Easter Monday by Eleanor Farjeon

Easter Monday by Eleanor Farjeon is a sonnet dedicated to Farjeon’s good friend and fellow poet Edward Thomas, who died in battle in WWI. This heartfelt sonnet it dedicated to Thomas not only in its title but in every line. It contains a bitter-sweet mix of joy at the rebirth and hope of spring, while also serving as a goodbye to a close friend. Read on for an explanation of the friendship between these poets, as well as for line-by-line analysis, quiz questions and more.

This study guide is written for students and teachers of English Literature, particularly those studying CCEA’s GCSE English Literature Conflict Anthology. For more study guides from this anthology, check out the Conflict page, or the list of poems in the series at the bottom of this guide.

Easter Monday (In Memoriam E.T.) (1917)

In the last letter that I had from France
You thanked me for the silver Easter egg
Which I had hidden in the box of apples
You liked to munch beyond all other fruit.
You found the egg the Monday before Easter,
And said, ‘I will praise Easter Monday now –
It was such a lovely morning’. Then you spoke
Of the coming battle and said, ‘This is the eve.
Good-bye. And may I have a letter soon.’

That Easter Monday was a day for praise,
It was such a lovely morning. In our garden
We sowed our earliest seeds, and in the orchard
The apple-bud was ripe. It was the eve.
There are three letters that you will not get.

What is 'Easter Monday' all about?

Stanza 1

In the opening stanza, the speaker (who we can confidently say is Farjeon herself, given her close friendship with Thomas and her clear dedication in the title) describes her correspondence with a friend in France. Given the date of the poem, the location of France, and the mention of a coming battle, we can surmise the friend is serving on the front line in World War I.

The speaker has received a response to her letter. She had written to her friend and had sent apples, as she knew how much he loved them, and a silver Easter egg as a gift. His reply thanks her for the gift and asks for another letter soon. He closes his letter by explaining that he writes the night before a ‘coming battle’.

Stanza 2

In the second stanza, the speaker reminisces about the day she received his letter: the weather had been beautiful and she had enjoyed wholesome activities like gardening and enjoying spring outdoors. The stanza closes with the sad news that she had since written another three replies, all of which were sent too late: he had already died.

Context of 'Easter Monday (In Memoriam E.T.) (1917)'

Farjeon's life, education and career

Eleanor Farjeon was born on February 13, 1881, in London, England. She grew up surrounded by creativity, as she was the daughter of Jewish novelist Benjamin Farjeon, and American-born actress Margaret Jefferson. Her brothers were artistic too: Joseph and Herbert Farjeon were both writers and Harry Farjeon was a composer.

Farjeon’s formal education was limited, as she suffered from ill health throughout her childhood and adolescence. Nevertheless, she developed a love for literature and began writing poetry and stories at a young age. Her literary talents were recognized early on, and she published her first poem at the age of 16.

In her early career, Farjeon worked as a journalist and editor, contributing articles and reviews to various publications. However, it was her work in children’s literature that earned her widespread fame. One of her best-known works is the children’s novel “The Little Bookroom,” which won the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1956.

Throughout her life, Farjeon maintained close ties with fellow writers and artists, including D.H. Lawrence and Edward Thomas and his wife Helen, among others. She also collaborated with her brother, the composer Harry Farjeon, on several projects, including children’s operas and musical compositions.

Farjeon never married and had no children of her own, but she cherished her close relationships with family and friends. Farjeon’s close friendship with Edward Thomas inspired the writing of this poem, Easter Monday.

Eleanor Farjeon passed away on June 5, 1965.

Another famous poem has also been written about friendship with Edward Thomas. Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken does not specifically mention Thomas, but was written in response to Frost’s countryside walks with Edward Thomas in the years leading up to the outbreak of WWI. If you are interested in learning more about Edward Thomas and his friendship with Robert Frost, please check out the ThinkLit study guide for The Road Not Taken.

Farjeon's friendship with Edward Thomas

Eleanor Farjeon’s friendship with Edward Thomas and his wife Helen began in 1909 when they met at a literary gathering in London.

Their friendship, strengthened by shared interests in literature and nature, lasted for over a decade through walks in the countryside as well as letter correspondence.

It was Farjeon’s encouragement, along with his friendship with Robert Frost, that spurred Thomas’ transition from prose writing to poetry.

