Bridge to Terabithia oleh Katherine Paterson: Representasi Alam Sebagai Metafora Kebebasan dan Tempat Pelarian Dari Realitas

Nurul Hijrah Makkuraga. 2026. Katherine Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia: Representation of Nature as a Metaphor of Freedom and Escape from Reality. (Supervised by Prof. Dr. Fathu Rahman, M.Hum.) Background. In literary works, nature is frequently disregarded and considered only as a setting for the story. The majority of literary works that explore ecological themes or issues focus on environmental conservation. Aim. This study aims to examine how nature is represented as a metaphor for freedom and an escape from reality in Katherine Paterson's novel Bridge to Terabithia. Method. The research method used is qualitative, descriptive-analytical. The ecocritical approach provided by Cheryll Glotfelty was used to determine how nature is represented in the text. Results. The results indicate that nature is represented in the text as a distinct area from the main characters’ social context. The representation of nature as a metaphor for freedom is apparent because nature in the text provides an experience of freedom that the two main characters do not experience in their social surroundings. Along with this, the representation of nature as a place of escape is evident because nature serves as a temporary distraction for the main characters, which then becomes a place for identity negotiation for both of them. Conclusion. Nature in literary works functions not only as a setting but also as a crucial aspect that influences the overall content of the work, both explicitly and implicitly.