our world and preserve its beauty for generations to come. As John Muir said, “in every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”

About Mr. Greg

Mr. Greg is an English teacher from Edinburgh, Scotland, currently based in Hong Kong. He has over 5 years teaching experience and recently completed his PGCE at the University of Essex Online. In 2013, he graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a BEng(Hons) in Computing, with a focus on social media.

Mr. Greg’s English Cloud was created in 2020 during the pandemic, aiming to provide students and parents with resources to help facilitate their learning at home.

Whatsapp: +85259609792

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Beauty of Nature Essay

Our physical and emotional senses are soothed by the vastness and beauty of nature. Nature's beauty has an infinite, everlasting, and immortal existence. The sunrise and sunset are two of nature's many stunning features. The beauty of nature is a perfect reflection of the art of God. Here are a few sample essays on the beauty of nature:

100 Words Essay on Beauty of Nature

200 words essay on beauty of nature, 500 words essay on beauty of nature.

The most beautiful creation of God that exists all around us is nature, which is seen as being essence of everything. Water, air, plants, and many other things have been given to us by nature so that we can survive on this earth. A person with a sense of beauty will never be able to overlook the splendour of the twinkling stars and the crimson light of the rising sun. The beauty of nature has inspired many artistic people to compose verses of praise, show their creative side with paints and brushes, write beautiful prose and capture the beauty of nature with a camera forever.

Nature is diverse—a treasure that will always exist is the beauty of nature. Many beautiful living things are among the countless riches of beauty that nature has to offer. Millions of different species in every size, colour, and habitat—on land, in the sky, and in the water—abound in the world of birds, animals, reptiles, and fish. They are present all the time and everywhere. They enhance the surroundings by only being there. Because God gave everything on earth a purpose and an order, nature is a special blessing to us.

Nature and Air Pollution

Mother Nature is responsible for our very existence as humans, but we don't seem to recognise this unique truth or show her any respect. Instead we are polluting and ruining our environment. Use of natural resources increases as the population grows. Coal and petroleum are in greater demand due to the growing manufacturing sector, however they pollute the air. The air we breathe has been tainted by smoke released from industries and automobiles. We must plant more trees if we want to lessen the impact of harmful air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, etc. Mother Nature is constantly being abused by mankind, who don't even consider the repercussions.

Nature has rivers, sparkling valleys, enormous mountains, blue oceans, white skies, the sun, the rain, and the moon, and the list is endless. All of these things are in some way organised and have a function in life. Despite all this, we are still doing activities that are not only harmful but can cause real devastation to nature all around.

Nature and Its Seasons

The beauty of the changing seasons has captivated people's attention for millennia and will do so till the end of time. Unquestionably the queen of the seasons, spring is the most beautiful of them all. The planet is awash in vibrant colours, luxuriant plants, and aromas during this time. Autumn's colours are golden, brown, and mature. A life that started in the spring matures in the fall. A season that aids in ripening is summer. The most delicious fruits and vegetables are only some of its many charms and beauties. Winters in nature are beautiful because of the crisp sky and the snow-capped mountains.

Enjoy Nature

We can all appreciate nature's beauty as we perceive it. You could either go for an early-morning stroll or an evening jog, both of which would put you in close proximity to nature and allow you to take in its beauty. Visit beaches, hill towns, and far-off locales with your friends and family to take in the breathtaking dawn or sunset.

How to Preserve Nature

Conserving our natural resources is really needed so that future generations can appreciate and enjoy them as well. To stop this ongoing process of destruction, we must raise people's awareness. To ensure a nation's progress while not endangering the environment, human activities must be carried out in a sustainable manner. It is crucial to realise that we shouldn't abuse some of god-greatest nature's blessings. Here are a few ways that you can conserve nature,

3 R’s | Reduce your consumption, reuse what you can, and recycle instead of throwing away.

Volunteer | Volunteer for cleanups in your community.

Educate | Help others understand the importance and value of our natural resources.

Conserve water | The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater that eventually end up in the ocean.

Save Electricity | Switch off lights and fans when you leave the room.

Plant Trees | Trees provide food and oxygen. They help save energy, clean the air, and help combat climate change.

