Published Paper Details:

This dissertation explores the vital role of nature in Canadian poetry through an in-depth study of the works of Al Purdy, one of Canada's most celebrated poets. Al Purdy's poetry, often hailed for its raw honesty and nationalistic tone, intricately weaves the Canadian landscape into the very fabric of his verse. This study seeks to understand how Purdy uses natural imagery, landscapes, and rural settings not merely as backdrops but as active elements shaping national identity, personal memory and poetic consciousness. The research begins with a theoretical framework rooted in ecocriticism and Canadian literary studies, situating Purdy within the broader context of Canadian nature poetry. It traces how Canada's geography--its forests, lakes, harsh winters, and remote towns--becomes a source of poetic inspiration and philosophical contemplation. Through selected poems, including "The Country North of Belleville," "Wilderness Gothic" and "Trees at the Arctic Circle," this study examines how Purdy's portrayals of nature express both awe and ambivalence. Nature is seen not just as beautiful or sublime but also as indifferent, harsh and deeply influential in shaping human experience. One key aspect of the analysis focuses on how Purdy's representations of nature reflect his complex relationship with Canadian identity. Unlike the Romantic idealization of nature, Purdy's verse often reveals a rugged realism, acknowledging the tension between humans and their environment. This tension mirrors the struggles of national definition in a postcolonial Canada, where landscape plays a central role in constructing a sense of belonging and cultural uniqueness. The dissertation further discusses Purdy's contributions to defining a distinctly Canadian voice in poetry, where nature is central to both linguistic expression and national discourse. Additionally, this work explores the intersection of personal memory and physical environment in Purdy's poetry. His use of autobiographical elements and regional specificity highlights how nature acts as a repository of memory and identity. The rural and northern settings in his poetry become metaphors for the poet's inner life and collective Canadian consciousness. The research also examines Purdy's influence on subsequent generations of poets who continue to draw from Canada's natural environment as a source of literary and ideological meaning. In conclusion, this dissertation asserts that Al Purdy's engagement with nature is not merely descriptive but deeply thematic and philosophical. His poetry challenges readers to see the Canadian landscape as a dynamic force--one that shapes, resists, and reflects the evolving identity of the nation and the individual. This study contributes to the understanding of Canadian literature by reaffirming the centrality of nature in its poetic tradition and highlighting Al Purdy's unique role in that legacy.