Reclaiming the Night: An Ecocritical Study of Technology, Nature, and Human Experience in 'Twinkling Night: A Blessed NO-LIGHT Hours'

Abstract

This paper analyzes "Twinkling Night: A Blessed NO-LIGHT Hours" by Yasir Ullah through the lens of ecocriticism and the Close Reading method as developed by Cleanth Brooks (1947). The narrative reflects on the modern dependency on technology and its implications on human relationships, nature, and personal well-being. The story is centered around an accidental power outage that leads to a temporary, but profound disconnect from the digital world, prompting reflections on past familial experiences, nature, and personal growth. By employing Glotfelty's ecocriticism (1996), the paper explores how technology has alienated individuals from nature and traditional modes of family bonding, while Close Reading (Brooks. C,1947) is used to extract keywords, phrases, and themes to reveal the deeper ecological concerns in the text. Through the characters’ interactions with the natural world and each other, the story critiques the impact of technology, especially digital devices, on contemporary society. The findings suggest that the story underscores the need for a balance between technological advancements and a return to nature and authentic human connections. This paper aims to contribute to the growing field of ecocriticism by demonstrating how literature can reflect the tension between modernity and nature, using Close Reading (Brooks. C, 1947) to closely examine the text’s thematic core.