My Trip to a Hill Station

I went to a beautiful hill station in the middle of the summer holidays with my family. The scenic views along the route kept me amused despite the lengthy trip. As we climbed higher, I could see dense trees and foggy mountains. I was also mesmerised by the curving roads, which made me feel as though I had stepped into another realm. I fell in love with nature as soon as we arrived since it had been kept in its natural state, complete with fresh, fragrant flowers of all types, a mild atmosphere, and lush vegetation. As I wandered amidst this beautiful landscape, I realised that all of my troubles had vanished. I felt so refreshed, calm and happy.

Everything we do is dependent on the natural world. We entirely rely on water, air, and fire for our life. The natural resources and the beauty of nature provides a sense of comfort to us.

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Speech therapist, gynaecologist.

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Corporate Executive

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Quality Controller

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A quality controller records detailed information about products with defects and sends it to the supervisor or plant manager to take necessary actions to improve the production process.

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ITSM Manager

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How Sylvia Plath’s profound nature poetry elevates her writing beyond tragedy and despair

Final year PhD student researching Sylvia Plath's nature poetry, University of Huddersfield

Disclosure statement

Nassim Jalali does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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I cannot stop writing poems! … They come from the vocabulary of woods and animals and earth.

From a letter from Sylvia Plath to her mother, 1956

Popular perceptions of Sylvia Plath tend to dwell on a deeply troubled version of the young poet due to her well-documented difficulties with depression and the morbid imagery found in some of her poetry. So the idea that nature inspired her writing may come as a surprise.

This despairing Plath is a far cry from the poet I have come to know and admire – a poet who writes about the simple beauty of meadows and the tenacity of fungi as well as the splendours of rugged wilderness .

Plath’s fascination with the natural world began in childhood, as she makes clear in her essay Ocean 1212-W , in which she details the importance of the sea to her poetic imagination. This interest in nature continued into adulthood, when she read the work of biologists such as Rachel Carson, whom she writes about in her letters .

Any other poet with this background would at least be credited with a passing interest in the natural world. However, Plath’s untimely death by suicide has skewed much interpretation of her poetry. The well-versed argument that Plath only uses nature in her poetry as a “ mirror to look deeper into herself , has pervaded critical writing on her work from the 1960s to the 21st century.

It is this blinkered view of Plath which has led to an oversight of the ecological significance of her poetry. As we move past the 60th anniversary of Plath’s death, it is time to embrace more nuanced interpretations of her work and to reimagine what her poetic legacy might look like.

Grand-scale natural beauty

Plath loved the vast landscapes of national parks as well as smaller-scale wildernesses like those of England’s Yorkshire moors. In letters from 1956, she describes "the great luminous emerald lights” of the Yorkshire countryside, concluding that she has “never been so happy” in her life as among the “wild, purple moors”.

These excerpts from her letters resonate with the celebratory assertion in the poem Wuthering Heights that “there is no life higher than the grasstops or the hearts of sheep”.

She found similar beauty in the national parks of America and Canada, which she visited in the summer of 1959. In letters from this period, she remarks that she has never seen “such wonderful country anywhere in the world”. No doubt these experiences inspired the sublime depiction of the “dominance of rocks and woods” and “man-shaming clouds” in the poem Two Campers in Cloud Country as well as the spectacular “splurge of vermilions” she describes in the sunsets over Algonquin National Park in Canada.

Beauty in smaller places

However, it is not these grand poetic depictions of the natural world which resonate the most with me. Even the most ardent city enthusiast can pause for a moment of wonder in front of millennia-old mountains, but few among us can render the seemingly prosaic aspects of the natural world with the lyrical grandeur evident in much of her writing.

Plath’s journal entries , written from the Yaddo writers’ retreat in upstate New York in the autumn of 1959, demonstrate a sensitive interest in small details of the natural world which many deem mundane or insignifcant. Coming across a patch of toadstools in the gardens at Yaddo, she observes these “round battering rams” with their “orange ruddy tops” and “pale lemon stems”.

Her poem Mushrooms captures much of this detail with the “soft fists” of the mushrooms which heave aside the garden “bedding”. “Nobody sees us”, the collective voice of the mushrooms in the poem declares, before claiming:

We shall by morning Inherit the earth. Our foot’s in the door.

In this poem, Plath emphasises the magnificent elements of the natural world that many of us overlook or disregard. She highlights the dangers, as environmental historian William Cronon suggests , in appreciating only the kind of big majestic landscapes found in national parks. By doing so, Plath infers, we neglect the significance of nature in more familiar and ordinary places.

