written country churchyard written poem completed published poem origins unknown partly inspired thoughts following death poet originally titled country church yard poem completed gray living near parish church sent friend poem london literary circles gray eventually forced publish work february pre magazine publisher printing copy poem poem form employs style similar contemporary embodies meditation death remembrance death poem argues remembrance good bad narrator finds comfort lives obscure buried churchyard versions poem approach death differently contains response death final version contains serves narrator fear dying discussion focus obscure known poem possible political definite claims politics universal approach life death claimed probably today best known best loved poem english quickly popular printed times variety formats translated languages praised critics gray poetry fallen favour later critics tended comment language universal aspects felt ending failing resolve questions poem raised poem present political statement serve help obscure poor form central image background gray life surrounded loss death people knew died events occurred caused gray stress november gray aunt died death devastated family loss compounded days later news friend childhood killed survived later joked event incident disrupted gray ability pursue scholarship events mood christmas death fresh minds gray family effect events caused gray spend time contemplating mortality began aspects mortality combined desire determine view order progress present classical world aspects life spring nearing gray questioned life enter sort rebirth cycle die remember gray spring turned individuals survive eventually gray remembered lines poetry composed following death west poet knew previous material began compose poem serve answer questions june gray moved june completed immediately included poem letter sent said live place ordinary town arrives till produces events desire excuse writing seldom especially people living know friend letters spun brains accompanies sentimental productions days shall continue good summer having end thing beginnings seen long ago immediately send hope look light thing end merit writing wanted like want determined shall want letter reveals gray felt poem expect popular influential gray dismisses merely able complete poem probably influenced experience churchyard attended sunday service able visit grave version later published reprinted stanza version conclusion final version published circulated london society ensured popular topic discussion february gray received word publisher print poem february copyright laws time require gray approval publication help able convince print poem february pamphlet added preface poem reading following poem came hands accident general little piece spread slight term accident makes unnecessary apology author feel satisfaction having pleas readers forgive communicating pleasure pamphlet contained illustrations printed gray request immediately owen magazine gray poem printed contained multiple errors problems february letter gray thanked intervening helping quality version poem published owen popular reprinted times reproduced different periodicals including volume compilation poetry revised version later printed composition poem likely originated poetry gray composed memoirs discussed friend gray origins inclined believe begun concluded time august aware stands present conclusion later date originally shall notes poem mason argument guess argued gray poems manuscript copy gray poems owned stanza rough draft called stanza wrote country church yard manuscript copy contained ideas reworked revised attempted work ideas later form later copy entered gray commonplace book version included december letter sent draft sent subsequently lost possible ways poem composed mason concept argues copy original poem complete later critics claimed original complete later version argued early version balance set debate later version argued early poem fits classical models including early version poem finished according mason august little evidence definite date mason argued poem response west death little indicate mason information instead wrote mason churchyard persuaded posterior west death years note sure lines years period long finished resolve disagreement matter possibly letters gray outline events provides second possible way poem composed lines poem written time probably wrote poem time claimed letters likelihood date composition june letter gray stated provided lines poem years speaking terms letter discuss poem sent september alludes poem worked genre poem conventional classical genre individual use related poem relying concept human condition poem lacks standard features invocation flowers theme emphasise loss natural setting primary component theme end included tradition memorial poem contains thematic elements genre especially mourning compared poem recording personal loss lacks ornamental aspects found poem gray natural artificially designed english countryside poem belongs picturesque tradition found long line inspired tradition focusing death poet poem deals questions linked gray life poem composition confronted death questioned mortality universal statements life death poem grounded gray feelings life served falls old poetic tradition poets contemplating legacy poem serves lament death including west remove gray poem like graveyard school poetry instead gray tried avoid description evoke horror common poems tradition compounded narrator trying avoid emotional response death relying