LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 25:10 October 2025
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Selvi M. Bunce, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate
         Nathan Mulder Bunce, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Honorary Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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The Man-Animal Bond and Conflict: Exploring Voices of the Unheard in The Tusk that Did the Damage by Tania James and Larger than Life by Jodi Picoult with Literary, Critical and Theoretical Perspectives

Dr. N. Vijaya Samundeeswari and
K. Iswarya

Abstract

Studies that examine the relationship between literature and the environment are often referred to as "ecocriticism" or "environmental criticism." Environmental literature seeks to explore the ecological aspects present in literary works, while ecological writings analyze how nature is represented in scholarly texts. Researchers and scholars approach these works from an environmental perspective, aiming to offer fresh insights into their content. Among the many issues concerning humans and the environment, human-wildlife conflict stands out as a significant concern. Numerous species across the world face endangerment or threats due to various forms of environmental degradation. This conflict is particularly important as it primarily impacts local communities, especially farmers. Tania James' novel, The Tusk That Did the Damage and Jodi Picoult's Larger than Life explore the issue of human-wildlife conflict and bonding. This research study focuses on examining how this conflict is portrayed in these two works. Tania James is an Indian American writer. She teaches in the MFA program at George Mason University and lives in Washington DC. Tania James has authored the novel Atlas of Unknowns, the short story collection Aerograms, and her second novel is The Tusk That Did the Damage. In 2016, the novel was shortlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize and long listed for the Financial Times/Oppenheimer Award. Jodi Picoult is the author of twenty-two novels, including the New York Times bestsellers Lone Wolf, Between the Lines and My Sister's Keeper. She lives in New Hampshire.

Keywords:Man-animal bond, Man-animal conflict, the power of memory, family and community, Human-nature relationship, Loss and grief, trauma and suffering, Ecocriticism, Zoopoetics, Zoocentrism.

Ecocriticism, Zoopoetics, and Zoocentrism: Exploring the Intersection of Literature and Ecology

In contemporary literary studies, there is a growing interest in how literature and culture engage with the natural world and nonhuman life. This has led to the development of fields such as ecocriticism, zoopoetics, and zoocentrism, which challenge human-centered perspectives and encourage more inclusive ways of thinking. Ecocriticism explores environmental themes in literature, shedding light on humanity's relationship with nature. Zoopoetics examines how animals are represented in literary texts, revealing the complexities of their existence beyond mere symbols or metaphors.

Traditionally, animals in literature were treated symbolically — as metaphors, allegories, or moral lessons (e.g., fables and parables like Aesop's Stories). Zoopoetics moves beyond this representational function to consider how animals themselves contribute to the shaping of human creativity. Instead of being reduced to symbols of human concerns, animals are recognized as having their own agency and presence that influences artistic production.

Zoopoetics asks how literature can approach or approximate animal forms of expression. While humans cannot directly inhabit an animal's consciousness, writers and poets experiment with language, rhythm, and form to capture the strangeness, otherness, or vitality of non-human life. For instance, mimicking the movements of a bird in verse, or structuring prose in ways that reflect non-human temporality, can be seen as zoopoetic gestures.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Dr. N. Vijaya Samundeeswari
Associate Professor
PG & Research Department of English,
Government Arts College (Autonomous)
Coimbatore
nvijayasamundeeswari@gmail.com
&
K. Iswarya
Research Scholar
PG & Research Department of English
Government Arts College (Autonomous)
Coimbatore
sanjiaishu@gmail.com
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