VAC:- Environmental studies or awareness ( IKS)
Name of college:- Maharani shri nandkuvarba arts & commerce College
Name:- Gohil Shreyaba dasharathsinh
Year:- FY.BA (Sem-2)
Subject:-English
Paper name : VAC - Environment Studies
Professor name :- Rachana ma'am
Date :
Starting Introduction:-
Value Added Course is an extra subject or course that is added to your main studies to:
improve your skills
build personality
🌱 Example of VAC
Environmental Studies
Environmental Awareness
Home Assignment:-
Ecocriticism:-
* Introduction to eco criticism/ green studies
Ecocriticism is a new and modern type of literary theory that started in the 21st century.If studies the relationship between literature and the environment.Today , scientists and people are worried about saving the earth and its natural resources.
* Modern technologies has created many problems like :
- Damage to the ozone layer
- Increase in carbon dioxide
- Overuse of natural gas and crude oil
Because of these problems,We need to think seriously about protecting nature .The distance between humans and nature is growing due to science and technology. So, criticism tries to create a balance between nature and humans.
•Definition of ecocriticism:-
- Ecocriticism studies how literature talks about nature and ecological issues . It examines how humans beings treat the environment.
- It focuses on:-
• Environmental problems
• Culture attitudes towards nature
• How society behaves with nature
* Ecocriticism is also called:
+ Green studies
+ Eco- poetics
+ Environment literary criticism
The main aim is understand how litrature can help protect the earth .
*Origin of ecocriticism:- ( source )
- The idea of connecting nature and literature was first started by Joseph meeker in 1972 in his work " The comedy of survival: studies in literary ecology".The word " ecocriticism" was introduced by William rueckert in 1978 in his essay " literature and ecology: an experiment in ecocriticism".
Ecocriticism became popular in the 1980s in america and in the 1990s in europe under the name ' Green Studies ' .It grew more after important books were published in the mid - 1990s
- " The ecocriticism reader "- edited by cheryll glotfelty and harold from
- " The enviornment imagination" - by lawrence buell
°important books on ecocriticism:-
1) The green studies reader : from romanticism to ecocriticism - Laurence Coupe
2) The song of the earth - Jonathan Bate
3) The ecocriticism reader : landmarks in literary ecology - Cheryll Glotfelty
4) Literature of nature : an international source book - Patrick d.murphy
5) What is nature ? culture, politics and the non human - Kate Soper
Class Assignment:-
* Write about ' London ' poem : what is introduce our society
- Overview of poem :-
William Blake's poem " London" is a dark , oppressive portrait of the city during the late 18th century.It exposes how political, social , and spiritual institutions corrupt and constrain human life .The poem contrasts sharply with the innocence of Blake's earlier works , showing a society marked by suffering, exploitation , and hypocrisy.
Themes :-
- 1.Oppression and loss of freedom :-
• Blake repeatedly uses " chartered" to describe streets and the thames , implying that even natural elements are owned and regulated .
• The poem suggests a society where human freedom has been replaced by institutional cantrol
- 2. Universal suffering:-
• Blake hears in every voice :
" marks of weakness, marks of woe ".
The repetition of "every " creates a sense of total , all - encompassing misery .No one is exempt.
- 3.Political and social critique:-
Blake targets three major institutions:-
- The church - criticized via the " black'ning church ", corrupt and compilicit in oppression
- The monarchy- the " hapless soldier 's sigh / runs in blood down palace walls "suggests that the suffering of common people is the foundation of royal power .
- The legal and economic system- which regulates life through charters and reinforces class disparity
- Imagery and symbolism:-
" Black'ning church" : • Symbol of spiritual deacy and hypocrisy.
- Literally evokes the polluted, industrial london
" Palace walls": • A metaphor for the monarchy built on suffering
- Echoes revolutionary sentiment
"Marriage hearse ": • Powerful oxymoron: joy corrupted into death
- Symbolizes the destruction of social and moral institutions
- Summary:-
1. Observation of universal suffering,
2. to recognition of psychological and institutional chains ,
3.then exposing the guilt of church and monarchy,
4.and finally showing how corruption destroys family , sexuality, and future generations
Essay :-
- Nature's other sides and qualities:-
- Nature is not only beautiful and peaceful, but it also has many powerful and meaningful sides that shape human life. Most people think of nature as green trees, rivers, flowers, mountains, and fresh air. But nature has other sides too—both gentle and strong, helpful and dangerous. These different sides of nature teach us important lessons and give us countless benefits.
One side of nature is its calm and healing power. Natural places like forests, beaches, rivers, and gardens give mental peace. When people feel stressed, tired, or sad, nature helps them feel relaxed and refreshed. The sound of birds, flowing water, and wind in trees gives comfort to the mind. Nature also improves mental health and emotional balance.
Another side of nature is its strength and power. Natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, cyclones, and storms show how powerful nature is. These events remind humans that we are not greater than nature. This powerful side teaches us respect, responsibility, and humility. It tells us that we must live in harmony with nature, not try to control or destroy it.
Nature is also a teacher. From nature, we learn discipline, patience, balance, and survival. Trees teach us how to give without expecting anything in return. Rivers teach us to keep moving forward in life. Seasons teach us change and growth. Nature silently educates us every day.
∆ Characteristic:-
Beauty of Nature
Nature is full of trees, rivers, mountains, flowers, and greenery that make the world beautiful and peaceful.
Healing Side
Nature helps reduce stress, gives mental peace, and improves emotional health.
Powerful Side
Natural disasters like floods, storms, and earthquakes show nature’s strength and power.
Teaching Side
Nature teaches patience, discipline, balance, growth, and life values.
Life Support
Nature provides air, water, food, land, and shelter for survival.
Medical Benefits
Many medicines and herbs come from plants and natural resources
Economic Benefits
Farming, tourism, fishing, and forest products create jobs and income.
Social Benefits
Nature supports villages, cities, and human civilization.
Warning Side
Pollution, climate change, and deforestation show the harmful effects of human actions on nature
• In conclusion, nature has many sides—beautiful, peaceful, powerful, dangerous, healing, and teaching. It gives us life, lessons, and support in every form. Nature is not only our home but also our protector and guide. Therefore, we must respect nature, protect it, and live in harmony with it. If we save nature, nature will save us.