While Plath may well be remembered for the melancholic despair of Sheep in Fog or the angry, flame-haired women of poems such as Lady Lazarus , it is also important that she is remembered for the ecological significance of her writing.

Despite personal difficulties in her marriage and worsening mental health, Plath’s interest in nature continued to inspire much of her late poetry. Her 1962 poem Among the Narcissi , for example, captures a poignant but ordinary moment of kinship between an elderly man, who loves the “little flocks” of flowers in his garden, and the flowers themselves who “look up” from the flowerbeds towards him, “like children”.

Just like the small flock of lilac crocuses I was surprised to find growing amid the broken paving in my own much-neglected garden, Plath’s poetry continually surprises me with its uncanny ability to see the unseen in nature. Such deeply felt attunement to nature deserves to be recognised as part of the rich and multifaceted legacy of her work.

• National parks
• Sylvia Plath
• Nature writing

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The 7 Natural Wonders Of The World

Beyond the horizon of our concrete cityscapes, Mother Nature has safeguarded incredible treasures that have survived countless eons. The organization 'Seven Natural Wonders' chose these seven exotic places to represent Earth's beauty. Some selections contain peaks that tear through the clouds, and some harbor multicolored legions of aquatic life. For those who are regularly in awe of our remarkable planet, this collection is for you.

The official list of the 7 Natural Wonders was compiled by CNN, the broadcasting network in collaboration with the Seven Natural Wonders organization. 

Mount Everest

Mount Everest , the highest peak on Earth at 8,848 meters (29,029 feet), is known as a formidable challenge for climbers. It is part of the Himalayan mountain range and straddles the China(Tibetan) - Nepal border, with the summit marking the official boundary. Sixty million years went into forming this unmistakable wonder, and thus its geological composition is mainly metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Known in Nepal as Sagarmatha and in Tibet as Chomolungma, translating to "Mother Goddess of the World," Everest's English name comes from George Everest, a notable surveyor of India.

The mountain's harsh and unpredictable weather, often reaching below -60°C (-76°F), and its environmental significance, being a source for major Asian rivers, make it a focal point for ecological study. It hosts one-of-a-kind wildlife, including the snow leopard and Himalayan tahr, both of which adapted to extreme altitudes. Local Sherpa communities rely heavily on mountaineering tourism, but there is currently an ongoing debate about the ethics of endangering these guides. However, issues like melting glaciers and waste from expeditions have raised environmental concerns, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices. While Everest's height is surpassed by Hawaii 's Mauna Kea when considering its underwater portion, Everest's peak is the tallest above sea level. One way or another, Everest raises the bar on what it means to be a natural wonder.

Paricutin Volcano

The Parícutin Volcano in Michoacán, Mexico , a cinder cone volcano, emerged in 1943 in a farmer's field, marking a remarkable event in geological history. This volcano, which is the youngest in the Northern Hemisphere, grew rapidly to a height of 424 meters (1,391 feet) over a period of nine years. During its active phase, Parícutin released extensive lava flows and ash, covering approximately 25 square kilometers (9.7 square miles) and necessitating the evacuation of neighboring villages. Notably, the village of San Juan Parangaricutiro was significantly affected, with its church steeple now protruding from solidified lava. In its current dormant state, Parícutin presents a fascinating landscape of hardened lava and ash, drawing both tourists and geologists. Visitors have the opportunity to climb the volcanic peak and explore the area, which includes the striking sight of the encased ruins of the San Juan Parangaricutiro Church.

