What do you find to be the most intriguing aspect of nature literature (or nature in literature)

ENGL 2340—Nature in Literature—Baumgart—NHCC “Many wrote that the onset of the storm was preceded by a loud roar, like an approaching train. It was a roar they not only heard but felt vibrating in their gut.”-David Laskin,fromThe Children’s Blizzard 1Discussion #2: Nature in LitNow that you’ve read the introductions to our textbooks, likely you have a general grasp on some of the overall issues and expectations for what is to come. As is noted in the Norton introduction, “A constant theme of the nature essayists was the search for a lost pastoral haven” (Worster). Donald Worster subsequently adds that much of this was in response to industrialization and urbanization by bringing back “some of the warmth, breadth and piety” of writing about science and nature.2But of course this wasn’t really the beginning of nature in literature, nature literature, or even environmental literature. This shouldn’t come to a shock to you to hear that white men from England and the United States in the 1700s and 1800s were not the first to offer literature with a significant focus on the natural world.While I won’t offer you a complete history (or pure origins), it would be fair to note that indigenous people—of numerous places—usea significant natural focus to their literatures. For example, American Indians3offerorigin narratives that used animals (and the earth) to explain how most things worked, from the sunrise to the beginnings of humankind to the growth of maize.4Numerous ancient African and Asian cultures’ oral and written narrativesmaintain a close connection with the environment.5In addition to indigenous cultures that we still have records of—primarily via translations of the oral tradition—most religious texts have a significant focus on 1Page 130; 2005 paperback edition. Laskin’s book covers the 1888 blizzardthat killed hundreds of children on the Dakota-Nebraska prairie over the course of less than a day. Nature is beautiful, but it is also dangerous, y’all.2Page 22 of Norton.3I’ve chosen to use this terminology here because of its common usage, partiallybecause of American Indian Movement co-founder Russell Means’ noted preference. Other terms used are Native Americans and Indigenous Americans, amongst others. A controversy surrounding terminology remains.In most cases, the best terminology for a cultural group is by their preferred nomenclature, in this case often by tribe (using the tribal name, not the European naming). There is plenty of research out there on this; if it isof interest, I suggest researching or taking a culture course. Anton Treuer is a good resource on Ojibwe culture, although the term Anishinaabe is more commonly being used now, which applies to generalized native culture as well (see Appendix D in Treuer’s The Assassination of Hole in the Dayfor more).4Corn, although the word “corn” actually refers to something else. We should really call it maize. 5Some of this will likely be touched upon in this class, but I greatly suggest you research more on your own.nature (and, yes, many of these qualify as literature). For example, the Bible’s Genesis,which gives a rendition of creation and the beginning of humankind, takes place in a wild place inhabited by the first creatures (the Garden of Eden). In fact, many nature writers have subsequently used the same approach—and the direct allusion—as in the Garden of Eden to comprehend and explore undeveloped and little touched spaces.6But beyond the historicaland allegorical, we have our modern American movements in regards in nature writing, which is even more pronounced than it ever has been in the history of the world. To note: That might seem like an overstatement, but with the growth in population and mass communication and globalization, it is true. In the 1960s and1970s, there was a growth in the green (environmental) movement, given rise much because of Rachel Carson’s 1962 book, Silent Spring, and then a renewal of the movement and interest inenvironment (after a slowdown relative to the corporatist attitudes of the 1980sand 1990s)in the 2000s and onward, with much credit given to Michael Pollan’s An Omnivore’s Dilemmaand Eric Schlosser’s investigative reporting in Fast Food Nation(the lattertwo in relation to modern food production and agriculture).If you’ve read the introduction to the 2002 edition of The Norton Book of Nature Writing(which you should, even though it is not required), you’ll have garnered that a significant portion of the writers included are white males, which is unfortunate, although they have had the lion’s share of popularizedworks published (but, as noted, this cultural blandness has been changing, and we areseeinga far more diverse and representative body ofnature writersnature (and, yes, many of these qualify as literature). For example, the Bible’s Genesis,which gives a rendition of creation and the beginning of humankind, takes place in a wild place inhabited by the first creatures (the Garden of Eden). In fact, many nature writers have subsequently used the same approach—and the direct allusion—as in the Garden of Eden to comprehend and explore undeveloped and little touched spaces.6But beyond the historicaland allegorical, we have our modern American movements in regards in nature writing, which is even more pronounced than it ever has been in the history of the world. To note: That might seem like an overstatement, but with the growth in population and mass communication and globalization, it is true. In the 1960s and1970s, there was a growth in the green (environmental) movement, given rise much because of Rachel Carson’s 1962 book, Silent Spring, and then a renewal of the movement and interest inenvironment (after a slowdown relative to the corporatist attitudes of the 1980sand 1990s)in the 2000s and onward, with much credit given to Michael Pollan’s An Omnivore’s Dilemmaand Eric Schlosser’s investigative reporting in Fast Food Nation(the lattertwo in relation to modern food production and agriculture).If you’ve read the introduction to the 2002 edition of The Norton Book of Nature Writing(which you should, even though it is not required), you’ll have garnered that a significant portion of the writers included are white males, which is unfortunate, although they have had the lion’s share of popularizedworks published (but, as noted, this cultural blandness has been changing, and we areseeinga far more diverse and representative body ofnature writers surfacing—perhaps you are one of them). But what I really want to get to, in regards to the modern history of nature writing is this, as Elder and Finch note in the Nortontext:[The] landscape of nature writing remains in important waysunchanged. It still offers a consoling largeness, into which one may escape from the overheated rooms of human self-absorption and academic specialization. It allows for a vision of wholeness, informed by the natural sciences but attuned to the human and spiritual meanings of our earth and the living communities that is sustains. And 6For those of you interested in religious studies associated with nature, I suggest reading God as Nature Sees God: A Christian Readingof the Tao te Chingby John R. Mabry. It is less effective as an understanding of Taoism in relation to Christianity than it is a reflection on the nature connections within the two belief systems. Note: The book is written by a Christian minister, and thus carriessome bias.it gives access to the unforgettable voices of men and women who, in paying attention to the vivid, dynamic outer world, have also clarified our own sense of identity and purpose. (19)In this discussion, I’m asking you to respond to my above “lecture,” as well as the assigned readings. There are three questions below, and I’ll ask you to respond to any combination of them (one, two, or all three). While it is important to respond to the readings thus far, it might also be of use to conduct a little research to get or clarify some ideas.Remember to follow the guidelines set up in the overview, but also please respond in a cohesive form (not just a brief response to questions):What do you find to be the most intriguing aspect of nature literature (or nature in literature) offered in your readings for this week, and why?There are various ideas that have not been covered at all regarding nature literature thus far. What is one or two that interest you? Provide us with a little background, and then explain why it is of interest?The quote from David Laskin at the beginning of this document notes that the “storm was preceded by a loud roar.” Our excitement to get started, to get involved in the content, could be seen as a loud roar. What is roaring in your ears right now? What