Scientific novelty of the research is that first time in Ukrainian study of literature complex investigation of modern prose for children in the aspect of ecocriticism was carried out.
The dissertation is the first thorough study of ecological aspects in modern literature for children. Effectiveness of ecocriticism is proven with the help of prose written by Z. Menzatiuk, O. Ilchenko, I. Andrusiak.
Role of inderdisciplinary research in modern study of literature is shown. In particular the formation and development of ecocriticism (“green studies”) as analysis of literature and culture in the aspect of ecological interactions is investigated. Four waves of ecocriticism are traced: from English writings about nature to development of modern international applied studies (B. Lawrence, Jan Marshall, S. Slovic and others).
Sporadic attention to ecocriticism in modern Ukrainian literary studies is singled out.
It is traced that man-nature interaction is one of the leading themes in the children literature in 20th century. In works of Olena Pchilka ecological aspects are part of patriotic education. Problems raised in prose of O.Ivanenko deal with multiple nature subjects that are united by moral and ethical factors. Novel fairy tales of V.Nestaiko have plenty of natural information about cooperation of species with each other and with environment. Nature in prose of V.Blyznets is poetical, lyrical, full of delicate insights, childish wondering at the world of living, ability to see the incredible in common things.
It is investigated that the plot of Z.Menzatiuk’s “Arnika” uses a theme of voyage to unfold as a version of a fairy tale about living water. In this literary work the genre elements of legendary tale, that explains the history of the medicinal plant, are traced. Idea of the world harmony is delivered through the thought of man-nature unity, ideal ecological cooperation.
It is analyzed that range of problems in city tales (collected edition of Z. Menzatiuk “Thousand of umbrellas”) is characterized by combining moral and ethical, research and ecological, as well as mythological aspects. For example, young reader learns about animate and inanimate nature of Ukrainian Carpathians, about interconnection of everything on the Earth, as well as some notions of astronomy etc.
It is noted, that Z. Menzatiuk’s collected edition “Ukrainian flowerbed” is dedicated to cultivated plants of the Ukrainian garden. Cross-cutting intention of the author is the necessity of saving nature, especially the plants from Red List. Ecological aspect of Z.Menzatiuk’s collected edition of essays “Green magic” is also related to understanding of the problems that are raised in the Ukrainian Red List.
It is investigated that in O.Ilchenko’s story “Where animals live” ethology and ecology of Ukrainian world are described in a fiction form. Keynote of the story is the idea of importance of every living creature.
Cognitive tasks of O.Ilchenko’s story “Voyage of the Raindrop” are analyzed on the intersection of literature and natural studies. With his artistic description of the water circuit in nature the author facilitates the development of children’s ecological competence.
It is observed that in the stories “Who has better horns” and “How grasshopper learned to sing” O. Ilchenko demonstrates influence of literature for children on formation of principles of ecological interaction.
It is proven that ecological aspects of I. Andrusiak’s rhymed tales “The Hair’s Book” are described in social dimension. Goal of this is to highlight the idea of respect to every life, its self-sufficiency, well-balanced interactions in nature. Trending theme of ecological safety is represented, among other things, with a problem of human influence on nature.
It is stressed that in I. Andrusiak’s novel fairy tale “The third snow” ecology is intertwined with anticolonialism. Determinative motives are: ecological behavior of humans, developing empathy to all living and respect to environment. Anticolonial character of the novel fairy tale is defined by the thought that language is the basis for national identity.
Ecological aspects in I. Andrusiak’s work “Guinea pig detective” are described in context of genre and style specifics. Three stories in this work are separate adventures, intertextual relations of which should raise interest to classical literature in children. The writer attempts to provide scientific or logical explanation for natural events and phenomena.
