'Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard' by Thomas Gray

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The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea,
The ploughman homeward plods his weary way,
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight,
And all the air a solemn stillness holds,
Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight,
And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds;

Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tower
The moping owl does to the moon complain
Of such as, wandering near her secret bower,
Molest her ancient solitary reign.

Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade,
Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap,
Each in his narrow cell for ever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.

The breezy call of incense-breathing morn,
The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed,
The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn,
No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed.

For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn,
Or busy housewife ply her evening-care;
No children run to lisp their sire's return,
Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share.

Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield,
Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke:
How jocund did they drive their team afield!
How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke!

Let not Ambition mock their useful toil,
Their homely joys and destiny obscure;
Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals of the poor.

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Awaits alike th' inevitable hour.
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

Nor you, ye proud, impute to these the fault,
If Memory o'er their tomb no trophies raise,
Where through the long-drawn aisle, and fretted vault,
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise.

Can storied urn, or animated bust,
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
Can Honour's voice provoke the silent dust,
Or Flattery soothe the dull cold ear of Death?

Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid
Some heart once pregnant with celestial fire;
Hands, that the rod of empire might have swayed,
Or waked to ecstasy the living lyre;

But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page,
Rich with the spoils of Time, did ne'er unroll;
Chill Penury repressed their noble rage,
And froze the genial current of the soul.

Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.

Some village-Hampden that with dauntless breast
The little tyrant of his fields withstood,
Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest,
Some Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood.

Th' applause of list'ning senates to command,
The threats of pain and ruin to despise,
To scatter plenty o'er a smiling land,
And read their history in a nation's eyes,

Their lot forbad: nor circumscribed alone
Their growing virtues, but their crimes confined;
Forbad to wade through slaughter to a throne,
And shut the Gates of Mercy on mankind,

The struggling pangs of conscious truth to hide,
To quench the blushes of ingenuous shame,
Or heap the shrine of Luxury and Pride
With incense kindled at the Muse's flame.

Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife
Their sober wishes never learned to stray;
Along the cool sequestered vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.

Yet ev'n these bones from insult to protect
Some frail memorial still erected nigh,
With uncouth rhymes and shapeless sculpture decked,
Implores the passing tribute of a sigh.

Their name, their years, spelt by th' unlettered Muse,
The place of fame and elegy supply:
And many a holy text around she strews,
That teach the rustic moralist to die.

For who, to dumb Forgetfulness a prey,
This pleasing anxious being e'er resigned,
Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day,
Nor cast one longing ling'ring look behind?

On some fond breast the parting soul relies,
Some pious drops the closing eye requires;
Ev'n from the tomb the voice of Nature cries,
Ev'n in our ashes live their wonted fires.

For thee, who, mindful of th' unhonoured dead,
Dost in these lines their artless tale relate;
If chance, by lonely Contemplation led,
Some kindred spirit shall enquire thy fate,—

Haply some hoary-headed swain may say
"Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn
Brushing with hasty steps the dews away
To meet the sun upon the upland lawn;

"There at the foot of yonder nodding beech,
That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high,
His listless length at noon-tide would he stretch,
And pore upon the brook that babbles by.

"Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn,
Mutt'ring his wayward fancies would he rove;
Now drooping, woeful-wan, like one forlorn,
Or crazed with care, or crossed in hopeless love.

"One morn I missed him from the customed hill,
Along the heath, and near his fav'rite tree;
Another came; nor yet beside the rill,
Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he:

"The next, with dirges due in sad array
Slow through the church-way path we saw him borne,—
Approach and read, for thou can'st read, the lay
Graved on the stone beneath yon aged thorn."

THE EPITAPH

Here rests his head upon the lap of earth
A Youth, to Fortune and to Fame unknown:
Fair Science frowned not on his humble birth,
And Melancholy marked him for her own.

Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere,
Heaven did a recompense as largely send:
He gave to Misery (all he had) a tear,
He gained from Heaven ('twas all he wished) a friend.