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon , located in Arizona , United States , is a geological formation with extensive and detailed rock layers, revealing 1.2 billion years of Earth's history, including marine, nearshore, and desert environments. Formed over billions of years by the erosion of the Colorado River, the canyon spans 447 kilometers (277 miles) in length, reaches widths of up to 29 kilometers (18 miles), and depths exceeding 29 kilometers (18 miles). Its sheer size and depth are not only awe-inspiring but also of significant scientific interest. The canyon's deep rust-red colors and sediment layers are visible across its cliff walls, which from the perspective of visitors, travel endlessly into the horizon. The Grand Canyon is home to many species of wildlife, including 1,500 plant species, 355 bird species, 89 mammals, 47 reptiles, 9 amphibians, and 17 fish species, supported by varying climates and ecosystems due to its elevation differences. Popular activities at the canyon include gazing at its grandeur, hiking along its rims, and rafting in the river below, offering visitors a range of ways to experience its magnitude and history. For those that have visited the Grand Canyon, it is clear why any road trip across the United States must include a stop by this natural marvel.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls , straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe , is celebrated as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. This distinction comes from its status as the world's largest waterfall, a title derived from its impressive dimensions rather than its height or width alone. The falls stretch 1,708 meters (5,604 ft) wide and plunge 108 meters   (354 ft), forming the largest continuous sheet of falling water on the planet. During the wet season, this spectacle is at its peak, with about 500 million liters of water cascading over the edge every minute.

The falls owe their existence to the Zambezi River and the erosion of basalt bedrock, which has also shaped the Batoka Gorge downstream. Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or "The Smoke That Thunders," Victoria Falls captivates visitors with its astonishing water flow, averaging 1,088 cubic meters per second. Tourists from around the globe flock to this site for a range of experiences: viewing the falls from multiple vantage points, swimming close to the fall's edge in the low season, and even bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge.

The Harbor Of Rio de Janeiro

The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, also known as Guanabara Bay, located in the southeast of Brazil , is renowned as the world's largest natural bay by volume— this distinction contributes to its status as one of the seven Natural Wonders of the world. The bay, covering 412 square kilometers with depths of up to 17 meters (56 feet), is flanked by notable landmarks such as Sugarloaf Mountain and Morro Cara de Cão. Its entrance, framed by granite rock formations and monoliths, creates an impressive visual landscape. Despite the harbor's evolution into a major economic and human activity hub, with elements like the city of Rio and popular beaches such as Copacabana, the natural beauty of the bay endures. Many have been intrigued by how this particular blend of city life and nature merge into a harmonious and visually striking area. Last, the bay's strategic importance in Brazil is cemented in its central economic and cultural location. 

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef , located off Queensland , Australia in the Coral Sea, is the world's largest coral reef system , extending over 2,300 kilometers with 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands across 344,400 square kilometers of ocean. Renowned for its biological diversity, the reef is home to more than 1,500 fish species, 411 types of hard coral, and a third of the world's soft corals. Additionally, it supports 134 shark and ray species, six of the seven threatened marine turtle species, over 30 marine mammal species, and serves as a critical breeding ground for humpback whales and a sanctuary for endangered species like the dugong and large green turtle. Despite challenges from tourism and climate change, the reef remains a significant global natural wonder, attracting visitors worldwide for diving and snorkeling amidst its vibrant marine life. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this delicate habitat and preserve its remarkable array of life and colors.

Northern Lights

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, represent an extraordinary natural phenomenon, predominantly visible in polar regions, including the Arctic Circle. These lights manifest as a dynamic display of colors, primarily greens, blues, and purples, produced by the interaction of solar wind particles and atmospheric gases. The spectacle varies in intensity and form, influenced by solar activity and Earth's magnetic field, often appearing most vivid during dark winter nights and near equinoxes. Renowned for their breathtaking display of moving colors, these lights are the result of electrically charged particles from solar flares interacting with Earth's gaseous atmosphere, creating a dynamic, awe-inspiring visual effect. The phenomenon is a remarkable example of natural events like sun flares transforming into a mesmerizing earthly spectacle. Prime viewing spots are located away from city lights, with the best sightings in places like Norway , Sweden , Finland , Iceland , Greenland , Canada, and the U.S. state of Alaska , where the clarity and frequency of the aurora are enhanced by minimal light pollution . With a bit of luck, patience, and a warm jacket, you too might one day witness this breathtaking event.

Final Thoughts

Crashing waterfalls, soaring heights, and atmospheric phenomena — our home planet knows how to keep a crowd's attention. These features are not simply geographic; they often interweave with the miracle of biological life found nowhere else in the Universe. Victoria Falls, for instance, is twice the experience thanks to greenery and exotic creatures flying and swimming through its misty waters. As far as natural wonders go, auroral activity may be present on other planets that have magnetic fields and an atmosphere. Still, those barren rocks lack observers like you and me, and humanity is yet another wonder of our world.

Other Lists Of Wonders

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Guest Essay

Why Aren’t We Saving the Urban Forests?

