Re-reading Roald Dahl from an Ecological Perspective

Abstract

Concerning the study of children’s literature, contemporary ecocritical research proposes to analyze how ecological narratives diverge from the logic of alienation, hierarchy and domination and move towards inspiring community and interdependence. Roald Dahl’s (1916-1990) respect and deep knowledge of nature and animals are rendered in most of his children’s novels, depicting underdogs working together to defeat oppression and abuse of power. Given that these stories have long been part of popular culture, as well as the school curricula, this paper studies them from an ecological perspective arguing that, through similar re-readings, these narratives could inspire environmental consciousness and agency in young readers.