No farther seek his merits to disclose,
Or draw his frailties from their dread abode,
(There they alike in trembling hope repose,)
The bosom of his Father and his God.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard by Thomas Gray: A Masterpiece of Poetic Elegy

Have you ever been to a quiet country churchyard? Have you ever felt the overwhelming presence of those who have gone before us, of those whose memories linger in the air like a sweet fragrance? Have you ever tried to capture the essence of that place, to convey in words the depth of emotion that such a place evokes? If you have, then you will understand why Thomas Gray's Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard is considered one of the greatest poems of all time.

An Overview of the Poem

Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, also known as Gray's Elegy, was written by Thomas Gray in 1750. It is a poem of mourning, written in memory of the common people buried in a rural churchyard. The poem is structured in 32 stanzas of four lines each, known as quatrains, with an ABAB rhyme scheme.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the setting of the churchyard. He then goes on to muse on the lives of the humble villagers buried there, wondering about their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. The poem is not just a memorial to the dead, but also a reflection on life and the human condition.

Gray's Elegy is not just beautiful because of its language; it is also beautiful because of the sentiments it expresses. The poem is a tribute to the simple virtues of ordinary people, and it speaks to our shared humanity.

An Analysis of the Poem

Gray's Elegy is a masterpiece of poetic elegy, a genre of poetry that mourns the dead. It is a meditation on the human condition, on the fleeting nature of life, and on the inevitability of death. The poem is a tribute to the common people, to the "mute inglorious Milton" who live and die unnoticed by the world.

One of the most striking aspects of Gray's Elegy is its use of imagery. Gray's description of the churchyard is vivid and detailed, and it creates a sense of place that is both haunting and beautiful. The opening lines of the poem are some of the most famous in English literature:

The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea,
The plowman homeward plods his weary way,
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, and they capture the mood of a rural churchyard at dusk. The curfew tolling in the distance, the lowing of the cattle, and the plowman making his way home all convey a sense of peace and tranquility.

Gray's use of imagery is not limited to the setting of the poem. He also uses imagery to describe the lives and deaths of the common people buried in the churchyard. In one of the most poignant stanzas of the poem, Gray describes the fate of a young woman who died before her time:

Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife,
Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray;
Along the cool sequester'd vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.

Yet ev'n these bones from insult to protect,
Some frail memorial still erected nigh,
With uncouth rhymes and shapeless sculpture deck'd,
Implores the passing tribute of a sigh.

These lines are powerful not only because of their imagery but also because of what they suggest about the life of the young woman. She lived a simple life, far from the distractions of the world, but she is still remembered with a "frail memorial" that implores "the passing tribute of a sigh."

Gray's Elegy is also notable for its use of language. Gray was a master of the English language, and his use of language in the poem is both elegant and precise. The rhyming couplets create a sense of order and symmetry, and the use of alliteration and assonance adds to the musicality of the poem.

A Interpretation of the Poem

Gray's Elegy is a poem that speaks to the ages. It is a tribute to the common people, to those who live and die unnoticed by the world. But it is also a reflection on the human condition, on the fleeting nature of life, and on the inevitability of death.

The poem is a reminder that we are all mortal, that our lives are brief and fragile. And yet, even in death, there is a kind of beauty. Gray's Elegy is a tribute to the quiet dignity of the common people, to the simple virtues of those who live their lives with honor and decency.

In a world that often seems chaotic and uncertain, Gray's Elegy is a testament to the enduring power of poetry. It reminds us that, even in the midst of our struggles and our sorrows, there is still beauty to be found, still comfort to be had.

Conclusion

Gray's Elegy is one of the greatest poems of all time. It is a masterpiece of poetic elegy, a tribute to the common people, and a reflection on the human condition. Its use of imagery, language, and sentiment is both powerful and poignant.

The poem speaks to our shared humanity, to our hopes and fears, our sorrows and joys. It is a reminder that, even in death, there is beauty and dignity to be found.

