The Interpretation of Fire in Climate Change Fiction Focus on The Pyrocene, Parable of the Sower and Something New Under the Sun

Details

Supervisors

Bragard, Véronique

Faculty

Faculté de philosophie, arts et lettres

Degree label

Master [120] en langues et lettres modernes, orientation générale, à finalité spécialisée: sciences et métiers du livre

Abstract

An increase in wildfires is occurring globally, affecting regions such as Australia, Canada, California, the South of France, and even the Antarctic. The escalating frequency of these destructive wildfires is linked to rising temperatures associated with climate change, resulting in drier landscapes. The growing concern about climate change is reflected in fiction, particularly through the genre known as climate fiction or cli-fi. Over the past two decades, this genre has witnessed significant development, establishing itself as a distinct field of study. Consequently, a sub-genre, emphasizing the connection between fire and humanity, can be created. This study delves into the portrayal of fire in fiction and explores the literary techniques employed to depict it. Through an ecocritical comparative analysis of Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower (1993) and Alexandre Kleeman's Something New Under the Sun (2021), we aim to unveil the often overlooked relationship between fire and humans and its pivotal role in the context of climate change. Stephen Pyne's The Pyrocene (2020) will serve as a theoretical framework regarding the historical significance of fire in human civilization. The initial section of this dissertation provides a theoretical foundation for the essential concepts underpinning the analysis. The subsequent part focuses on examining the literary features employed by both authors to portray the role of fire in their respective novels. Finally, the novels will be compared to elucidate the evolution in thinking from the 1990s to the year 2020.