In 1915, along with many hundreds of thousands of young men, Thomas enlisted in the army. He continued his correspondence with Farjeon throughout the two years of combat. Tragically, on 9th April 1917, Thomas died in action during the Battle of Arras in World War I.

Farjeon’s poem ‘Easter Monday’ reflects on the loss of her friend and the enduring impact of their friendship. Despite Thomas’ passing, Farjeon maintained a close friendship with Helen Thomas for many years after his death, and in 1958, she published “Edward Thomas: The Last Four Years” which contains their correspondence and insights into the friendship.

World War I letter writing

During World War I, the frequency of letters received by soldiers from home varied depending on a range of factors: the location of the front lines, the pressure on the postal service, and the availability of paper, stamps etc. Despite the difficulties of wartime, efforts were made to ensure that mail was delivered promptly whenever possible.

Soldiers received letters from home on a very irregular basis. This meant that there were periods when they might not receive correspondence for extended periods.

Soldiers received packages from family members, friends and charities containing various items such as food, clothing, toiletries, etc. These packages were greatly appreciated by soldiers, as they provided comfort and moments of relief from the harsh conditions of war.

Line-by-line analysis of 'Easter Monday' by Eleanor Farjeon

Stanza 1

In the last letter that I had from France

Alliteration of the letter ‘l’ in ‘last letter’ creates a soft, mournful sound, enhancing the mood of remembrance.
The use of the word ‘last’ suggests finality, foreshadowing the theme of loss and death.
The mention of France in the opening line, along with the date in the poem’s title, 1917, sets this poem very firmly in the context of WWI. Later, the letter writer mentions a battle, leaving no further doubt in our minds.

You thanked me for the silver Easter egg

Consonance of the letter ‘s’ and assonance of the ‘e’ sound in ‘silver Easter egg’ emphasises the significance of the gift and the closeness of the friendship between these correspondents.
The metaphor of the silver Easter egg symbolises the hope and renewal associated with Easter, contrasting with the setting of war and the presence of death.
Easter is also a time when Christians mark the death, and celebrate the resurrection, of Christ on the cross. The symbolism of the Easter egg in this narrative which ends in death is apt.
Farjeon uses enjambment in the first four lines of this sonnet. She runs these lines straight into each other without pause, creating a long sentence. The effect is to create a very realistic, conversational tone as if she is reading extracts straight from a letter. She speaks directly to the subject of the poem, who we know to be Edward Thomas.

Which I had hidden in the box of apples

The imagery of hiding the egg among apples conveys a sense of playful innocence and nostalgia, with the egg and the apples of similar size and shape.
The gift of a box of apples would have been greatly appreciated by soldiers at the front line, who probably had very little in the way of fresh fruit and vegetables for long periods.

You liked to munch beyond all other fruit.

Onomatopoeia in the word ‘munch’ adds tactile image and emphasis, highlighting Thomas’ fondness for apples.
The choice of the word ‘munch’ evokes a sense of casual intimacy and warmth in the relationship.

You found the egg the Monday before Easter,

The repetition of ‘Monday before Easter’ anchors the narrative within the Easter season.
This line uses a comma at the end of the line rather than an end stop, creating a continuation of the sentence into the next line. However, it is not the pure enjambment of the first three lines. Rather there is a pause and a sense of start/stop over the next few lines as the speaker struggles with the emotion of re-reading his letters.

And said, 'I will praise Easter Monday now -

Direct speech adds immediacy and authenticity, allowing Thomas’ voice to speak from the poem.
The repetition of ‘Easter Monday’ reinforces its thematic importance, highlighting the hopeful and celebratory nature of Easter. Interestingly, Thomas became more inclined to praise Easter after receiving her gift than because of its religious importance.
The hyphen at the end of the line creates a pause, reflecting Thomas’ joy and surprise at receiving such a thoughtful and unexpected gift amongst his box of apples.

It was such a lovely morning'. Then you spoke

This line is broken by a full stop creating a pause. This pause marks a shift in tone in Thomas’ letter as he communicates the reality of his situation, and of the war, in his letter.

Of the coming battle and said, 'This is the eve.

The juxtaposition of the danger of the impending battle compared to the soldier’s longing for the normality of communication underscores the contrast between hope and uncertainty.
The reference to ‘eve’ emphasises the importance of the next day. Perhaps Thomas feels the danger he is in as he writes. There is a foreboding tone here.

Good-bye. And may I have a letter soon.'

The foreboding tone of the previous line is further emphasised by the short sentence ‘Good-bye.’ This single word carries more meaning in hindsight, knowing it would be their last goodbye.
His plea for correspondence emphasises the mutuality of their friendship and how important it was to hear from friends and loved ones while at war.

Stanza 2

That Easter Monday was a day for praise,

The religious imagery is clear here, in the connection between ‘Easter Monday’ and ‘praise’ which are significant words in Christianity. Interestingly, Farjeon was Jewish until she converted to Catholicism in 1951, but she was seemingly familiar with Christian imagery of rebirth and rejuvenation, and the praise associated with the resurrection of Christ celebrated at Easter.
The speaker has received Thomas’ letter, and written back at least one of three letters. In the meantime, she has continued her life, celebrating the good weather, the seed planting and rejuvenation of springtime and the knowledge of her friend’s enjoyment of the apples. All the while, her friend has died in the war, and the grief she feels in hindsight is apparent in the ironically overly positive descriptions of spring.

It was such a lovely morning. In our garden

The tranquil setting of the garden juxtaposes the backdrop of war.
The use of enjambment creates a sense of continuation, mirroring the ongoing cycle of life (springtime and seed-planting).
The repetition of the line in Thomas’ letter ‘It was such a lovely morning’ in the speaker’s own words here provides the reader with permission to compare. There is irony in her ‘lovely morning’ in England, feeling comforted by his recent positive letter. Unbeknownst to her, he had died.

We sowed our earliest seeds, and in the orchard

Seed-sewing is seen metaphorically here as well as literally. The apple trees, blossoming and budding in the orchard, as well as new seeds planted in the garden all support the Easter time focus on the cycle of life and the rejuvenation of spring. She has sent apples to him, to share that hope of new life.

The apple-bud was ripe. It was the eve.

The mention of ‘the eve’ alludes to his battle. The speaker is looking back now, having figured out the timeline of having received a letter from him, celebrating new life and his happiness, and the lag time of not knowing then what she knows now, that it was in fact ‘the eve’ of his death. This now, in hindsight, casts a shadow over the otherwise idyllic scene that she thinks back on.

There are three letters that you will not get.

The use of the number ‘three’ adds specificity and heightens the sad irony that while she continued to write more letters to him, he was already dead.
The statement serves as a poignant conclusion, highlighting the grief, loss and separation caused by war.

Analysis of form and structure

Form

Farjeon’s poem ‘Easter Monday’ is, very loosely, a sonnet. While it does not obey all of the rules of sonnets strictly, it is nonetheless a sonnet in its 14-line structure and its themes of love and nature.

Let’s examine how ‘Easter Monday’ both keeps and breaks the rules of sonnets:

Verse Structure:

Sonnets are written as one 14-line verse, but Farjeon’s ‘Easter Monday’, despite being 14 lines, is split into two verses. Some modern sonnets create a divide at the octave, sestet or the final rhyming couplets. Farjeon splits her 14 lines in an unusual place, after 9 lines, creating a 9 line verse and a 5 line verse. There is logic in this verse structure: the opening verse is his response to the apple gift, focusing almost entirely on his last letter. The second verse is about her life in the interim, between receiving news directly from him and learning of his death.

Rhyme

Traditional sonnets follow a very tight rhyme scheme, often ABABCDCD EFEFGG, or a variation of this (see the sonnets infographic on this page). Yet Farjeon has no rhyme pattern at all in this poem, making it difficult to categorise as a sonnet.

Rhythm

Sonnets are traditionally written in iambic pentameter, and Farjeon does follow this rhythm … for the most part! ‘Iambic’ means that the stressed syllable in each pair is second i.e. in the pattern ‘unstressed/stressed’. Pentameter means that there are 5 of these iambic pairs.

Let’s look at the first four lines of Easter Monday. The backslashes show each pair of syllables, with the stressed syllables in bold.

In the/ last lett/er that/ I had/ from France/
You thanked/ me for/ the sil/ver Eas/ter egg/
Which I/ had hid/den in/ the box/ of app/les
You liked/ to munch/ beyond/ all oth/er fruit./

As you can see, there are 5 stressed syllables per line, and generally, 5 unstressed. In line 3 above, you will notice an additional unstressed syllable which is often the case even in the strictest sonnets, and is a ‘falling syllable’ and simply adds a a slight variation to the pattern.

In the middle of the poem, you will notice that the iambic pattern breaks down, with the stressed syllable often falling first in the pair. This is called trochaic meter rather than iambic meter. It is perhaps a result of the speaker’s grief and loss that the pattern breaks at this point. The iambic rhythm is restored at the end of the poem.

With regard to its rhythm, the poem can be regarded as a sonnet as it largely follows iambic pentameter.

Themes in 'Easter Monday' by Eleanor Farjeon

Remembrance

The poem explores the theme of remembrance through the memories of a friend who has died at war. The speaker recalls lines from their most recent letter. The symbol of remembrance in this poem is the silver Easter egg, a gift sent to the front line as a sign of friendship. Many other poems in the CCEA Conflict Anthology explore the theme of remembrance: Wilfred Owen gives a damning summary of the inadequate forms of remembrance in Anthem for Doomed Youth; Jane Weir explores the memories of a loved one through the symbol of the poppy and through nature in her poem Poppies; Seamus Heaney writes of the scars in people’s memories and on the landscape of Ireland in his poem Requiem for the Croppies; and in The Charge of the Light Brigade, Alfred Lord Tennyson writes to glorify and honour the memory of brave horsemen who rode into a fatal charge.

Loss and grief

The theme of loss permeates the poem as the speaker reflects on the death of her friend. Despite the beauty of the Easter morning and the promise of new life symbolised by the budding apple tree and the planting of seeds, there is an underlying sense of sadness and grief. The speaker acknowledges that there are “three letters that you will not get,” highlighting the permanent absence caused by death in war.

Nature

The theme of nature is important in Easter Monday, as it is in many sonnets. Nature in this poem represents new life, hope and growth, and is seen in the speaker’s description of her garden as well as in the symbolism of planting seeds and budding apple trees. The hope symbolised in nature provides a stark contrast to the gloom and grief of the poem, which ends with the news that the correspondent in the poem is dead.

Quiz on 'Easter Monday'

Easter Monday (In Memoriam E.T.) (1917) by Eleanor Farjeon

Test your knowledge of the poem 'Easter Monday (In Memoriam E.T.) (1917)' by Eleanor Farjeon.

Comprehension Questions:

Explain the poem’s title and the contexts of the poem referred to in the poem’s title.
The poem describes the correspondence between two people: where is each and what is going on for each letter writer?
Describe the weather on the Easter Monday mentioned in the poem.
How does the speaker convey a sense of love and affection for E.T. in the poem?
What is the significance of the apple-bud in the poem?
How does the poem’s form contribute to the emotions suggested in the poem?
Why does the speaker mention that there are three letters the recipient will not receive?
How does the poem reflect themes of loss and remembrance?
What does the poem suggest about the impact of war?
Which poem from your anthology would you choose to compare with this poem? Prepare a mind-map or grid to explain the similarities and differences between these two poems.

Other poems from the CCEA Conflict Anthology to pair with 'Easter Monday'

Poppies by Jane Weir

Both poems explore the theme of loss and remembrance in the context of war. ‘Easter Monday‘ reflects on the memory of a loved friend lost in war, while ‘Poppies‘ depicts a mother’s grief for her son who has gone off to war. Both poems employ vivid symbolism: in ‘Easter Monday,’ symbols such as the Easter egg and the seeds represent renewal, while in ‘Poppies,’ the poppy flower serves as a powerful symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers. These poems both write with freedom, although Farjeon’s echoes a more traditional sonnet loosely, Weir’s poem is entirely free verse.

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death by W B Yeats

Both poems explore the sacrifices made by individuals who are involved in war. While ‘Easter Monday‘ reflects on the memory of a loved friend lost in war and the impact of conflict on personal lives, ‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death‘ gives insight into the thoughts and emotions of a soldier who anticipates his own death in combat. ‘Easter Monday’ is a personal experience of grief whereas ‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death’ reflects on the broader themes of duty, patriotism, and the existential questions faced by soldiers who willingly participate in war despite its inherent risks, giving contrasting perspectives on war and death.