Talking (With) Trees: Arboreal Articulation and Poetics. Issue 3 (3rd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cooke, Stuart
• Is Part Of: Green letters. Volume 25:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 214
• Page End: 231
• Publication Date: 2021-07-03
• Subjects: Critical plant studies -- phytocriticism -- ethological poetics -- trees; Ecocriticism -- Europe -- Periodicals; Ecocriticism; Europe; Periodicals; 809.933553
• DOI: 10.1080/14688417.2021.2023606
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-8417

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Drawing on recent developments in critical plant studies, this essay attempts to develop an ethological poetics of trees. I start by analysing four examples of recent fiction, poetry and non-fiction that are each about different kinds of trees – The Overstory by Richard Powers; Translations from Bark Beetle by Jody Gladding; Tree Talks by Wendy Burk; The Biggest Estate on Earth by Bill Gammage – with relation to JC Ryan's phytocritical model. In addition to their representation of botanical lives, I also consider how Powers and Gammage understand trees as constitutive of Indigenous kinship networks. Then, I combine the insights gleaned from the textual analysis with work by Michael Marder and others in order to outline key features of tree ontology and articulation, and I conclude by positing a provisional arboreal poetics.