Deciphering Bushfire Narratives: An Ecocritical reading of select Children’s Fiction

The theoretical conviction of Ecocriticism has indubitably proved its significance in the literary discourse from its very outset primarily due to its pioneering position concerning the survival of humanity as well as other species especially from a futuristic perspective. The multitude of ecocritical readings appearing in various fields just as in literature underline its validity and pragmatic appeal. An understanding of ecology and its concerns is an undeniable aspect of a child’s education and hence texts that address environmental issues occupy a prominent place in literature for children. The paper is an attempt to study bushfire phenomenon as presented in different books of children’s fiction along with their ecocritical implications. The selected texts include Ivan Southall’s Ash Road, Christie Nieman’s As Stars Fall and Ella Holcombe’s The House on the Mountain all of which uniquely portray how the fire exists as a threatening physical entity as well as its emotional and cultural aftermath.