By Margaret Renkl

Ms. Renkl is a contributing Opinion writer who covers flora, fauna, politics and culture in the American South.

The volunteer black walnut sapling in our front yard arrived courtesy of a local squirrel. Deep into its third spring, it looks like the kind of tree a child would draw: a narrow trunk topped by a ball of leaves. I had to mark it with a little flag to make sure my husband didn’t mow over it by accident.

As with all the other trees that have appeared in our yard through no effort of our own, I am besotted with this squirrel-planted young walnut. The baby Eastern red cedars and the baby black cherries and the baby red mulberries were all planted by birds. The baby sugar maples were planted by the wind. Some day they will be all food for the creatures who share this yard. (The baby willow oak and the three baby shingle oaks that appeared two years ago have already fed the rabbits.)

This black walnut won’t reach full maturity for another 150 years or so, and that’s if no one cuts it down — a bet I would not take. Most suburban Americans prefer a lawn unpocked by nuts and unvisited by birds, a square of nature that belongs to nothing natural.

When it comes to trees, human beings tend to like them big and tall and inconceivably ancient — preferably growing at some pretty distance. Trees are meant to grow in community with other trees, but for many people the ideal tree stands alone in an otherwise desolate landscape, tucked next to a dip in an old stone wall or visible across the vastness of fallow fields.

Last summer, in the days after a catastrophic wildfire in Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina’s historic banyan tree was rightly a focus of concern far beyond the island. When vandals cut down the legendary Sycamore Gap tree in Britain’s Northumberland National Park last fall, that too caused an international uproar . These were movie-star trees. For us they had ceased to be a part of the nameless, inscrutable forest and become instead themselves. A living organism. A friend.

But human beings cut down old trees all the time, for no reason but the inconvenience of their falling leaves or their burgeoning fruit, or because they are in the way of a road or a subdivision, or because of foolish notions of safety. The fear of a falling limb has cost many a suburban tree its life. In the 21st century we have become so separate from the natural world that we don’t feel safe in the presence of perfectly healthy trees.

I wonder what the world would be like if we could harness the outrage engendered by a tree felled in an act of vandalism, or the grief engendered by a tree at risk of dying in a wildfire, and turn it toward protecting the trees we still have left.

The overwhelming majority of Americans live in cities. In an analysis of 44 U.S. cities by the nonpartisan nonprofit Climate Central , roughly 55 percent of the study’s population live in neighborhoods with an average temperature that is at least eight degrees higher than it is in the surrounding rural areas. This phenomenon, where the built human environment is even hotter than the rest of the rapidly warming world, is known as the urban heat island effect. In New York City, the urban heat island index is a whopping 9.5 degrees.

We know forests can capture and sequester carbon before it adds to the heating climate, and we know we need to protect the forests we still have . But too few of us understand the crucial contribution that trees make in our cities and suburbs: cooling hot buildings, preventing storm-water runoff, improving air quality, pulling carbon out of the air, and the like. Not even to mention the habitat — food, shelter, nesting sites — that trees provide our wild neighbors. As the proliferating seedlings in my own yard attest, trees are an essential part of the ecosystem for local wildlife.

Newly planted saplings can help, but with nowhere near the same effectiveness as mature trees. And yet we have somehow gotten the idea that planting a tree in urban and suburban areas has the same practical effect and moral force — there, I said it — as preserving one. A tree is a tree, right? If one happens to be growing in a place where you don’t want it to grow, just cut it down and plant another in a more convenient spot.

In rapidly growing cities, where even a robust plan for planting trees can’t possibly keep pace with development, the preservation of existing trees would go a long way toward keeping the city livable for human beings as well as for wildlife. Here in Nashville, we actually have a tree-protection ordinance , though it doesn’t apply to duplexes or single-family homes, where so many of the remaining trees still live. There are ways to preserve the trees on construction sites , of course, but spec-house builders rarely bother.

As a species, we don’t have 150 years to wait for a black walnut seedling to reach its full glorious height before we start protecting the black walnut trees still among us. The parent tree of my own baby walnut lies across the street from a house that was recently torn down by a developer, along with every tree not in the public right of way. The tree surgeon who carted them off in pieces said the builder’s instructions were to clear every tree from the lot.