Gray's Elegy is a timeless work of art, a tribute to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience. It is a poem that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard: A Masterpiece of English Literature

Thomas Gray's Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterpiece of English literature that has been studied and analyzed by scholars and students alike for centuries. This elegy is a reflection on the lives of the common people buried in a rural churchyard, and it is a tribute to their simple and humble existence. In this article, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of this remarkable poem.

Themes

The themes of Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard are universal and timeless. Gray explores the themes of mortality, the transience of life, and the inevitability of death. He also reflects on the idea of social class and the role of education in society. The poem is a meditation on the human condition, and it speaks to the universal experiences of loss, grief, and the passage of time.

One of the most striking themes of the poem is the idea of the transience of life. Gray reflects on the fact that all human beings, regardless of their social status, are subject to the same fate: death. He writes, "The paths of glory lead but to the grave." This line speaks to the idea that no matter how successful or famous a person may be, they will ultimately end up in the same place as everyone else: buried in the ground.

Another important theme of the poem is the idea of social class. Gray reflects on the fact that the people buried in the churchyard were mostly poor and uneducated. He writes, "Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest, / Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood." These lines suggest that there may have been great minds and leaders among the common people buried in the churchyard, but their lack of education and social status prevented them from achieving greatness in life.

Structure

The structure of Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard is a classic example of the elegiac form. The poem consists of 32 stanzas, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic pentameter. The poem is divided into four parts, each exploring a different aspect of the theme of mortality.

The first part of the poem sets the scene and establishes the mood. Gray describes the churchyard as a peaceful and quiet place, where the "rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." He reflects on the fact that the people buried in the churchyard were mostly poor and uneducated, but suggests that they may have had hidden talents and virtues.

The second part of the poem explores the idea of the transience of life. Gray reflects on the fact that all human beings are subject to the same fate: death. He writes, "The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, / And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, / Await alike the inevitable hour. / The paths of glory lead but to the grave." These lines suggest that no matter how successful or famous a person may be, they will ultimately end up in the same place as everyone else: buried in the ground.

The third part of the poem reflects on the idea of social class. Gray suggests that the people buried in the churchyard may have had hidden talents and virtues, but their lack of education and social status prevented them from achieving greatness in life. He writes, "Full many a gem of purest ray serene, / The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear: / Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, / And waste its sweetness on the desert air." These lines suggest that there may have been great minds and leaders among the common people buried in the churchyard, but their potential was never realized.

The fourth and final part of the poem is a reflection on the poet's own mortality. Gray suggests that he too will one day be buried in the churchyard, and that his own life will be subject to the same transience as those who came before him. He writes, "The paths of glory lead but to the grave, / Nor you, ye proud, impute to these the fault, / If memory o'er their tomb no trophies raise, / Where through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault / The pealing anthem swells the note of praise." These lines suggest that the poet does not seek fame or glory in death, but rather a simple and humble resting place among the common people.

Language

The language of Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard is simple and elegant. Gray uses a variety of literary devices, including metaphor, simile, and personification, to create a vivid and evocative picture of the churchyard and the people buried there.

One of the most striking examples of Gray's use of metaphor is the line, "The curfew tolls the knell of parting day." This line suggests that the sound of the church bell at sunset is like the tolling of a funeral bell, signaling the end of life and the approach of death.

Gray also uses personification to create a sense of the churchyard as a living, breathing entity. He writes, "Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade, / Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, / Each in his narrow cell forever laid, / The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." These lines suggest that the churchyard is a place of rest and peace, where the dead are at one with nature.

Conclusion

Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard is a masterpiece of English literature that has stood the test of time. It is a reflection on the lives of the common people buried in a rural churchyard, and it is a tribute to their simple and humble existence. The themes of mortality, the transience of life, and the inevitability of death are universal and timeless, and Gray's use of language and literary devices creates a vivid and evocative picture of the churchyard and the people buried there. This elegy is a meditation on the human condition, and it speaks to the universal experiences of loss, grief, and the passage of time.

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