ELEGY

The following methods have been used to explain the whole chapter-

1- By video

2- by notes

3- By question and answer

4- By practice

5 - by PDF

पूरे अध्याय को समझाने के लिए निम्न तरीको का प्रयोग किया गया है- 

१- वीडियो द्वारा 

२- नोट्स द्वारा 

३- प्रश्न एवं उत्तर  द्वारा 

४- अभ्यास द्वारा

५ - PDF द्वारा    

                                  1.  VIDEO

                                           समझने के लिये वीडियो जरूर देखें 

2. NOTES

ORIGIN

1.      The word ‘Elegy’ is derived from a Greek word ‘elegeia’ means ‘lament’ or ‘to be sorrowful’.

2.      It is originated in Ancient Greece.

3.      It was introduced in England, During the renaissance (16th century)

HISTORY

1.      In classical literature, an elegy was simply any poem written in the elegiac meter (alternating lines of dactylic hexameter and pentameter) and was not restricted as to subject. Though some classical elegies were laments, many others were love poems.

2.      In some modern literature, such as German, in which the classical elegiac meter has been adapted. Here, the term elegy refers to this meter, rather than to the poem’s content.

3.      But in English literature since the 16th century, an elegy has been a poem with a theme of sorrow, or sorrow or despair. It may be written in any meter the poet chooses. For example – Thomas Grey composed ‘An Elegy Written in-country Church Yard’ by using quatrains in iambic pentameter. He lamented the nameless and neglected dead peasants of the village.

DEFINITION

1.      Elegy, is a form of lyrical composition that can be defined as a poem or a song written in the honor of someone deceased (dead person).

2.      It is a mournful poem about the death of a person or more rarely a group. It typically laments or mourns the death.

TYPES OF ELEGY

1.      Personal:

The poet laments the death of some close friend or relative. ‘The Burial of Sir John Moore’ written by Charles Wolf and ‘Break Break Break’ by Tennyson, are personal elegies.

2.      Pastoral:

·        (impersonal elegy):  The word ‘Pastoral’ is derived from the Greek word ‘Pastor’ which means ‘to gaze’.

·        In Ancient Greece Theocritus, Bion and Moschus used to write pastoral elegy. Virgil continued this form in Ancient Rome. It is developed during Renaissance.

·        Pastoral elegy represents both the mourner (who is usually also a poet, as shepherd) and the one for whom he mourns.

·        In the pastoral elegy, poet grieves over human destiny /sad aspects of contemporary life and gives idea about his philosophy of life and death.

·        It dwells upon the combined subject of death and sublime country life. This form of poetry usually includes shepherds who express their emotions. 

ELEGY IN MODERN TIME

In the modern age, elegies are written to express anxiety, sadness, frustration and despair. Most of the poets are unconventional in the use of elegy forms. The example of this unconventional form is Dylan Thomas.

THEMES

3.      Reflection of death.

4.      Sadness/ loss/

5.      Redemption or consolation

6.      Philosophical idea

 THREE STAGES IN ELEGY

Christian elegies usually start from sorrow and misery, to hope and happiness because they say that death is just a hindrance in the way of passing from the mortal state into the eternal state. Elegies are written in three stages-

1.      1st stage:

Elegy begins with lamentation/pain due to loss of someone. Just like a classical epic, an elegy typically starts with the invocation of the muse, and then proceeds by referencing traditional mythology.

2.      2nd stage:

Poet describes the qualities, achievements, remarkable deeds of deceased person. Questions are raised by the poet about nature of life, what is death, immortality of soul, destiny, justice, fate etc.

This kind of digression gives the poet space to go beyond the main or crude subject to a deeper level where the connotations might be metaphorical.

3.      3rd stage:

Towards the end the poet generally tries to provide comfort to ease the pain of the situation or he may be angry.

LITERARY DEVICES

1.      Iambic pentameter

(Long syllable-short syllable) = 1 feet

2.      5 feet in one line.

Lines may be long or short

3.      Quatrain pattern

4.      Rhyming scheme-abab

EXAMPLES

1.      ‘In the memory of W.B. Yeast’ - by W.H Auden

2.      ‘Adonais’ - by P.B.Shelley.

3.      ‘O captain! My captain!’ and ‘When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d’ – Walt Whitman

4.      ‘Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard’ - Thomas Gray

5.      ‘Lycidas’ is an elegy written by John Milton in the memory of his friend Edward King and later he expresses the degradation of religion and poetry.

6.      ‘In Memoriam’ is an elegy written by Tennyson in the memory of his friend Arthur Hallam. It is considered as an epitome of philosophical and religious thought

7.      ‘Rugby Chapel’ written by Matthew Arnold in the memory of his father, and later on he expresses the sorry fate of humanity and futility of life. the elegy sows the pessimism and despair of the age the poet lives in.

 3. QUESTIONS-ANSWERS

Q-1- What is 'elegy'?

Ans- The word ‘Elegy’ is derived from the Greek word ‘elegeia’ which means ‘lament’. It was originated in Ancient Greece and introduced in England during the renaissance (16th century). Elegy,  a form of lyrical composition, is a sad poem/song written in honour of someone deceased (dead person/group).

 Q-2- What was the early form (classical literature) of elegy in Greece?

Ans- In classical literature, an elegy was any poem written in the elegiac meter (alternating lines of dactylic hexameter and dactylic pentameter). It might have a sad or a love theme.

 Q-3- what are the features of Elegy in England?

Ans- In England Elegy was theme-based. The theme of an elegy is sadness. The poet laments the death of someone or a group. It may be written in any form or meter.

 Q-4- Give two examples of elegy.

Ans-

1. Rugby Chapel

      2.      An Elegy Written In Country Churchyard.

Q-5- What do you mean by Pastoral elegy? give two examples.

Ans- Pastoral elegy is also called impersonal elegy. Pastoral suggest that the elegy is related to 'shepherd', and rustic life. The poet speaks as a shepherd in a peaceful landscape and expresses his grief on the death of another shepherd. Examples

1- "Lycidas" by John Milton.

2- "Adonaïs" by P. B. Shelley

Q-6- Define Personal Elegy.

Ans-the elegy in which poet laments the death of some close friend or relative is called a personal elegy. Example-

1- "Rugby Chapel" by Mathew Arnold.

2- "Break Break Break" by Tennyson.

Q-7- How many stages are there in an elegy?

Ans- there are three stages

1- It begins with mourn at the death of someone.

2- In the second stage, the poet admires the deceased person, and speaks about his qualities &    

     impressive works.

3- The third stage is consolidation.

Q-8- What are the main features of Elegy?

Ans-

1- An elegy begins with a lament of death or loss.

2- An elegy is an expression of sorrow and sadness.

3- it has Simplicity, brevity, and sincerity.

 4- The language and structure is formal and ceremonial.

 4. EXERCISE

1.      Define elegy.

2.      What is the main theme of elegy.

3.      Write the features of classical (ancient) elegy form.

4.      What changes were done in the elegy in England.

5.      What are the main types of elegy.

6.      Define pastoral elegy.

7.      Define personal elegy.

8.      Give two examples of personal elegy

9.      Give two examples of pastoral elegy.

10.   How many stages were found in an elegy.

11.   What do we call a literary composition based on sad theme?

12.   In which elegy poet speaks as a ‘shepherd’?