In his 1751 poem “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard,” Thomas Gray pays tribute to the common people - the farmers, blacksmiths, fishermen, and butchers - who lead simple lives both in this world and in death. This timeless piece delves into themes of mortality, social status, and the natural world as the speaker reflects on the lives and deaths of both the wealthy and everyday folk buried in the churchyard.Considered one of the greatest elegies in English literature, “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” (1751) was Gray's most renowned work during his lifetime. Unlike traditional elegies, Gray's poem does not focus on the passing of a specific person, but rather contemplates the universal concept of death for the ordinary folk.Gray initially began writing “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” following the death of his close friend, Richard West, in 1742. However, being a perfectionist who feared criticism, he set the poem aside for several years. It wasn't until the passing of his aunt in November 1749 and a near-death experience of his childhood friend, Horace Walpole, in the same month, that Gray was forced to confront his own mortality. He returned to his draft from West's death and used it as a basis for “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard,” providing him with an opportunity to ponder his beliefs about the afterlife.In June 1750, Gray moved to Stoke Poges, near St Giles' Parish Church in England. He regularly attended Sunday services and visited his aunt's grave, and eventually, Gray and his mother were also laid to rest there. It is believed that this quaint country churchyard served as the inspiration for “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.”The poem is set in a rural church cemetery at sundown, PixabayOn June 12, Gray completed “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” and sent it to Walpole, who used his influence in society to share it with the public. By early 1751, Gray learned that his poem would be published, without his consent, in William Owen's Magazine of Magazines on February 16. Thanks to Walpole's help, Gray's version was published on February 15, and the next day, Owen's edition was filled with errors and complications.Interestingly, “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” was not only published twelve times and featured in various periodicals until 1765, but it was also included in Gray's 1753 Six Poems collection, his 1757 Odes, and Robert Dodsley's 1755 compilation.A Reflection on the Lives of Ordinary People“Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” reflects on the passing of everyday people whose simple lives often go unnoticed. The speaker strolls through a rural cemetery at sundown, contemplating his own mortality as well as those buried there.The graves are modest and lack the grandeur of the wealthy and powerful. The speaker reflects on the unassuming lives these people must have lived, tending to their farms and cherishing their families. While their lives may not have been glamorous, the speaker argues that they were full of purpose and ambition. He wonders what could have been if they were born into privilege or better circumstances. Could they have been the next great poet or politician if given the opportunity?The speaker also emphasizes that even those blessed with fame and wealth will face the same fate as the common folk. No amount of power during their lifetime or fancy tombs in death can bring them back. Lastly, the speaker contemplates his own inevitable death and imagines the epitaph he would want on his own grave.Uncovering the Literary Techniques in “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”Throughout the poem, Gray employs a variety of literary devices to convey the central themes of death and societal status and establish a reflective tone. These include personification, alliteration, allusion, and metaphors. Additionally, rhetorical questions, euphemisms, synecdoche, and onomatopoeia are subtly incorporated to great effect.PersonificationThe use of personification adds depth to the conflicts presented in the poem.
In "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard," the speaker personifies Death as being indifferent to human emotions, with the line "dull cold ear of Death" (44). This highlights the cold and impersonal nature of Death, but personification is also used to give life to other inanimate objects and abstract ideas. This draws attention to the different forces that contribute to social divisions between people based on their status in life. For example, Ambition and Grandeur are personified as mocking the ordinary people, showcasing their lower social standing in lines 29-32. However, the speaker challenges this narrative by suggesting that the poor should not be ridiculed for their simple lives, but rather valued for their worth. Being ordinary does not diminish the value of a person's life, and the speaker argues that other forces, such as Knowledge and Penury, are responsible for the disadvantages faced by the poor.
The speaker goes on to explain how common people are naturally positioned behind the extraordinary, not because of their own laziness or lack of ambition, but because of their disadvantaged starting point. Knowledge is presented as being unkind to them, deliberately keeping them ignorant, while Penury suppresses their noble desires and limits their potential for success (49-52).
The use of personification in the poem not only highlights social divisions but also introduces the setting and develops the theme of nature. For instance, in the third stanza, the speaker personifies nature through the owl, who mopes and complains to the moon about those who get too close to her secret bower. This symbolizes how all natural things, including humankind, reflect life and death. Throughout the poem, trees and birds are also personified, representing the cycle of life that all natural things go through. The owl, being a nocturnal predatory bird associated with death, creates the image of a cemetery at dusk.
Alliteration and imagery also play a significant role in creating the poem's mood. The repetition of certain sounds shifts the mood, changing the imagery and focus of the poem. For example, the alliteration in line 3 imitates the plodding of tired farmers with the "P" and "W" sounds, highlighting their hard work. In contrast, the repetition of the "S" sound in "solemn stillness" (6) creates a peaceful, calming effect, reflecting the mood of death in the cemetery. This allows the reader to physically hear the nuances of poetic devices when reading aloud, further immersing them into the poem.
Moreover, alliteration is also used to criticize the superficiality of the wealthy and powerful. In lines 33 and 36, the repetition of the "P" and "G" sounds in "the pomp of pow'r" and "The paths of glory lead but to the grave" is harsh and critical, highlighting the contrast between the flashy tombs of the rich and the ordinary graves of the poor.
