An Eco-critical Approach to Children's Literature Analysis of Behiç Ak’s Children's Books with an Eco-critical Method
Articles > Article · 2025
Authors: Safiye AKDENİZ
International Journal of Language Academy, Refereed Journals of Other Institutions, International, MLA International Bibliography, 2025, vol 13, pp 226-250
Summary
<p>The human effort to dominate nature has caused us to forget that we are a part of nature and guardians of the balance that exists between humans and nature. The result has been the deterioration of this balance to the detriment of nature through climate change and environmental pollution. While the sciences have been studying the causes and effects of this decline, arts and humanities have also responded to it by treating the issue as a legitimate field of study. They have also developed a unique critical approach to the subject: Eco criticism. Eco criticism analyzes literary texts to critically discuss the disrupted balance of nature. In their pursuit of sustainable and green nature, many eco critics have turned to children’s literature because they believe that it is important to instill ecological sensitivity from a very early age. This is to internalize it and put it into practice. Turkish author Behiç Ak, who became famous with his numerous children’s books, has contributed significantly to ecological awareness in children’s literature and his works are best analyzed with an eco-critical lens. Throughout his books, the author consistently and refreshingly discusses significant topics such as climate change, protection of the environment/nature, urbanization, concretion, human relations negatively affected by urbanization and technology, preservation of historical essence, sustainability, and internet addiction. In this study, Behiç Ak’s stories and novels that appeal to pre-school, primary and secondary school children are discussed and examined with an eco-critical approach. One of the main conclusions this study draws is that the author deploys various visuals in his books. This enhances his efforts to raise awareness about nature in children of different age groups, promote kind and humane treatment of animals, and emphasize the issues of transformation and sustainability in every aspect of human life.</p>