The “Pathetic Fallacy” and Related Figures in Classical Bucolic Poetry: Between Ancient Culture, Ecocriticism, and Science

Abstract

This paper addresses the use of the term “pathetic fallacy” by critics to describe the representation of nature in bucolic poetry, identifying and discussing two main interpretative trends in scholarship: (i) a view that gives the word “fallacy” its full meaning and regards the figure as a sign of disconnection from reality; (ii) a positive view that understands the “pathetic fallacy” as the expression of different ontologies recognizing the intimate relationship between humans and the environment. Especial attention is given to the problematic usage of the term to describe how poets see the behavior of animals. The essay proposes an alternative approach to the relevant passages employing Greg Garrard's typology of representations of animals, as well as references to scientific research on animal cognition and emotions.