questions discussing surroundings lack sense grave generally recognised added editions blair poem works began included performance connected gray wrote poem developed original form advanced manner poem actively relied english techniques language stanza form rhyme scheme common english poetry 16th century foreign gray relied merged english words phrases english feel foreign words gray adapted previously shakespeare securing english tone emphasised words add english tone poem poem begins churchyard narrator describing surroundings vivid detail narrator visual examines area relation tolls parting day herd wind slowly weary way leaves world darkness fades ring landscape sight air holds save beetle wheels flight distant save ivy tow owl moon complain ring near secret bow ancient solitary reign lines poem continues narrator begins focus countryside immediate surroundings descriptions thoughts begins emphasise present scene contrasts obscure country life life remembered narrator thoughts natural process potential gem ray dark caves ocean bear flow born unseen waste sweetness desert air village breast little fields mute rest country blood applause listening command threats pain ruin plenty smiling land read nation eyes lot forbade growing virtues crimes forbade wade slaughter throne shut gates mercy mankind struggling conscious truth hide shame shrine muse flame lines narrator focuses come death individuals begins resign inevitable fate poem ends narrator begins deal death direct manner discusses humans desire remembered narrator poem shifts narrator replaced second describes death thee lines tale relate chance lonely led spirit shall fate headed seen dawn hasty steps away meet sun lawn lines poem concludes description poet grave narrator description end poet life foot beech old fantastic roots high length stretch brook hard wood smiling ring like care cross hopeless love miss custom hill heath near rite tree came lawn wood sad array slow church way path saw borne approach read thou read lay stone beneath aged lines included conclusion poem reveals poet grave focus poem unknown obscure kept poet greater separated unable join common affairs life rests head lap earth youth fortune fame unknown fair science humble birth melancholy mark large bounty soul sincere largely send gave tear gain wish friend farther seek merits disclose draw alike hope father god lines original conclusion earlier version poem confronts reader inevitable prospect death advises resignation differs indirect person description final version world majesty bow brave success innocence safety owe thou notes tale relate lonely led sacred calm bids fierce passion ease small accents ring ground grateful earnest eternal peace strife anxious endless wishes room cool silent doom themes poem connects earlier british poems death seek familiar including satirical verses death swift compared works called graveyard poets blair grave gray poem emphasis common images found description moon birds trees horror found largely avoids mentioning word grave instead difference tone versions early ends emphasis narrator joining obscure common man later version ends emphasis natural humans want known later ending explores narrator death earlier version serves christian death version early poems composed gray english including death ode ode contain gray mortality inspired west death later version poem kept resignation death narrator accepts death poem concludes gray indirect manner writing ending reveals narrator repression feelings surrounding inevitable fate optimistic describes faith hope know alive describing narrator analysis surroundings gray employed philosophy argued senses origin ideas information described beginning poem reused narrator life near end description death obscurity adopts political philosophy death end poem connected essay concerning human understanding beginning poem deals senses ending describes limited ability understand world poem takes ideas transforms discussion ignorance adopting resolution content limited understanding unlike narrator poem knows unable universe questions matter difference obscure renowned poem scholar argued death human differences choose great humble grave obscure graveyard lie famous death completely democratic circumstances prevented achieving great fame circumstances saved committing great crimes special obscure tombs crude inscriptions clumsy monuments poignant reminder vain longing men humble loved remembered poem ends narrator turning fate accepting life accomplishments poem like gray incorporates narrator contemplating position world mysterious tragic comparison obscurity renown commonly seen universal specific context specific political message political gray choices spent time near setting affected english civil war poem composition prompted entrance duke cumberland london trial nobility scholars including believe poem message universal require specific event place inspiration gray letters suggest historical influences composition particular possible gray interested debates treatment poor supported political structure day support poor worked look refused gray message incomplete ignored poor past rebellions struggles poem ignores politics focus comparisons rural urban life psychological manner argument living rural life urban life lets gray discuss questions answer live life conclusion poem resolve debate narrator able recreate manner types life arguing poetry capable preserving died probable gray wanted promote hard work poor change social position instead making claims economic injustice gray differing political views