Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This article posits that a fictional eco-rebel might be not just a human (child or young adult), but also a plant, revolting against the destruction of its dwelling place. The argument is furthered by way of a literary analysis of arboreal agency in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, building on perspectives from critical plant studies. Departing from a closer look at the etymological roots of the term “eco-rebel”, the article highlights previous work on plants in Tolkien’s epic, with an emphasis on trees, before engaging in close reading and analysis of three instances of arboreal hostility and rebellion in The Lord of the Rings. Ultimately, the article argues that Tolkien has created a novel kind of eco-rebel, with a basis in his acknowledgement of plant agency.
Source: Humanities
DOI: 10.3390/h14030040
Author: Lykke Guanio-Uluru
Institution: Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,689
Funder: Høgskulen på Vestlandet
OpenAlex ID: W4407808061