Nzipụta Mmekọrịta Mmadụ na Ekerechi n’Abụ Ederede Igbo a Họọrọ

Abstract

This study examines selected Igbo written poems so as to observe the extent to which the poets have represented various natural phenomena such as trees, sun, moon, rain, among others and the relationship between man and his environment in their poems. It is obvious that some Igbo poets like the Western poets represent some natural phenomena in their creative works. Their major concern is to project these natural phenomena and enhance the relationship between humans and these phenomena through their literary works. In spite of the efforts of many Igbo poets in representing different natural phenomena in their poems, previous studies have shown that some Igbo literary scholars, critics, teachers and students show more interest in studying other issues represented in Igbo written poetry like issues that border on the society, politics, leadership, gender, religion, culture, economy, among others. This shows that they do not have interest in the natural phenomena and the purpose for their representation in written Igbo poetry. It is against this backdrop that this study examines the natural phenomena prominent in the selected Igbo written poems so as to identify the nature of relationship between these natural phenomena and man as projected by the poets. The study adopted the ecocritical literary theory in analysing the selected poems and the data were presented descriptively. From the analysis, this study reveal that the selected poems represented the importance of some natural phenomena to man especially the economic values. This study also observed that there is good relationship between the natural phenomena projected in the selected poems, among other findings. It is hoped that this study would help to project and enhance the relationship between man his environment.