Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard by Thomas Gray - Book Report/Review Example

"Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray poetry review Part short answers Question 1 A: Sounds In the poem, sounds are used to portray the mood the persona is depicting. This is evident in the description of the sound made by the bell, in that it is described to knell rather than ring. This description of the sound is usually employed when bell are rung during funerals or in the event of the death of a person. There is also the sound of hooting made by the owl, which is synonymous with death. These sounds are used to bring out the somber mood in the poem (Rodabaugh and McCarthy, p 289). 1B: Sights The phrase “The lowing herd” gives the impression of the countryside since it depicts a herd of livestock (Rodabaugh and McCarthy, p289). In addition, the description of a farmer heading home creates the visual impression of the rural landscape. 1C: Adjectives The mood in the poem in the first twelve lines is sad. Adjectives that can be used to describe this mood include somber. This is because the events being described in the poem is a funeral whereby it has a sad ambiance. The adjective tranquil can also be used to describe the mood in the first three paragraphs, since the author tries to describe the idyllic scenes and moods experienced in the countryside. Question 2: 2A: trees at the cemetery In then poem, one of the trees that are present is the elm trees. The mention of the tree in the poetry is used to symbolize the idyllic scenes of the country. It also depicts a scenario that is cool and peaceful. There is also presence of the yew tree that is mentioned in the poem. The yew tree is significant in the poem, since the tree is synonymous with religion in that it was commonly located in churches. The tree creates the ambiance experienced in churches which is crucial in burial ceremonies. The persona uses the natural landscape to describe vividly the events of the poem. 2B: metaphor The phrase “The Narrow Cell” used in the poem is not a metaphor. This is because it is not used to compare characteristics, but rather depicts that the deceased is forever imprisoned by death never to live again. The term “The Narrow Cell” is instead an idiom since it hides refers indirectly to the grave as a cell, since one cannot come back once buried. The author in trying to depict death uses this stylistic device. Question 3: In the poems 5th stanza, the sounds used include the sound of a horn and a cock. These sounds are synonymous with rural life, and the persona uses this to show that the dead will never again enjoy country life. Question 4 In the first stanza, 3rd line, there is the scenario of a humble farmer heading home after his chores. The writer uses the phrase “the plowman homeward plods his weary way” (Rodabaugh and McCarthy, p289). Question 5: The villagers depicted in the poem mostly earn their living from farming. This is evident from the text in the poem, “oft did the harvest to their sickle yield” in line 25 of the poem. Question 6: Ambition is told not to ridicule the hard work of the villagers. Ambition was also warned to desist from mocking the happiness they obtain from their homes and families, and their unclear destinies. Grandeur, on the other hand, was warned from having contempt for the tales of the poor. Grandeur was warned against looking down at the plight of the poor, since it represented bounty. It should, on the other hand, respect them since death was not discriminatory to the poor or those living in grandeur since they will both meet the same end. Question 7: In this stanza, the persona shows that death is not discriminatory, and will afflict the rich and the poor alike despite their disparities on earth. This is because death does not come to a person due to their social class, but it is inevitable in every human on earth. Question 8: 8A: Death is viewed by Catholics positively since it is believed that the dead will live again eternally in heaven. People there will endure no earthly suffering but will live in bounty regardless of one’s position on earth. This is because it is believed that human kind will be resurrected to live eternally in heaven. This will be determined by a person’s deeds during their life. 8B: The Catholics believe that humble, and virtuous people on earth, will be the most rewarded after death in heaven, in that they will live a bountiful life. The catholic faith believes that those who value humility will be repaid abundantly in heaven, in that they will be raised above those who were proud on earth. This is because the faith values humility and believe this quality will be the most rewarded after death. Question 9: The personified knowledge is seen to be discriminatory by only preferring those with riches neglecting the poor. This is evident in the phrase “But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page” in the first line of the 13th stanza. Practically, learning requires resources which the poor do not have. This makes it inconceivable for the poor to access knowledge since they have limited resources making the learning process unavailable. This