Criticism Toward Environmental Degradation In Jostein Gaarder's The World According To Anna: A Sociological Perspective

Abstract This study concentrates on the analysis of environmental degradation in Jostein Gaarder’s The World According To Anna novel (2015) by using sociology perspective. The type of the study is library research. The objective of this study is to analyze the indicators of environmental degradation, the main character's ideas in coping with it, and the reason of the author’s concern in environmental issues. The researcher uses both primary and secondary data. The World According To Anna novel is the primary data. The secondary data are taken from related books, journals, internet especially environmental Norwegian sites. There are 3 results of the study. First, there are 5 indicators of environmental degradation: loss of biodiversity, the scarcity of energy resources, climate change, declining fishes resources, and destroying forest resources. Second, there are 7 ideas are stated by the main character in coping with environmental degradation. They are applying the mutual respect principle, being an inclusive and open-minded individual, updating information about the environment, using renewable energies, loving nature, the green machine, and creating the environment community. Third, the reasons of author's concern in environmental issues are the social condition of Norway, the author's background as the philosopher, an intellectual, and the environmentalist who must have cosmic responsibility. Keywords : environmental degradation, jostein gaarder, sociology of literature