Universal ecological motifs in Topeng Malangan oral literature: A comparative literary perspective for creative writing instruction

Oral literature represents a cultural heritage that preserves ecological knowledge, cultural values, and perspectives on human–nature relationships. This study explores universal ecological motifs embedded in Topeng Malangan oral literature and examines their relevance to comparative literary perspectives and creative writing instruction. Using a qualitative interpretive approach and ecocritical textual analysis, the study analyzes eight Topeng Malangan song lyrics through deductive–inductive thematic coding, integrating ecocritical and ecopedagogical perspectives. The findings reveal four major representations of nature: a cosmic-spiritual order, an aesthetic landscape and living space, a source of fertility and life sustainability, and a dynamic force reflecting human vulnerability. These representations embody ecological awareness, human–nature interconnectedness, ecological care, ecological responsibility, and place-based ecological knowledge. From a comparative literary perspective, these motifs reflect universal ecological concerns that transcend cultural boundaries while retaining their distinctive expression in local Indonesian oral traditions. The study highlights the potential of Topeng Malangan oral literature as a resource for creative writing instruction, connecting local cultural wisdom with universal literary themes, literary literacy, and sustainability education.