Answers to Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard Q&A
Q1. Critical Appreciation of Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.
Introduction: Thomas Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard was first published in 1751, and it quickly gained immense popularity. This poem brought Thomas Gray into the spotlight, making him one of the most well-known poets of his time. The poem’s instant success was due to its unique style and moving theme. Gray wrote about the graves of unknown and humble villagers, a subject that was rarely explored in poetry before. He used classical language and elevated the everyday lives of common people, giving the poem a universal appeal.
The main theme of the poem is that both rich and poor people end up in the same place — the grave. Gray’s poetic treatment of this theme made people reflect on their own lives, wrongdoings, and worldly pursuits. As the poem progresses, it feels like Gray is not just mourning the death of the “rude forefathers of the hamlet,” but also mourning the death of all people, including himself. This gave the elegy a sense of universal truth, making it relatable to everyone who reads it.
Love for Rural Life – Evening in the Village: Sitting in the quiet churchyard of Stoke Poges, the poet observes the simple activities of village life in the evening. The bell has rung, telling the villagers that it’s time to put out their fires, turn off their lights, and go to bed. The day is coming to an end, and even the animals are tired. Farmers are returning home after a long day of work, walking slowly and leaving everything in darkness. The poet writes:
The Plowman homeward plods his weary way
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.
This scene captures the peace of the village as night falls. The poet is left alone in the churchyard, surrounded by darkness, to reflect on life and death.
Interest in Ruins and the Churchyard: The poet paints a vivid picture of the churchyard. There are rough hedge trees and thick green leaves swaying in the wind. The graves are decaying and turning to dust, and the bodies of the uneducated villagers are resting there. Morning comes, but it means nothing to the dead. Gray personifies the morning, as though it is a person who can’t wake the dead with its music or the crowing of a rooster. Gray describes this with the following lines:
Each in his narrow cell for ever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
This means that the villagers are forever resting in their small graves, no longer affected by the passage of time or the noise of the world around them.
Love for the Dead: Gray feels sympathy for the farmers who have passed away. They no longer light fires in their homes, their wives don’t tend to evening chores, and their children no longer wait for their return. The dead farmers were once hardworking, joyfully plowing their fields and harvesting crops. Gray recalls how the woods would bend beneath their strong blows as they worked the land. The poet writes:
How jocund did they drive their team afield!
How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke!
The poet reminds the reader that these villagers were once full of life, but now they are gone, and the joy they brought to the village has disappeared.
A Realistic Outlook on Life and Death: Gray warns those who might feel pride in burying their rich relatives in fancy graves. In the past, the poor were buried in the churchyard, while the rich were given more prominent places inside the church. However, Gray believes that this is meaningless. No fancy urn or statue can bring the dead back to life, and no amount of praise can reach them in the grave. He asks:
Can storied urn or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
This means that no decorated urn or lifelike statue can bring back the breath of a person once they are dead. Death is the great equalizer, and no amount of wealth or fame can change that.
The Forgotten Talents: In the graves of the poor, Gray believes that many people were buried who could have been great leaders or talented artists. However, because of their poverty, they never got the chance to fully develop their skills. Gray laments the fact that these individuals were denied education and opportunities due to their unfortunate circumstances. He writes:
But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page
Rich with the spoils of time did ne’er unroll;
This means that the poor villagers never had access to the vast knowledge of the world, simply because they lacked the opportunities.
Pessimism and Death: Gray talks about the universal fear of death. No one willingly accepts death, and everyone clings to life, hoping to live longer. As people die, they hope their friends and family will remember them and shed tears over their graves. The dying person passes on their responsibilities, hoping that their memory will live on in the hearts of their loved ones. Gray expresses this sentiment:
On some fond breast the parting soul relies,
Some pious drops the closing eye requires;
This means that as a person dies, they rely on the love of their family and hope that someone will cry over their death.
Self-Portrait and Subjectivity: Gray reflects on his own life and fears that no one will remember him when he is gone. He imagines someone passing by the churchyard and asking about him. Maybe someone would mention seeing him walking in the morning or sitting under his favorite tree at sunset. But eventually, he too will be missed, and the villagers will notice his absence. Gray writes:
For thee, who mindful of th’ unhonoured Dead
Dost in these lines their artless tale relate;
This means that Gray hopes someone will remember him, just as he is remembering the dead villagers in his elegy.