ambiguity poem lines including statement country blood read violence english civil war merely villagers compared guilty poem primary message promote idea pastoral english countryside earlier version lacks later version english aspects especially gray replaced classical figures english ones influence poetic parallels choosing english classical setting gray provided model later poets wishing describe england english countryside second half 18th century gray set example occasion sense effects time landscape instance passage seasons described descriptive moral avoiding overt verbal parallels chose similar backgrounds signal favourite theme meditation ruins written ruins castle written ruins nobleman seat cornwall pile ruins gray friend chose actual churchyard adding reference poet text provided final note explaining poem written appear day scene contrast twilight scene excellent deserted village recognised openly political treatment rural poor heroic poets kept cross collected editions poem works number editions appeared contained deserted village inclusion traveller single work period anonymous review december claimed gray deserted village shine forth human poems century continued influence 19th century provoked response romantic poets attempted define beliefs reaction gray example given exercise translating latin eventually wrote meditation graves summer evening churchyard gloucestershire inventive written line stanza terminates cross theme tendency poem closely resembles setting concludes appealing death terror victorian period alfred lord adopted features extended meditation death established ceremonial religious tone idea tolls mark coming night followed poet narrator looking letters deceased friend echoing gray narrator reading connect dead relied similar setting pastoral poem love ruins describes desire glory ends death unlike gray adds female figure argues love matters gray poem took title fourth novel far crowd line addition verses contain graveyard theme similar stance gray depicts graveyard possible parts derived believed gray 18th century poetic general restrictive limited cover views village similar gray hamlet echoes gray language poems rely tree image use word uncommon time poems parallels gray poem little deeply meditation neglected spot similarities poems reuse gray image forms strongest parallel image essential poem arguments mortality society adaptations parodies basis examples commentator argued gray probably inspired adaptations poem language suggested parody acts kind translation tongue original printing history examples confirm earliest evening college frequently reprinted end 18th century included alongside translations latin italian dublin editions edition works case american political passing bell written country meeting house april published parody printed opposite gray original page page making translation political context obvious shift context obvious starting point works sufficiently original contributed author literary fortunes case imitation churchyard published success followed successive years poems theme connection work close maintained theme form emotional tone nun written ruins abbey derivative earlier poems ruins moore opposite extreme poem provided format surprising number personal descriptions life starting imitation gray written king minor london close title later prison thoughts written king dating printed wrote evening french prison humble imitation prisoner napoleonic wars london followed year bitter published character recently imprisoned obvious distinction meant stand independent works genre followed wording closely humorous satirical purpose filled columns newspapers comic magazines century half eighty quoted parodies works english american authors london work evidence poem influence example ingenious double parody gray write cemetery river instead example later parodies shifted critical aim case explicitly calling attention formal thematic ties connected 18th century work 20th century work parody poem critical purpose definition devil dictionary ending dismissive lines wise man stay minor key translations parody served special kind translation translations returned compliment providing version accord current poetic style host language extreme example provided french imitation latin scholar place plain english gray beauty wealth gave substituted les les gifts kept poem performance english reviewer noted bearing relation original latest database translations version figures records languages principal european languages minor welsh include asian languages medium brought host europe asia provided alternative tradition bound native approaches identified avenue study translations especially produced soon poem written highlighted difficulties text presents include word order fact certain languages allow understated way gray indicates poem statement final line stanza leaves world darkness problems disappeared translation replaced gray raised correspondence latin language words phrases customs manners represented tongue nation especially nation distant time place difficulty sort present instance bell monuments organs anthems texts scripture etc certain images drawn common nature obvious strike foreign turn genius latin verse beetle flies evening roman guess appeared mean object poetry agree latin gray suggests difficulty finding ways including references latin found different solutions especially regard inclusion beetle similarly ignored suggestion letter referring alternative versions earlier drafts poem english characters good shall latin especially outside britain