Today is Earth Day and Arbor Day is on Friday. Both will be celebrated across the country by a great communal effort to plant trees.

I get it. There’s something very heartwarming about watching a community come together to install a whole row of ornamental trees on a nature-impoverished city street, or to pick up a free seedling from one of the many tree giveaway efforts that sprout up among conservation nonprofits at this time of year. It feels good to dig a hole to the right depth and the right diameter, to set a baby tree down inside it and pat the soil gently around its roots. We are a tenderhearted species, and it feels very good to nurture a baby tree.

We just need to remember how good it feels to sit beneath the cooling shelter of mature trees, too. And we need to fight just as hard to save them as we work to replace the trees we’ve already lost.

Margaret Renkl , a contributing Opinion writer, is the author of the books “ The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, ” “ Graceland, at Last ” and “ Late Migrations .”

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

The Pros and Cons of Slash and Burn

This essay about the practice of slash and burn agriculture examines its merits and drawbacks within the intricate relationship between humanity and the environment. It highlights the immediate benefits such as land availability and soil enrichment, alongside the long-term consequences including deforestation and health risks. Emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and community engagement, it calls for a balanced approach to ensure both agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship.

How it works

In the intricate tango between humanity and the natural world, few practices stir as much debate and contention as the age-old technique of slash and burn agriculture.

Often intertwined with the traditions of indigenous societies in tropical regions, this method involves the clearing of land for cultivation through the cutting and burning of vegetation. While it provides immediate advantages for agricultural endeavors, its long-term repercussions have ignited intense scrutiny. Let’s explore the distinctive array of merits and demerits associated with slash and burn agriculture.

Prompt Land Availability: Slash and burn agriculture offers a swift solution for land clearance, allowing farmers to promptly prepare fields for planting. This rapid turnaround can prove vital, especially in regions grappling with population pressures or seasonal demands that necessitate the swift expansion of agricultural land.

Soil Nutrient Enrichment: The act of burning biomass releases essential nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium into the soil, enriching it and rendering it fertile for cultivation. This nutrient infusion can significantly augment crop yields in the initial stages, ensuring farmers enjoy bountiful harvests.

Cultural Preservation: For many indigenous communities, slash and burn agriculture represents more than just a farming technique; it embodies a deep-rooted cultural identity and ancestral wisdom. It serves as a tangible link to the past, fostering a profound connection to the land and preserving traditional practices that have been passed down through generations.

Diverse Crop Cultivation: Slash and burn agriculture often entails the cultivation of a diverse array of crops, including staples like cassava, maize, and yams. This diversity not only bolsters local food security but also fosters biodiversity by encouraging the growth of various plant species.

Low Input Costs: In contrast to conventional agriculture, which often requires substantial investments in machinery, fertilizers, and pesticides, slash and burn farming typically entails minimal input costs. This can be advantageous for small-scale farmers with limited resources, as it reduces financial barriers to entry into agriculture.

Deforestation and Habitat Loss: One of the most glaring drawbacks of slash and burn agriculture is its contribution to deforestation and the loss of habitat. The indiscriminate clearing of forests disrupts delicate ecosystems, resulting in biodiversity loss, habitat fragmentation, and soil erosion.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The burning of vegetation releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change. In regions where slash and burn practices are prevalent, this can further accelerate global warming and its associated impacts.

Soil Degradation: While slash and burn initially enriches the soil, its prolonged effects can be detrimental. Continuous cultivation without adequate soil conservation measures can lead to nutrient depletion, erosion, and a decline in soil fertility, ultimately rendering the land unsuitable for agriculture.

Smoke Pollution and Health Risks: The smoke generated by slash and burn fires poses significant health hazards to both humans and animals. Prolonged exposure to smoke can result in respiratory issues, eye irritation, and cardiovascular diseases, particularly for communities residing near burn sites.

Vulnerability to Climate Change: Slash and burn agriculture is highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, including erratic weather patterns, droughts, and extreme temperatures. Shifts in rainfall distribution or prolonged dry spells can disrupt planting schedules and jeopardize crop yields, exacerbating food insecurity in vulnerable communities.

