From Pan to Arras: Eleanor Farjeon and Edwardian Poetry

Eleanor Farjeon’s poetry for adults is notable for reflecting some of the changes taking place in the literary and cultural life of Britain during the Edwardian period. Her early work relates to a range of cultural phenomena that extended from the Victorian into the Edwardian period. These include the figure of Pan, Symbolism, and anxiety about the modern metropolis. A number of developments occurred after she met Edward Thomas. Features that demonstrate his influence include detailed descriptions of the natural world and depictions of real people. Elements of Robert Frost’s ideas about the sound of sense can also be detected. The interest in the spiritual that forms an important element in Farjeon’s early work does not disappear but emerges transformed in poems such as “Easter Monday,” which was written in response to Thomas’ death in France in 1917. Extending the Edwardian period to include the First World War enables Farjeon to be seen as a participant in some of the broader developments taking place in English poetry during this period. Despite Farjeon’s later reputation as a children’s author, most of the poems discussed are aimed at adults, although some could be read by adults and children.