found suggested alternative appealing point mentioned deal problem rendering poem fourth line gray remarked leaves world darkness good english turn latin phrase believe right drop fact dropped example respectable classical history favour understated introduction narrator scene sub left night priorities found elegant means render original turn speech exactly year friend working latin version published title subsequently included irish collections poems accompanied evening noted earlier dublin edition translations italian sources included latin translation italian pattern including translations continued 19th century bilingual edition translation french verse signed simply appeared facing english original page page bulk book english parodies evening preceded parody nocturnal camp filled like poem drunken disturbing silence included nightly thoughts temple set lawyer quarter london editions appearing britain abroad gray english french latin published french author latin translator like gray cambridge graduate italian edition translation appeared printed facing original succeeded translation blank verse latin version dated french publication followed suit including guide cemetery accompanied italian translation free village publications followed collections ambitious gray con included translations latin italian versions prose accompanied mentioned french german greek hebrew translations eventually added new edition time illustrated edition appeared translations latin greek german italian french version appeared previous collections learn activity centenary publication approached interest continued europe new translations continued media editions contained illustrations considerable merit designs poems work leading artists particularly noteworthy commissioned produce illustrated set poems birthday gift wife included appeared end volume individual book created hand written script decorative surround modern looking illustrations notable illuminated edition created script decorative initial page produced pages individually designed half box surrounded coloured floral borders additional feature cover deeply brown leather imitate carved wood little earlier illustrated work librarian responsible having approached major artists designs illustrate engraved wood edition reused later editions including anthology mentioned constable wash study ivy tower stanza held victoria albert museum study church stanza narrator survey cemetery held illustration statement slaughter world war painting paths glory takes title line paths glory lead grave title years account experiences start war taken unrelated anti war novel case suggested untitled manuscript competition held publisher book served turn basis film paths glory released example illustrating imaginative currency certain lines poem continue original significance poem long musical settings musicians adopted solution selecting musical setting voices item performed trio poem newly opened london time set tolls voice keyboard reprise stanza end period guides dramatic performance pieces involving expressive hand gestures included directions piece item described gray set music settings voice accompanied excerpt member theatrical world noted fond setting passages english verse known composer set gem fourteenth stanza voices finally end century set work composed leeds festival work dedicated memory pleasant hours spot scene supposed laid nearly contemporary composed setting music london example discovered translation set music lines rendered german america critical response immediate response final draft version poem positive pleased work summer gray received positive support poem dismay mention letters december letter letter gray said stanza fault certainly meant late complain applauded shame repeat mean modest mean shame said things repeat glad people liked satisfied ambition head poem praised universal aspects gray famous english poets era despite death remained popular 20th century critics began evaluate poetry 18th century writer said sir 6th written letter claiming english poets age gray admired think justice comparatively speaking know church yard means best works story british general read poem troops arrived plains september seven years war reading poem reported said gentlemen written lines quebec tomorrow 21st lecture rhetoric argued poetry deal temper mind differs little common mind best enter small piece small length ode odds measure differ little common state mind church yard grey inferior sort knew gray like poetry later praised poem wrote images find mirror breast sentiments returns echo beginning bones original seen notions place reads persuades felt johnson general criticism prompted join debate reviewers lives poets gray editors thought harsh article recognised relation doctor allow gray degree praise public voice universally assigned think sufficiently apparent went qualify opinion gray beautiful allotted rank general merits debate gray work continued 19th century victorian critics remained rest end century collection critical writings summed general response pleased gray poetry contemporaries pleased unfamiliar unlike sort poetry vogue analyzed reception gray poem curious reflect modest mode poem circulated destined enjoy retain higher reputation literature english poem poem world written continued stressing poem wide acceptance fame spread countries exercised influence poetry europe denmark italy france russia exception certain works shakespeare english poem widely admired imitated abroad century existence find fresh copies popular faded concluded reinforcing claim