In summary, slash and burn agriculture embodies a complex tapestry of advantages and disadvantages. While it offers immediate benefits such as land availability, soil enrichment, and cultural preservation, its long-term consequences include deforestation, soil degradation, and health risks. To address these challenges, it is imperative to embrace sustainable land management practices, engage with local communities, and prioritize the conservation of forests and biodiversity. Only through a holistic approach that harmonizes agricultural needs with environmental stewardship can we navigate the delicate balance between human prosperity and the well-being of our planet.

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Our Living World review – Cate Blanchett’s nature show is a rare ray of hope

The Oscar-winner’s powerful documentary proves how fragile the earth’s ecosystems are. From angry hippos to salmon swimming on tarmac, it is truly valuable television

O ur Living World begins with a cheesy inspirational quote: “Realise that everything connects to everything else.” Leonardo da Vinci said that, possibly. Soon, this nature series has glowing blue lines running across the screen, and Cate Blanchett on the voiceover, authoritatively announcing that the planet’s species are dependent on each other in ways we cannot immediately see and might not have imagined.

It sounds as if this programme thinks it has discovered the concept of ecosystems, and across four episodes it makes repeated use of the same trick: it shows us one animal or plant, then shocks us with how that one helps another. Gradually, however, the show builds this into a powerful lecture on the climate crisis, conservation and, in particular, the importance of small gestures and how they can have larger effects down the line. In an age when we urgently need to act but the task of maintaining a survivable planet can seem too big for an individual to contemplate, let alone tackle, it’s a valuable lesson.

We start with a rhinoceros commuting through a Nepalese town in rush hour, padding along the tarmac, unconcerned by the traffic or the delighted locals wielding smartphone video-cameras. Humans have built over his natural route from one feeding ground to another. But this is not, on the whole, a show about our species encroaching on the natural world. It’s about how delicate that world is, such that the tiniest infringements can be deadly – and reversing those abuses could be priceless.

We move to the Arctic, where we watch reindeer being stalked by wolves. The wolves’ attentions force the herd to stay on the move, we are told. This means they graze over a wider area. That means there is a larger blanket of uninterrupted snow, and that in turn means the top of the Earth has a bigger reflective panel on its roof to disperse the heat of the sun.

In the sea nearby, the water beginning to freeze is part of a system of ocean currents and temperature movements that manifests on the coast of Africa as a storm, leading to nitrate-heavy rain falling and revitalising the dry savannah. In the watering hole that results, a family of hippos frolic to Austin Powers lounge jazz. Another hippo tries to muscle in; the elder male fights him off; the cool jazz plays again.

We’ve gone from hungry wolves to angry hippos, both cute sequences that could appear in any wildlife documentary. When the rains abate, elephants pick at dry, dead trees, leaving logs on the ground that help to start bushfires, the smoke from which eventually causes phosphorus to nourish the Amazon rainforest, where a brazil nut tree relies on orchids, bees and toothy rodents to flourish.

And so it goes on, with Blanchett’s narration playfully anthropomorphising the participants: “He’ll only live for a year,” she says of a hatching cuttlefish, “so he seems determined to learn as much as he can, as fast as he can.” When the script requires her to arch an eyebrow, you bet she’s going to arch it. “Hares,” it is drily observed, “rarely die of old age.”

The chase between hare and hawk is one of those sequences that elite wildlife programmes spend six months trying to capture, and the last five minutes of those shows is usually devoted to boasting about how they pulled it off. Our Living World isn’t quite at that level: it evidently didn’t get much good footage of claws scraping on fur, so it just edits together some shots of the two animals on their own.

Those hares, though, sprinting around the forest between the Cascade Mountains in Oregon , are the harbinger of the closing two episodes’ dread warning. They moult and turn white in winter, which is increasingly a bad idea since there’s not as much snow as there once was: their technique of standing still and blending in with the bright whiteness when a bird of prey flies overhead is no longer a goer. The hawks will get them all soon enough.

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Having made sure we understand the butterfly effect of any interference in ancient cyclical processes, Our Living World is ready to appeal for help. We have been shown how nature can adapt and survive: spawning salmon, finding that their journey upstream has had a road built across it with SUVs speeding through the shallow water, have resolved to take their chances and swim across the tarmac.

If they can do that, we can get involved in rewilding , in conservational initiatives, in the little things to which anyone can contribute. The enormity of the climate emergency and the scale of the crime we’ve committed is left for other programmes to measure: here instead is a dappled ray of hope, and a reminder that we’re all in this together.

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