Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Thomas Gray
understanding.
1716–1771
In the boisterous Age of Johnson, Thomas young Gray escaped his frightening home
Gray was something of an anomaly. He life at age eight when his mother paid for
shunned lively public debate and the glare him to attend boarding school at Eton
of intellectual celebrity for the gentler College. Gray thrived at Eton and there
pursuit of private study and the company developed the reclusive academic habits
of an intimate circle of friends. The hustle that remained with him for life.
and bustle of London held no attraction
“Far from the Madding Crowd” While at
did you know? for him; he preferred the quiet confines
Eton, Gray met Horace Walpole, the son of
of Cambridge University and solitary
Thomas Gray . . . the prime minister and a lifelong friend who
walks in the countryside. His medium was
• hated math. would later encourage Gray to publish his
lyric poetry rather than satire. He was a
• may have had poems. The young men traveled together on
shy, introverted, even secretive man who
pyrophobia, or fear of a grand tour of Europe, but their personal
famously lacked ambition. After gaining
fire. differences—Gray’s love of museums and
national acclaim with the publication of
• was buried in the romantic scenery clashing with Walpole’s
“Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”
cemetery described in social interests—led to a bitter falling out
his famous “Elegy.” (1751), he adamantly refused the offered
that lasted four years. By the time Gray
post of poet laureate and the publicity that
settled in Cambridge in 1742, he had begun
came with it. His published body of work
writing poetry. But that year his closest
numbered less than 1,000 lines. And yet,
friend, Richard West, died at the tender
his lyrical “Elegy” made him the dominant
age of 25, plunging Gray into a sadness
poet of his time and a precursor of the
that pervaded his next poems, especially
(background) Eton College Romantic Age to come.
his popular “Elegy.” His later poems were
Surviving Childhood Gray wa
was not as well received by readers, who found
born in London, the only on one them difficult to understand, and so Gray
of 12 brothers and sisters to
t withdrew from his already minimal public
survive to adulthood. His life and even stopped writing poetry. A large
“money-scrivener”
father, a “money-scrivene inheritance ultimately allowed him to live
(lender), was violent and out his remaining years doing what he liked
abusive, while his long- best—reading in private, writing letters,
suffering mother ran a exploring the English countryside, and
small hat shop to help spending tranquil hours with friends.
frail
support the family. A frai
but studious child, the
Author Online
Go to thinkcentral.com. KEYWORD: HML12-690
690
poetic form: elegy
Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” is one of
the most famous English elegies. An elegy is an extended
What are life’s
limitations?
meditative poem in which the speaker reflects on death—often
in tribute to a person who has died recently—or on an equally
serious subject. Most elegies are written in formal, dignified
language and are serious in mood and tone. Consider these
In our world of modern conveniences
lines from Gray’s poem, which describe a cemetery:
and endless possibilities, it’s hard to
Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree’s shade, think about limits. But for most people
Where heaves the turf in many a moldering heap, in the 18th century, life’s limitations were
Each in his narrow cell forever laid, readily apparent. From scarce resources
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. and opportunities to dangerous health
threats and premature death, ordinary
As you read this elegy, think about who the dead are, how the
people faced innumerable obstacles
speaker pays tribute to them, and what observations are made
in their lives. Gray’s “Elegy” addresses
about death.
the limitations imposed upon ordinary
people of his time.
reading skill: make inferences
To understand this poem you must make inferences, or logical SURVEY Ask your classmates: What is
guesses, about the dead who are described and about the the biggest limitation faced by young
speaker who describes them. Use details from the poem to people you know? Tally the different
infer ideas not stated outright. For example, what would you responses given and their frequency,
guess about the lives of the people portrayed in this stanza? and present your findings to the class.
How do today’s limitations compare
Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield,
with the limitations of the past?
Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke;
How jocund did they drive their team afield!
How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke!
From the words harvest, sickle, and furrow, you can infer that Biggest Limitation
they were farmers. Oft (“often”) suggests that they were lack of money 1111 111
hardworking; jocund (“merry”) suggests that they were happy incomplete education 1111
in their labor.
What would you guess are the speaker’s feelings toward
these people? Positive images of strength—a harvest yielding
to the sickle, the woods bowing beneath an axe stroke—
suggest that he admires them. As you read, record your
inferences about the dead and the speaker, and clues that
led to your inferences. Use a chart like the one shown.
691
Elegy Written in
A Country Churchyard
Thomas Gray
Play Audio
Nor you, ye proud, impute to these the fault, 37 impute . . . fault: assign the blame
If Memory o’er their tomb no trophies raise, to them.
38 trophies: sculptures depicting the
Where through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
achievements of the deceased.
40 The pealing anthem swells the note of praise.
39 fretted vault: space enclosed
under a decorated arched ceiling.
Can storied urn or animated bust 41 storied . . . bust: an urn for the
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath? ashes of the deceased, decorated
with scenes from the person’s life,
Can Honor’s voice provoke the silent dust, or a lifelike portrait sculpture.
Or Flattery soothe the dull cold ear of Death? 43 provoke: call forth.
Some village Hampden, that with dauntless breast 57 Hampden: John Hampden, a
17th-century English politician who
The little tyrant of his fields withstood;
opposed the “tyrant” Charles I over
Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest, unjust taxation.
