Animal Studies

Question: How do "Likeness" & "Othering" affect the cultural perspective of Anthropocentrism when encountering animal representations in Literature?

Ecocriticism

Test question: What would be a reading in an eco-centric perspective in the following excerpt of Death of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller?

(Uncle Ben, carrying a valise and an umbrella, enters the forestage from around the right corner of the house. He is a stolid man, in his sixties, with a mustache and an authoritative air. He is utterly certain of his destiny, and there is an aura of far places about him. He enters exactly as Willy speaks.)

WILLY: I’m getting awfully tired, Ben.

(Ben’s music is heard. Ben looks around at everything.)

CHARLEY: Good, keep playing; you’ll sleep better. Did you call me Ben?

(Ben looks at his watch.)

WILLY: That’s funny. For a second there you reminded me of my brother Ben.

BEN: I only have a few minutes. (He strolls, inspecting the place. Willy and

Charley continue playing.)

CHARLEY: You never heard from him again, heh? Since that time?

WILLY: Didn’t Linda tell you? Couple of weeks ago we got a letter from his

wife in Africa. He died.

CHARLEY: That so.

BEN (chuckling): So this is Brooklyn, eh?

CHARLEY: Maybe you’re in for some of his money.

WILLY: Naa, he had seven sons. There’s just one opportunity I had with that

man...

BEN: I must make a tram, William. There are several properties I’m looking at

in Alaska.

WILLY: Sure, sure! If I’d gone with him to Alaska that time, everything

would’ve been totally different.

CHARLEY: Go on, you’d froze to death up there.

WILLY: What’re you talking about?

BEN: Opportunity is tremendous in Alaska, William. Surprised you’re not up

there.

WILLY: Sure, tremendous.  (Miller, 30 - 31)

Criteria: Students should be able to apply the key concepts of Ecocriticism such as anthropocentrism, outdoor environment (wilderness, scenic sublime) or balance and imbalance in the excerpt and use evidence from the text to support their answers.  It is also useful relate these concepts to Marxism.