poem place english poetry possesses charm melody subtle charm ear moral appeals generation skill line master looked typical piece english verse poem poems brilliant original profound lyric language combines balanced perfection qualities production fine effect 20th century response critics beginning 20th century believed poem use sound tone great french critic claimed gray discovered rhythms utilised power sounds created triumph sensibility allied art seen famous somewhat reasoning emotion grave song century music soul sadness death tender self following declared merits poem come tone poetry remarkable qualities high rank simply poet attitude listeners view perfect gray notable examples stand supreme instance powerful adjusted tone difficult maintain thought poem striking original feeling exceptional continued remind originality great poetry thoughts feelings significance difficult express faults gray point long address perfectly familiar feelings subject awareness inevitable possible reflections attention audience source triumph 1930s 1940s critics emphasised content poem felt fell short necessary truly great praising form poem universal argued merits potential political message claimed poem context makes clear means 18th century england scholarship system talents stated reader mood try alter comparing social arrangement nature makes inevitable gives dignity furthermore gem mind cave flower prefers picked feel man like flower short lived natural valuable tricks feeling better opportunities continued reflection churchyard gives style claim comparison ought accept injustice society death collection essays contained comparison sentiment found poetry feeling sensibility expressed mistress later pointed gray poem imagery poetic theme true statement free ambiguity free irony describing aspects poem brooks provided view poem conclusion reader altogether convinced altogether convinced poem closes adequate surely intended function clear necessary function poem structure considered merely loose collection poetic passages critics 1950s 1960s generally regarded powerful emphasised place great english poems argued close greatest poem gray led describe simply sort man believed fared passage world hoped status poem explained doubted hard explain greatness consists easy point thought commonplace imagery correct noble wonder immediately recognizable greatness slipped following argued poem frequently quoted short poem english declared english poems universally admired interpreted widely ways focused psychological questions poem claimed implicit questions final provides adequate answer reason entirely satisfactory conclusion poem continued praising poem gray power poet derives largely ability convey conflict conflict nature pointed poem frequently referred truth best known poem english language 1970s critics pointed lines poems memorable popular emphasised poem place greater tradition english poetry suggested shall tempted gray hammond simply writes poetic line richer fuller memorable ways accustomed analyze poetic quality declared work probably contains famous quotations linear inch text english language hamlet describing conventional added poem points fails follow conventions considering answer partly study major english importantly touches tradition points consideration interest appreciation poem seeing later tradition essential points reference noted gray poetry began concern parental relationships position great world written country churchyard longstanding human concerns affecting expression noted long tradition professional examination poem remains distant readers criticism explain johnson thought church yard images find mind continued arguing poem discussion morality death source enduring popularity 1980s critics emphasised power poem message technique seen important english poem analyzing language poem declared making think disturbing uses language conventional christianity conventional gray want round poem death experience certain logic demands continuity completion claimed publication popular universally admired readers dispute johnson twentieth century remained eager praise praise proved difficult tradition general human experience poem masterpiece hardly wish single word changed surprisingly resistant analysis appears seamless smooth monumental claimed moves superb quality following shares major quality poetic death life fear lost gift life lose life poetic gift expressed fully strong central position tradition truly primarily loss self describing gray poet poet places poets familiarity educated english language declared written mankind felt directly addressed sympathetic human voice later pointed gray universally admired lifetime remained continuously popular mid eighteenth century english poems called standard english poem reason extraordinary praise varied ways poetry appeal beautiful technical accomplishment seen details variation sounds poet rare discretion choice elegant memorable evident incorporation living language modern critics emphasised poem use language reason importance popularity argued series subjects considered written country churchyard results complex manipulation rhetoric later explained gray numbered high greatest poems english tradition precisely simultaneous accessibility went claim poem soon transform life transform profoundly affect development lyric poetry english analyzing use death 18th century poetry declared poem monument ongoing transformation death poem quiet portraits rural life succeeds drawing forgotten dead community living
Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard