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English and Ecology
Phillips delivers keynote at international conference in India on ecocriticism
By Robin E. Lee
Honors Associate Dean Philip E. Phillips’ research on the literary representation of animals in American literature inspired an international conference in India where he served as keynote speaker this year.
Khagendra Sethi, head of the English Department at Ravenshaw University, had engaged in “a stimulating discussion” with Phillips more than a decade ago at a conference in Italy. Following Phillips’ work since then, Sethi invited Phillips to the International Conference on Human, Animal, and Natural History: Ecocritical Approaches to World Literature, which was held at the university in Cuttack, Odisha, India.
The conference theme was even developed from Phillips’ scholarly work, reflecting the global significance of ecocriticism. The three-day event brought together scholars and students from around the world to explore the intersection of literature and environmental concerns.
“Over the years, I followed his work closely, particularly his evolving research on ecopoetics and the literary portrayal of non-human life,” Sethi said. “When we began planning our international conference, I reached out to him to reconnect and learn more about his current research. Our conversation reaffirmed my belief that his scholarship—especially his work on Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Frost—offered a fresh and compelling perspective on the intersection of literature, ecology, and animal studies.”
Aryaprava Nayak, an assistant professor of English at Ravenshaw University, said Phillips’ research on poets like Poe and Frost, “who engage with animals in rich and nuanced ways, made him an ideal choice.”
“His scholarly approach provides invaluable insights into the complex relationships between humans, animals, and the natural world, making him a perfect fit for sparking meaningful conversations at the intersection of literature and animal studies,” Nayak said.
EXPLORING ECOCRITICISM THROUGH FROST
Ecocriticism plays a central role in the literary studies curriculum at Ravenshaw, where the department integrates ecocritical approaches to works by authors such as William Wordsworth, Walt Whitman, Toni Morrison, and Frost, as well as contemporary writers like Arundhati Roy and Amitav Ghosh, Nayak said.
At MTSU, Phillips has led two Honors Lecture Series on environmental and ecological themes: “The Environment” in fall 2011 and “Climate Change” in spring 2020.
“Our MTSU students share this global concern for the natural world and our fellow creatures,” he said. “And our faculty across the disciplines, from Biology and Geosciences to English and Agribusiness, are engaged in research initiatives and community partnerships to address pressing environmental challenges.”
These discussions are deeply relevant to environmental issues in India.
In his keynote address, “Ecopoetics and the Representation of Animals in Robert Frost,” Phillips examined the famed American poet’s complex portrayal of the natural world. While Frost is not typically classified as an “ecopoet,” Phillips argued, his poetry—steeped in rural New England landscapes and rich with animal imagery—foreshadowed many of the themes that define modern ecocritical studies.
“Frost calls our attention to, but refuses to resolve, either the complexities of human and non-human animal behavior or the larger questions implied in his nature poetry,” Phillips noted in his speech. “His birds, horses, chickens, frogs, insects, and all the rest, with their deliberate ambiguity, invite us to regard them—and the non-human animals in our own lives—with greater attention, sympathy, and perhaps even solidarity.”
GLOBAL DIALOGUE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Throughout the conference, participants delved into major themes such as the representation of animals in literature, the impact of human activity on the environment, and the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental histories.
“These discussions are deeply relevant to environmental issues in India, where biodiversity loss, human-wildlife conflict, deforestation, and industrialization pose significant challenges,” Nayak said.
As the field evolves, Nayak sees ecocriticism expanding into new interdisciplinary territories. “We anticipate growth in areas like climate change literature, ecofeminism, animal studies, and Indigenous environmental narratives,” she said.
The conference drew over 500 English majors. According to Phillips, discussions extended beyond theoretical analysis to urgent real-world concerns and the artist’s role in addressing them.
“It became clear to me that in India, people are taking environmental issues and threats to nature very seriously,” he said. “Over and over, attendees spoke about the problems associated with overpopulation, industrialization, and pollution. The rivers and the air quality gave evidence of the severity of the environmental challenges facing India and the world.”
STRENGTHENING MTSU’S CONNECTIONS
Hosting an international scholar from MTSU was a meaningful opportunity for Ravenshaw.
“It facilitated a rich academic exchange between our university and a respected institution known for its contributions to ecopoetics and literary studies,” Nayak said. “This exchange benefits both institutions.”
Phillips’ participation at the conference advanced his research and helped elevate MTSU’s international academic reputation. His recent publications in this area include chapters in Animals in the American Classics: How Natural History Inspired Great Fiction (2022) and Animals in Classic American Poetry: How Natural History Inspired Great Verse (2025). Phillips, recent recipient of MTSU’s Career Achievement Award, also will edit a collection of selected essays generated from the conference.
His experience underscores the value of global academic exchanges, which MTSU actively supports for faculty and students.
“Such intercultural opportunities are so important for educators and especially for our students, for whom such experiences open up new ways of seeing the world and occasions for collaborative problem-solving,” Phillips said.