60 Some Cromwell guiltless of his country’s blood. 60 Cromwell: Oliver Cromwell,
leader of the Parliamentary forces
in the English Civil War and head of
The applause of listening senates to command,
the English government from 1653
The threats of pain and ruin to despise, to 1658.
To scatter plenty o’er a smiling land,
And read their history in a nation’s eyes,
65 Their lot forbade: nor circumscribed alone 65 circumscribed: limited; confined.
Their growing virtues, but their crimes confined;
Forbade to wade through slaughter to a throne,
And shut the gates of mercy on mankind,
Far from the madding crowd’s ignoble strife, 73 madding: wildly excited;
Their sober wishes never learned to stray; disorderly.
Their name, their years, spelt by the unlettered Muse, 81 unlettered Muse: the “inspiration”
The place of fame and elegy supply: of the uneducated stonecutters
who carved the inscriptions on the
And many a holy text around she strews, tombstones.
That teach the rustic moralist to die.
85 For who to dumb Forgetfulness a prey, 85–88 For who . . . behind?: For who
has ever accepted that he will be
This pleasing anxious being e’er resigned,
forgotten, leaving the warmth of
Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day, earthly life without any regret?
Nor cast one longing lingering look behind?
For thee, who mindful of the unhonored dead 93 thee: that is, Gray himself.
Dost in these lines their artless tale relate;
95 If chance, by lonely contemplation led,
Some kindred spirit shall inquire thy fate,
“The next with dirges due in sad array 113 dirges: funeral hymns.
Slow through the churchway path we saw him borne.
115 Approach and read (for thou canst read) the lay, 115 lay: poem.
Graved on the stone beneath yon aged thorn.” 116 thorn: hawthorn.
he pitaph
Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth
A youth to fortune and to Fame unknown.
Fair Science frowned not on his humble birth, 119 science: learning.
120 And Melancholy marked him for her own.
Comprehension
1. Recall At what time of day does the poem take place?
READING 3 Evaluate the changes
in sound and form in poetry across
2. Paraphrase Relate the lives of the dead to lines 55–56: “Full many a flower is literary time periods. RC-12(B) Make
born to blush unseen, / And waste its sweetness on the desert air.” Restate complex inferences about text and
use textual evidence to support
the meaning of these lines. understanding.
Literary Analysis
4. Interpret Elegy Explain the purpose of this elegy. Whom is the speaker
praising, and why? What themes about death does he express? Cite lines
to support your interpretation.
5. Make Inferences About Characters Review the chart of inferences you made
about the dead villagers. Explain what you inferred about the following:
• their values
• the challenges they faced
• the benefits of their lot
6. Make Inferences About the Speaker The speaker reveals almost as much
about himself and his values as he does about the villagers. Infer his opinion
on the following topics from the statements he makes:
• the upper classes (lines 29–36) • city life vs. country life (lines 73–76)
• famous people (lines 67–72) • himself (lines 105–108; 117–128)
7. Compare and Contrast How does the speaker’s imagined gravesite with its
moving epitaph fit in with the other graves in the churchyard? How does
it stand out? Discuss what the comparison suggests about the speaker’s
relationship to the villagers.
8. Analyze Influence of Author’s Background What in Thomas Gray’s personality
and experience might have led him to write a formal elegy about a rural
cemetery? Review the biography on page 690 and the background on
page 692, as well as details in the poem, for clues to his motivations.
Literary Criticism
9. Different Perspectives In lines 65–76, Gray makes the point that the poor
farmers were prevented from corruption as well as from achievement. Is
it widely believed today that a rural existence is less corrupting than an
urban one? Support your answer.
A Man of Letters
James Boswell portrayed Samuel Johnson as a man larger than Extension
life—a man of great courage, greater appetites, strong principles, LISTENING & SPEAKING With
and an engaging personality. Johnson’s own body of work suggests several classmates, stage a
that Boswell was not far wrong; Johnson’s extensive writings reveal performance of the dialogue
a rigorous, insatiable mind and great wit. Rising to fame after the recorded by Boswell in the
publication of his dictionary, Johnson was eventually rewarded by the excerpts from The Life of Samuel
king for his contribution to English letters and came to be seen as a Johnson. In preparation, review
great talent and a man of his age. each section of dialogue.
Discuss the traits of the people
Writing to Analyze speaking as well as the ideas
Based on the Johnson selection you read, as well as the excerpts communicated by the dialogue,
from his biography, what do you think are the qualities that considering how to best convey
made Johnson so widely revered? Additionally, what does his both. After your performance,
popularity tell you about the age in which he lived? Write an hold a wider discussion of the
essay in which you present and explain your response, citing ideas that were presented.
evidence from the selections. Do you agree with any of the
speakers? Disagree? Why?
Consider
• the way he organized his ideas
• his use of language
• his qualities as described by Boswell
WRITING 15A Write it an analytical
l essay.
Dr. Johnson in the Ante-Room of Lord Chesterfield Waiting for an Audience, 1748 (1845), Edward LISTENING AND SPEAKING 26 Work productively
Matthew Ward. Tate Gallery, London. © Tate Gallery, London/Art Resource, New York. with others in teams.
699