Integrating EDA and ecological aesthetics toward ecological education with Northern Wilderness as a case study

Abstract Ecocriticism offers a vital perspective for ecological literary studies, yet its development is hindered by a lack of systematic linguistic foundation. Most existing studies focus on literary or cultural dimensions, and few have systematically integrated Ecological Discourse Analysis (EDA) with eco-aesthetics into a unified analytical framework. Against this background, this study aims to further develop and enrich the field by constructing an innovative analytical framework that draws on EDA’s methodology and the value principles of eco-aesthetics. Its five core dimensions—ecological awareness, cultural-ecological integration, eco-aesthetic value, thematic focus, and discursive multidimensionality—systematically assess ecological consciousness in texts. A case study of Northern Wilderness , a grassland literature representative, validates the framework, revealing how linguistic strategies construct ecological values, evoke aesthetic experiences, and communicate an ecological philosophy. This framework provides a robust tool for ecocriticism, confirms linguistics’ crucial role, and opens new avenues for applying literature in ecological education through aesthetic engagement.