SPACES OF SANCTUARY IN EDWIN MUIR’S POEMS OF TRAUMA, EXILE AND LOSS
Abstract
Trauma studies have recently explored the influence of historical event andcircumstance on art and how trauma is portrayed; for example, Modernism representsthe embodiment of the theme of trauma, alienation and loneliness after the FirstWorld War. This connection is also discernible in the poetry of Edwin Muir who wasborn in 1887 and witnessed various great events of the twentieth century. However,Muir’s sense of trauma was not limited to only WWI, but the loss of people and placesinfluenced his verse as well. The theme of loss and migration led Muir to a mythicaland nostalgic past as a response to trauma. Due to migration to another city, hisstruggle with agony was blended with certain places; hence, his poetry elaborates onspatial aspects. In this regard, as it often does lead to feelings of nostalgia, traumabecomes central to understanding Muir’s poetry. In the centre of Muir’s traumarelated to his abiding sense of nostalgia is a concentration on places, both historicaland mythical. Therefore, this paper will explore the main connection betweennostalgia and space in relation to Muir’s personal and collective trauma.