Open Conference Systems, The 2nd International Conference on Language Linguistic Literature and Education (ICLLLE)

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“Let Us Preserve Our Nature” as portrayed in Maurice Kenny’s Poem I am the Sun
Farid Muhamad

Last modified: 2022-07-23

Abstract


Native Americans' moral teachings on nature were passed down orally by their forefathers and have become the heritage of their tribes. Through the narrative, the storyteller taught his or her audience to appreciate nature. Furthermore, the Native American poets express their feelings about nature via their lines and stanzas. Poetry, as one of the reality reflections, captured phenomena that occurred during the period. Through the poet's eyes, the facts of society and the environment are transformed into powerful expressions using words. Thus, this study aimed to describe how Native American utilizes nature to support their life. The data of this research was obtained through reading the poem and analyzed by using a literary ecology study. The analysis showed that the poem describes the condition of their natural ecology previously abundant and green become damaged because of the White people’s invasion. The Narrator of the poem describes that they can preserve again their land as long as they have their freedom of land and rights. All elements of nature such as; Land, mountains, lakes, trees, air, and animals had considerably, become part of life that must be respected. They believed that they could not exist without being supported by those elements. That is why they should protect and utilize nature respectfully for their future generation.

Key Words: Maurice Kenny, Native American, Nature, Poem.