is the reason why knowledge is seen to be more inclined towards the rich. For the Chill Penury, it restricts the poor from accessing education, since they cannot afford education. Poverty is an impediment in the quest where the poor try to access knowledge, since the poor cannot afford to learn. This makes it impossible for the poor to gain knowledge, which is facilitated by learning. Question 10: The metaphors in the stanza clearly depict a person living in obscurity. This is evident where the author compares the person with a precious gem that is in a fathomless cave far from sight and a beautiful flower in the desert. Question 11: 11A: There is evidence of allusion with the poet mentioning Hamden, Milton and Cromwell. The poet intertwines his works meaning while referring to these historically famous individuals to describe more vividly his meaning. 11B: In the poem, the author seems to refer to Milton least favorably of all the alluded characters. This is because he is referred to as “some mute inglorious”. This is evident with the actuality that the author uses the term inglorious, which means Milton was disgraced in the community over something he might have done. Question 12: In the 17 stanza, the lack of fame experienced by the commoners is a blessing in that their wrongdoings do not have a significant bearing on society like the famous ones. Question 13: In stanzas 20 and 21, the author shows that graves regardless of social class of the deceased have some form of tribute to the departed. This is evident when the author implies that tributes are evident in graves through various objects, from simple words to shapeless sculptures are used to commemorate the dead. This shows that the rich and the destitute alike have some form of tribute at their graves despite the gulf in class. Grandeur does not matter when it came to tributes; it is the gesture that counts. Question 14 Thee in the poem refers to the readers of the poem who become aware of the fate of the dead. Question 15: 15 A: The swain claims that Gray is usually seen at dawn. He was usually spotted heading toward the lawns, and in some instances seated under a tree at the hill. The time used by the author to describe when the deceased was spotted is mostly associated with ghosts with stories and myths, suggesting this are times when ghosts are usually spotted. 15B: Gray was usually spotted hill and the lawn. This is evident in the poem where the old swain claims to spot gray heading towards the lawns hastily during dawn. The spotted hill was his favorite spot where he was identified under a tree, which was seen by the old swain to be his favorite. 15C: His behavior was peculiar in that he was seen to be smiling scornfully at while grumbling. He would also droop as if desperate for a hopeless love. 15D: The swain recalls the sad dirges that characterized Gray’s funeral in the church ceremony. 15E: The swain refers to the inquirer on the wear bouts of the deceased appears to be a local because of the description “for thou canst read,” which shows that the inquirer was a typical unlearned villager. Question16: 16A: The decease appears to be one of the humble villagers when he is referred to the epitaph as a person who was neither rich nor famous in the text “a youth to fortune and fame unknown”. He appears to be just another town folk who had passed away without accomplishing anything extraordinary to make him rich or renowned. 16B: The two objects personified are fortune and fame. This is evident in that the author says that Gray had not met the two. The personified objects suggest that the persona was not rich, in that his existence was humble. 16C: In the epitaph of the deceased, he is described to have been a sincere individual during his lifetime. This means that he was honest to the people around him during his lifetime. The epitaph praises the deceased character of being truthful during his days. This is used to pay tribute to the deceased by eulogizing him. Question 17: Then poem shows that death is not discriminatory and will claim the affluent and the commoners in the society. This is evident with the location of the burial place described in the poem, in that it is in the proximity of Windsor castle, which is only reserved top nobles in the society. Both sites have burial grounds, and despite the affluence and grandeur of the nobles, both classes are buried in the earth. This shows that, in death, social status is irrelevant. Despite the rich performing lavish burial ceremonies for their dead, they end up buried in the earth, which is the same fate the poor experience. In the Windsor castle, magnificent burial crypts are present for burying the deceased of royal and influential backgrounds. Despite these structures, the bodies are still buried in the earth which is ironically similar to the poor who are buried in humble graves and less lavish ceremonies. This is evident in the poem when the author asserts that the end of humans despite their riches and burial ceremonies, they are all the same during death Work Cited Rodabaugh, Delmer, and Agnes L. McCarthy. Prose and Poetry of England. Syracuse N.Y: L.W. Singer Co, 1955. Print. Read More