Nature as a Monster in Canadian Literature
Margaret Atwood, a renowned Canadian author, explores the theme of nature as a monster in Canadian literature. The prose delves into the changing perceptions of nature by poets over the centuries, from a kind mother figure to a hostile force. The discussion includes the different types of death portrayed in literature and the varied relationships depicted between man and nature. At the core, the essay emphasizes the importance of accepting and adapting to nature's realities rather than approaching it with unrealistic expectations.
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Presentation Transcript
Life and Background of the author Margaret Atwood was born in Canada . She studied in Victorian College. She received Master degree from Radcliff College. Her well known novels are The Edible Woman Surfacing The Handmaid Tale 'The Blind Assassin The Robert Bride Oryx And Crake And The Year Of Flood She is the Vice President of International Pen
Introduction to the prose This prose Nature As A Monster is taken from Survival 'Which is a book based on Canadian literary History. The central occupation of Canadian poetry and fiction are survival and victim Nature poetry is Poet s attitude towards Nature. Canadian literature depicts a nature is often dead or alive but indifferent and actively hostile towards man. The only season is mentioned in Canadian Literature is Winter The writers distrust Nature because they believe that Nature has betrayed their expectations.
View On nature In the 18thC poets described natural scenery In the first half of the 19thc the Poets looked upon nature as a kind mother or nurse who guided Man In the middle of the 10thC nature s personality underwent a change because Darwinism in filtered literature Two emotions are expressed in Susanna Moodie s Roughing it in the Bush 1. Faith in the divine mother 2. A feeling of hopeless imprisonment
Two types of death are described 1. Death by nature 2. Natural death Two murder Weapons are used as implements to cause death 1. Water 2. Snow
Natural Death and Death by nature It is caused by diseases or heart attacks It is caused by something that the natural environment murders the individual for example drowning by flood 2. Freezing by snow 3. Death by Bushing ie the character who is isolated in nature goes crazy 1.
Descriptions of Four Victims Positions 1. Nature is all good divine mother 2. Nature is a huge powerful enemy 3. Nature beats up weak helpless man 4. Man refuses to play victor or victim with nature
She concludes her essay by saying that nature is a monster only if man approaches her with unreal expectations or fight its condition rather than accepting them and learning to live with them. Snow is not necessarily something that man die in or hate Man makes houses in snow
