本书主要采用解构主义对中心和权威颠覆和消解的批评策略和新批评的细读技巧，挖掘、阐释美国作家亨利·大卫·梭罗的主要作品《在康科德与梅里马克河上的一周》、《瓦尔登湖》、《缅因森林》、《科德角》、《论公民的不服从》、《马萨诸塞州的奴隶制》、《没有原则的生活》、《为约翰·布朗请命》、《约翰·布朗的殉难》、《约翰·布朗的最后日子》、《马萨诸塞的自然史》、《冬季散步》、《心灵散步》、《梭罗日记》中体现的生态意蕴。本书还借助心理学批评、传记批评、福柯的权力与话语理论，系统、全面地分析、诠释梭罗生态思想的成因及内涵。

本书梳理、探讨了生态批评理论，把美国作家亨利·大卫·梭罗(1817－1862)放在生态批评的理论框架中，联系目前生态危机日益严重的现实语境，全面考察其生态思想的来源，系统而深入地透视、阐释其散文作品中体现的生态意蕴。丰富了梭罗思想研究，提供了生态批评实践的成功范例，为高校文学专业师生、文学研究者及爱好者提供生态批评理论与实践的重要参考。

Introduction

Chapter One A Survey of Ecocriticism

　1.1 The Background of Ecocriticism

　1.2 The Birth and Growth of Ecocriticism

　1.3 The Definition of Ecocriticism

　1.4 The Theoretical Connotation of Ecocriticism

　　1.4.1 The Theoretical Resources of Ecocriticism

　　1.4.2 Summary of the Theoretical Connotation of Ecocriticism

　1.5 The Critical Strategy and Critical Methodology of Ecocriticism

　1.6 The Significance of Ecocriticism

Chapter Two The Origin of Thoreau's Ecological Ideas

　2.1 Concord--The Living Environment of Thoreau's Childhood

　2.2 The Tradition of Concord and American Culture

　2.3 The Influence of American Transcendentalism

　2.4 The Influence of American Indian Culture

　2.5 The Influence of Oriental Culture

Chapter Three Thoreau's Reflection on Natural Ecology

　3.1 Highlighting the Existence of Nature: Depiction of Nature's Instrumental Value

　　3.1.1 The Aesthetic Value of Nature

　　3.1.2 The Recreational Value of Nature

　3.2 Dismantling the Dichotomy between Man and Nature: Depiction of Nature's Inherent Value

　　3.2.1 The Multiplicity of Nature

　　3.2.2 The Subjectivity of Nature

　3.3 Re-constructing the Relationship between Nature and Man:Harmony between Them

　　3.3.1 Nature as Mother of Humanity, and as an Interdependent and Interconnected Organic Whole

　　3.3.2 Man as Part of Nature

　　3.3.3 The Harmonious Interaction between Nature and Human

Chapter Four Thoreau's Concern over Social Ecology

　4.1 Critique of the Hierarchical Domination of Society

　　4.1.1 Critique of the Slavery System

　　4.1.2 Thoreau's Anti-War Stance

　4.2 Attitude towards Science: Combination ofScience with Poetry

　　4.2.1 Critique of the Limitations of Science

　　4.2.2 Attributing Poetic Color to Scientific Method

　4.3 Balanced Development between Nature and Civilization

Chapter Five Thoreau's Meditation upon Spiritual Ecology

　5.1 A Brief Discussion of the Terms of Spirit and Spiritual Ecology

　5.2 Critique of People's Swelling Avarice for Material Things

　5.3 Cultivation of Spiritual Ecology

　　5.3.1 Emphasis on Spiritual Aspiration

　　5.3.2 Advocacy of Harmony between People's Physical and Spiritual Life

　 5.4 The Interaction between Spiritual and Natural Ecology

　　5.4.1 Preserving Rather Than Devastating Nature

　　5.4.2 Revering and Appreciating Rather Than Ignoring Nature

Conclusion

Works Cited

Postscript