Elegy: A Poetic Genre

Elegy: Etymology, Literal and Conceptual Meanings

Etymology

The word “elegy” finds its origins in the Greek term “elegeia,” which originally referred to a form of poetic composition characterized by a mournful and plaintive tone. Over time, the term evolved, and in Latin, it became “elegia,” maintaining its association with sorrowful or reflective themes.

The English adaptation, “elegy,” emerged in the 16th century, retaining its core meaning of a poetic expression of lamentation or mourning.

Literal and Conceptual Meanings:

Literal Meaning	Conceptual Meaning
A poem or song expressing sorrow or mourning, often for the deceased.	Represents a poetic form that explores themes of loss, grief, and reflection on the transient nature of life.
Characterized by a melancholic and reflective tone.	Serves as a vehicle for contemplation and meditation on the human experience, mortality, and the passage of time.
Typically follows a specific structure or form, with a focus on expressing emotions and sentiments.	Transcends its formal characteristics to become a medium for conveying profound emotions, philosophical reflections, and cultural commentary.

Elegy: Definition as a Literary Device

An elegy, in literary terms, is a mournful and reflective poem or song that traditionally expresses sorrow for the dead. This poetic form often employs a formal structure and melancholic tone to convey a sense of loss and contemplation. Elegies serve as a poignant literary device, providing a platform for writers to explore themes of mortality, grief, and the ephemeral nature of human existence with emotional depth and cultural resonance.

Elegy: Types

1. Classical Elegy:
   • Characteristics: Rooted in ancient Greek and Roman traditions, classical elegies often feature a three-part structure, including a lament, praise for the deceased, and a consolatory conclusion.
   • Examples: “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” by Thomas Gray, and the elegies of the Roman poet Propertius.
2. Modern Elegy:
   • Characteristics: Evolving from classical traditions, modern elegies may exhibit more flexibility in structure and theme. They often explore diverse topics such as societal issues, personal struggles, or reflections on contemporary events.
   • Examples: “In Memory of W.B. Yeats” by W. H. Auden and “Elegy for Jane” by Theodore Roethke.
3. Metaphysical Elegy:
   • Characteristics: Reflecting the influence of metaphysical poetry, this type of elegy may incorporate intellectual and philosophical elements. Poets may employ elaborate metaphors and paradoxes to explore complex emotions and existential questions.
   • Examples: John Donne’s “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” and Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress.”

These categories represent broad classifications, and many elegies may blend elements from multiple types. The genre continues to evolve, allowing poets to adapt its conventions to convey a range of emotions and themes in response to the complexities of human experience.

Elegy in Literature: Examples

Poem Title	Style	Theme	Main Idea
“Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” by Thomas Gray	Neoclassical and reflective	Reflection on mortality and the equality of death	Contemplation on the lives of ordinary people buried in a rural churchyard
“When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” by Walt Whitman	Free verse, expansive, and emotional	Mourning the death of Abraham Lincoln and the cyclical nature of life	Nature’s renewal juxtaposed with the sorrow of Lincoln’s death
“In Memory of W. B. Yeats” by W. H. Auden	Modern and introspective	Reflection on the impact of Yeats’ poetry and the state of the world	A tribute to Yeats, addressing the cultural and political landscape
“To an Athlete Dying Young” by A. E. Housman	Lyric and reflective	Reflection on the transience of glory and the inevitability of death	Mourning the early death of a young athlete
“In Memoriam A.H.H.” by Alfred Lord Tennyson	Victorian and contemplative	Grief and philosophical exploration of faith and loss	A prolonged meditation on the death of Tennyson’s friend, Arthur Henry Hallam
“Lycidas” by John Milton	Epic and Miltonic	Reflection on the brevity of life and pastoral elegy for Edward King	Mourning the death of a fellow student in a pastoral setting
“Funeral Blues” by W. H. Auden	Modern and emotionally charged	Personal grief and loss	Expressing profound sorrow and mourning for a personal loss
“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe	Dark Romantic and narrative	Descent into madness and mourning lost love	The speaker’s torment by a raven becomes a metaphor for grief and despair
“Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold	Victorian and introspective	Loss of faith and the changing nature of the world	The ebbing tide as a metaphor for the retreat of religious certainties
“For the Union Dead” by Robert Lowell	Modern and socially conscious	Reflection on societal changes and historical loss	The decline of cultural and historical connections, particularly in the context of the Civil War

