Petals Through Time: Literary Flower Symbolism from Shakespeare to the Anthropocene

This thesis explores the evolution of floral symbolism in English literature from the sixteenth century to the twenty-first century, examining how botanical imagery reflects Western civilization's shifting relationships with nature. Through the analysis of key texts from four literary periods - the Elisabethan era, the Romantic period, the Victorian age, and contemporary writing - this thesis traces how flowers have served as rich symbolic tools, moving from personal and cultural expression to broader ecological and ethical concerns.