Literary Representations of Trees: Anthropomorphism and Ecological Empathy

This article examines anthropomorphic representations of trees in literary texts from an ecocritical perspective. Attributing human-specific qualities such as thinking, feeling and communicating to trees is considered not only as an aesthetic preference but also as an ethical strategy that aims to establish an empathic relationship towards nature. The study first presents the concepts of matter-centered approaches and anthropomorphism that form the basis of ecocritical theory as a theoretical framework. The "anthropomorphic subjectivation model" developed by Alissa Kautz offers three basic indicators (corporeality, emotionality, language) and three modes (reflection, manifestation, hybridity) to systematically analyze such representations. This model allows us to understand how non-anthropocentric perspectives are structured in literary works. In the applied section of the article, Richard Powers's novel The Overstory is analyzed in depth within the framework of this model. The novel positions trees as intellectual and ethical subjects rather than passive background figures. The depiction of trees with human qualities such as shame, love, and communication deepens the reader’s environmental awareness and empathy, and invites us to re-evaluate our relationships with nature. In conclusion, the article argues that anthropomorphism is a transformative narrative strategy that can be used to develop a non-anthropocentric way of thinking about nature, beyond merely humanizing it. These literary approaches carry political and pedagogical qualities as well as aesthetic dimensions, revealing the transformative potential of literature in overcoming environmental crises. In this context, the role of literature in the development of ecological consciousness is re-emphasized.