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Elegy in a Country Churchyard (Gray's Elegy)…
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Elegy in a Country Churchyard (Gray's Elegy) (1751)

by Thomas Gray (Author)

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290389,941 (4.23)18
Reprint of what may once have been one of the most familiar poems in English from the 18th century. At a time when few could read in England, one of its most educated sons, and the companion of Horace Walpole during their youthful extended two and a half year "tour" of the Continent, Thomas Gray wrote a poem about seeing the headstone of a ploughman in an unfamiliar churchyard.

The poem is a meditation on human life, with its inevitable termination. Death is the leveler; it draws no distinctions, and indeed it absolutely removes all of them. In this reflection on stone, Gray's eyes settle on the Elegy of a humble rustic and how he wished to be remembered. The stone records, "He gave to misery all he had, a tear, / He gained from Heaven, 'twas all he wished, a friend."

So, we share a poem by one of the most educated men of 18th century Europe, gently igniting reflection about destiny and death, putting the play of assonance and alliteration to majestic use. The poem radically spreads actual majesty and grace to the lowly folk who never achieve fame and fortune. The poem gives full expression to humanitarian reality.

This throws posturing and the imbecility of empty pomp and pointless pretensions to power into stark relief. His treatment of the commoner was heroic and prescient -- twenty years after Gray's death in 1771, the French Revolution created the most robust middle class in the world with the freeing of the Serfs and land distribution. France became the most educated and most prosperous nation in the world. Sadly, recidivist tyrants subsidized a political takeover of the republic of France by a militarist "populist" thug. Napoleon was an out-of-control puppet who got millions of people killed.

But there was that ignition of consciousness. We owe much to Gray, his "friends", and his scholarship--the yearning for learning. And we are much cautioned by the vicious greed of a few wealthy puppet-masters who fancy they can control an armed puppet. ( )
  keylawk | Aug 4, 2019 |
English (2)  Italian (1)  All languages (3)
Showing 2 of 2
Reprint of what may once have been one of the most familiar poems in English from the 18th century. At a time when few could read in England, one of its most educated sons, and the companion of Horace Walpole during their youthful extended two and a half year "tour" of the Continent, Thomas Gray wrote a poem about seeing the headstone of a ploughman in an unfamiliar churchyard.

The poem is a meditation on human life, with its inevitable termination. Death is the leveler; it draws no distinctions, and indeed it absolutely removes all of them. In this reflection on stone, Gray's eyes settle on the Elegy of a humble rustic and how he wished to be remembered. The stone records, "He gave to misery all he had, a tear, / He gained from Heaven, 'twas all he wished, a friend."

So, we share a poem by one of the most educated men of 18th century Europe, gently igniting reflection about destiny and death, putting the play of assonance and alliteration to majestic use. The poem radically spreads actual majesty and grace to the lowly folk who never achieve fame and fortune. The poem gives full expression to humanitarian reality.

This throws posturing and the imbecility of empty pomp and pointless pretensions to power into stark relief. His treatment of the commoner was heroic and prescient -- twenty years after Gray's death in 1771, the French Revolution created the most robust middle class in the world with the freeing of the Serfs and land distribution. France became the most educated and most prosperous nation in the world. Sadly, recidivist tyrants subsidized a political takeover of the republic of France by a militarist "populist" thug. Napoleon was an out-of-control puppet who got millions of people killed.

But there was that ignition of consciousness. We owe much to Gray, his "friends", and his scholarship--the yearning for learning. And we are much cautioned by the vicious greed of a few wealthy puppet-masters who fancy they can control an armed puppet. ( )
  keylawk | Aug 4, 2019 |
Attractive binding-well ilustrated- Good+ rubbed and shelf ware&fading
  antiqueart | Dec 10, 2013 |
Showing 2 of 2

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