Elegy in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories

1. “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” by Thomas Gray:
   • Neoclassicism:
     • Demonstrates the neoclassical focus on reason, order, and reflection.
     • Emphasis on the universal theme of mortality.
2. “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” by Walt Whitman:
   • Transcendentalism:
     • Embraces the transcendental belief in the interconnectedness of nature and humanity.
     • Celebrates the cyclical and eternal aspects of life.
3. “In Memory of W. B. Yeats” by W. H. Auden:
   • Modernism:
     • Reflects modernist themes of disillusionment and questioning traditional values.
     • Explores the impact of Yeats’ work on the contemporary world.
4. “To an Athlete Dying Young” by A. E. Housman:
   • Aestheticism:
     • Reflects the aesthetic appreciation of beauty and the fleeting nature of youth.
     • Emphasis on the artistic representation of poignant moments.
5. “In Memoriam A.H.H.” by Alfred Lord Tennyson:
   • Victorianism:
     • Represents Victorian sentiments about grief, faith, and loss.
     • Blends personal emotions with philosophical reflection.
6. “Lycidas” by John Milton:
   • Miltonic Epic Tradition:
     • Demonstrates Milton’s use of pastoral elegy within the epic tradition.
     • Blends classical and Christian elements in a poetic form.
7. “Funeral Blues” by W. H. Auden:
   • Modernism and Postmodernism:
     • Captures the emotional intensity and fragmentation characteristic of modernist and postmodernist literature.
     • Breaks traditional conventions of structure and tone.
8. “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe:
   • Dark Romanticism:
     • Embraces the dark and mysterious elements characteristic of the Dark Romantic movement.
     • Explores themes of loss and despair through gothic and supernatural elements.
9. “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold:
   • Victorianism and Existentialism:
     • Reflects Victorian concerns about faith and the changing world.
     • Prefigures existentialist themes of isolation and disillusionment.
10. “For the Union Dead” by Robert Lowell:
    • Confessional Poetry and New Criticism:
      • Engages with personal and historical themes characteristic of confessional poetry.
      • Suitable for New Critical analysis, focusing on the text’s internal coherence and symbolism.

These bullet points highlight how each elegy aligns with or reacts against various literary theories prevalent during their respective time periods.

Elegy in Literature: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Elegy	A poem or song expressing lament, often mourning the loss of someone or something.
Pastoral Elegy	Elegy set in a rural or idyllic setting, often reflecting on nature and mortality.
Mourning Poetry	Poems that express grief and sorrow, often associated with the death of a loved one.
Transience	The state of being temporary or fleeting, a common theme in elegiac poetry.
Memento Mori	Latin for “Remember that you will die,” a theme encouraging reflection on mortality.
Lament	A passionate expression of grief or sorrow, often found in elegiac literature.
Threnody	A song or poem of mourning, expressing sorrow or lamentation.
Requiem	A musical or poetic composition dedicated to the deceased, offering rest or peace.
Pathos	The emotional appeal or evocation of pity and sadness in literature.
Monody	A poem lamenting a person’s death, often expressing the speaker’s grief.

Elegy in Literature: Suggested Readings

1. Auden, W. H. “In Memory of W. B. Yeats.” Collected Poems, Random House, 1976, pp. 379-385.
2. Gray, Thomas. “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, 9th ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2012, pp. 506-509.
3. Housman, A. E. “To an Athlete Dying Young.” A Shropshire Lad, Dover Publications, 1990, pp. 32-33.
4. Lowell, Robert. “For the Union Dead.” Collected Poems, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003, pp. 123-127.
5. Milton, John. “Lycidas.” The Complete Poems, Penguin Classics, 1999, pp. 204-209.
6. Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Raven.” The Complete Poems and Stories, Vintage, 1986, pp. 76-81.
7. Tennyson, Alfred Lord. “In Memoriam A.H.H.” Selected Poems, Penguin Classics, 1991, pp. 173-204.
8. Whitman, Walt. “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d.” Leaves of Grass, Oxford University Press, 1991, pp. 366-372.
9. Yeats, W. B. “In Memory of Major Robert Gregory.” The Collected Poems of W. B. Yeats, Scribner, 1996, pp. 376-378.
10. Arnold, Matthew. “Dover Beach.” Selected Poems, Dover Publications, 1994, pp. 9-11.