Fairy and Child by Eugene Field
The poem tells the story of a fairy who befriends a child and takes him on a journey to a fantastical land where they experience magical events together. The fairy's ultimate goal is to teach the child about the importance of imagination and the beauty of nature. Through their adventures, the child learns valuable lessons about courage, kindness, and the power of fantasy.
By Eugene Field · First published 1887 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Poetry · 240 words
First lines
Oh, listen, little Dear-My-Soul, To the fairy voices calling, For the moon is high in the misty sky And the honey dew is falling; To the midnight feast in the clover bloom The bluebells are a-ringing, And it's "Come away to the land of fay" That the katydid is singing.
Oh, slumber, little Dear-My-Soul, And hand in hand we'll wander -- Hand in hand to the beautiful land Of Balow, away off yonder; Or we'll sail along in a lily leaf Into the white moon's halo -- Over a stream of mist and dream Into the land of Balow.
What this Textopian page supports
Fairy and Child is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1887 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Poetry, Lyrical, Fairy Tale
- Length: 240 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Fairy and Child by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Fairy and Child?
- How does this poem by Eugene Field fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The poem is written for a child, featuring themes of imagination and fantasy that appeal to young readers.
- Fantasy — The work includes elements of fairyland and magical imagery, characteristic of the fantasy genre.
- Poetry — The text is structured as a poem, utilizing rhythm and rhyme to convey its themes.
- Lyrical — The writing style is expressive and musical, typical of lyrical poetry.
Tags
Poetry · Children's Literature · Fantasy · Fairy Tales · Imagination · Whimsy · Nostalgia · Victorian Era · American Literature · 19th Century · Rhyming Verse · Storytelling