In conclusion, the use of personification, alliteration, and imagery in "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" adds depth and meaning to the poem, developing its themes of social divisions, nature, and life. These poetic devices bring attention to the harsh reality of social hierarchies and the inevitability of death, making this poem a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers to this day.
Through his use of literary devices, Thomas Gray effectively conveys the theme of death as a great equalizer in his poem "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard." Alliteration, imagery, allusion, rhetorical questions, euphemism, synecdoche, and metaphor all work together to emphasize the idea that death does not differentiate between individuals based on their social status or power.
The contrast between words with opposite connotations, such as "pomp" and "power," and "glory" and "grave," emphasizes the theme of equality in death. This is evident in lines 139-140 where the speaker states that in death, even the rich and the poor are on equal footing.
The use of alliteration, where the same consonant sound is repeated at the beginning of closely connected words, adds a musical quality to the poem and creates a sense of cohesion. Additionally, the vivid imagery used throughout the poem appeals to the reader's senses and helps to evoke emotion, making the concept of death more relatable.
Allusion is also employed, subtly comparing ordinary people to notable literary and political figures they could have become if given the opportunity. Through allusions to figures like John Hampden, John Milton, and Oliver Cromwell, the speaker highlights the potential of common people and how they could have achieved greatness if not for their limited opportunities.
Rhetorical questions add a dramatic effect and emphasize the idea that status and prestige hold no weight when it comes to death. The speaker asks whether a "storied urn" or "animated bust" can bring a person back to life or if honor or flattery have any effect on death.
Euphemisms are also used to describe death in a less harsh manner, such as referring to it as "the inevitable hour" and comparing the deceased to "silent dust" or "sleeping" under the shade of a yew tree.
Synecdoche, where a part is used to represent the whole, and metaphor, which compares the poor to powerful forces, further reinforce the idea that death is a universal experience that does not discriminate based on social standing. The speaker states that the "rude forefathers" of the hamlet are all laid to rest in their "narrow cells" beneath the earth, emphasizing the common fate shared by all.
In conclusion, Thomas Gray's masterful use of literary devices in "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" effectively conveys the theme that death is a leveler, and in death, all individuals, regardless of their status or power, are equal.
In his poem, "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard," Thomas Gray eloquently examines two powerful themes that are deeply intertwined: the universality of death and the impact of social class on human value. He reminds us that death does not discriminate between the rich and poor, as earthly riches ultimately succumb to its inevitability. Despite any boast of wealth, power, beauty, or fame, death remains an equalizer, showing that in the end, all are the same.
As the speaker walks through a cemetery, they observe the graves of commoners who are often forgotten and neglected in comparison to great people. This serves as a poignant reminder of the unequal treatment and value placed on different social classes. Gray highlights the potential for greatness that may reside within the poor, but is often hindered by a lack of education and opportunities. This leads to their graves being even more forgotten and neglected, perpetuating the societal divide between classes.
Themes: Universality of death, social class, and human value.
Can you think of other poems with similar themes? Another poem that explores these themes is "To an Athlete Dying Young" by A.E. Housman.
The class divide in society often leads to those in lower social classes being perceived as less valuable simply because they were not born into the same privileges as the wealthy. Instead of having the opportunity to receive an education and use their knowledge to improve their lives, the poor are often forced into physically demanding jobs just to make ends meet, hindering their ability to better themselves.
Despite their potential for greatness, their harsh and difficult lives often snuff out any hope for success due to the societal value placed upon their low social status. For the speaker in this poem, social class serves as a confining factor that limits one's potential, solely based on their birth circumstances.
Nature is a recurring theme throughout the poem, intricately connected to the cycle of life and death in the rural countryside. The roosters that wake up the farmers at dawn and the owl that guards the cemetery are just two examples of how nature is intertwined with human existence. Despite the heavy theme of death in the poem, nature is represented as vibrant and full of life, serving as a reminder that life never truly ends.
The speaker finds solace in nature, as it serves as a constant reminder of the cyclical nature of life. Even in death, the speaker wants to be remembered for their love and appreciation for nature, rather than solely for their poetry. The beech tree they rest under may lose its leaves in the winter, but will bloom once again in the spring. The "brook that babbles by" is a powerful symbol of life and its ability to sustain and renew.
The cyclical nature of life also serves as the speaker's form of religion and understanding of death. Although they may be buried in a simple churchyard, their name forgotten, and their poems lost to time, they believe they will continue to live on through the trees, birds, and brooks, even after their passing.
"Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" was written by English poet Thomas Gray in 1751. The poem reflects on the concept of human mortality and was inspired by the death of the poet's best friend, his aunt, and a near-death experience of a friend. It is believed to be set at St. Giles Church in Stoke Poges, where Gray's mother and aunt are buried. The poem delves into the lives and deaths of ordinary people who were buried without grandiose graves and lived seemingly unremarkable lives.
Gray's use of metaphor, such as comparing common people to hidden gems and rare flowers, adds depth to the poem and highlights the limitations that society often imposes on individuals based on their social standing. Overall, "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" is a thought-provoking and emotional reflection on the common people and their deaths, reminding us to recognize the value of every human life regardless of their social class.
Although melancholic in tone, the following poem serves as a poignant reminder that nature holds the power to endure and life persists in an unending cycle, even beyond death.
