Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard Group

Question:

sangcho91
sangcho91
Student
Community / Jr. College

How is "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" representative of its time in style and theme?

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Posted by sangcho91 on Tuesday November 11, 2008 at 2:54 PM and tagged with elegy written in a country churchyard, style, theme.

Answers:

  1. morrol
    morrol Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" was written just before the Romantic Period. He wrote at the same time as Johnson (the compiler of the first English dictionary). This is significant because Gray's work is famous for two reasons. The first is that it is a great example of a pastoral. Pastorals were typical of this time period as they glorified country settings. The second reason the poem is typical of the time is because it glorifies the common man. This theme was important during a time when Johnson was making language accessible to everyone.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/elegy-written/essays-criticism
    http://www.enotes.com/elegy-written/summary
    http://www.enotes.com/elegy-written/themes

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    Posted by morrol on Wednesday November 12, 2008 at 10:56 AM