Gray’s Love for Death: Finally, the poet imagines someone telling the story of his death. They would mention how Gray used to wander in the woods, lost in thought, and then one day he was gone. People in mourning clothes would carry him to the graveyard, and he would be laid to rest beneath a simple stone.
The Poetic Qualities of the Elegy: Gray’s elegy is considered one of the finest poems in English literature. Though it uses some old-fashioned poetic techniques like personification, it is filled with deep emotions and a universal message. The poem’s meter is iambic pentameter, and the rhyme scheme is ABAB. Gray’s love of nature, his melancholy mood, and his thoughtful reflections make this elegy both romantic and timeless.
As Dr. Johnson said, “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard contains images and sentiments that touch every heart.”
Conclusion: Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard is one of the best poems of the 18th century. It is a beautiful and sad reflection on life, death, and the fate of all people. Had Gray written more poems like this, there would be no need to either blame or praise him — his genius would be unquestioned.
In exploring the Answers to Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard Q&A, the poem by Thomas Gray delves into the themes of humility and the uncelebrated lives of common people.
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Q2. Do you think Gray is a transitional poet?
Introduction: Thomas Gray is a well-known English poet, especially for his famous work Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard. Gray is considered a poet of the “age of transition,” which refers to a period in the 18th century when literature was shifting from the classical style of the neoclassical era to the more emotional and imaginative style of the romantic period. This was a time of change in poetry, where people started moving away from the artificial and polished language of neoclassicism and began to explore emotions, nature, and the experiences of common people. Gray’s poetry embodies both neoclassical and romantic qualities, making him a transitional poet.
Neoclassicism vs. Romanticism: The 18th century was mainly known for its neoclassical ideals. Poets and writers during this time followed strict rules, writing in formal language, focusing on reason, and often discussing the lives of the elite or royalty. However, as romanticism began to emerge, poets started to focus on nature, ordinary people, emotions, and imagination. They were moving away from the cities and courts to the villages and rural life.
Gray, like many poets of his time, was influenced by both of these trends. While he admired the order and polish of classical poetry, he was also drawn to the new romantic ideas that celebrated nature, common people, and deep emotions. Thus, Gray’s work often reflects both classical form and romantic spirit.
Elements of Romanticism in Gray’s Poetry:
Gray shows a strong connection to romantic ideas in his work, particularly in his focus on nature, the common man, imagination, emotions, and the supernatural. Let’s explore these romantic elements in his poetry:
1. Interest in the Common Man: Romantic poets were deeply interested in the lives of ordinary people, especially the poor and the marginalized. In Gray’s poem The Bard, Gray supports the Welsh bards (poets) who were oppressed by the royal authority. He shows great sympathy for those who suffer. Similarly, in The Progress of Poesy, Gray speaks about the hardships faced by mankind, such as poverty, labor, and illness:
“Disease, and Sorrow’s weeping train,
And Death, sad refuge from the storms of fate.”
In Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, Gray mourns for the poor farmers who, despite their talents, never had the opportunity to be recognized due to their poverty. This shows his empathy for the common man. He writes:
“Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.”
This line highlights how many talented individuals never get the chance to shine because they are born into poverty.
2. High Imagination: Romantic poets are known for their vivid imagination, and Gray also exhibits this quality. In The Bard, Gray portrays an old Welsh bard (a poet) who curses King Edward for destroying the lives of the Welsh poets. This bard curses not just Edward but his entire family, generation after generation, without any harm coming to him. This dramatic scene, with its supernatural undertones, shows Gray’s rich imagination.
In The Progress of Poesy, Gray describes a poet who dares to explore the mysteries of the universe, reaching such great heights that he is blinded by the divine light. He writes:
“He saw; but blasted with excess of light,
Closed his eyes in endless night.”
This line captures the poet’s daring attempt to understand the universe, which ultimately leads to his blindness, showcasing Gray’s use of grand, imaginative ideas.
3. The Supernatural: Romantic poetry often delves into the mysterious and supernatural. Gray also incorporates these elements into his work. In The Bard, the ghosts of the dead bards appear to the old bard, adding a supernatural dimension to the poem. This fascination with the mysterious and the unknown is a hallmark of romanticism.
Elements of Classicism in Gray’s Poetry:
While Gray embraced many romantic ideas, he also held on to several neoclassical traits. These classical features are visible in his style, language, and structure. Let’s look at these classical elements:
1. Use of Poetic Diction: One of the key features of neoclassical poetry is its use of formal and elaborate language. Unlike romantic poets who preferred simple, everyday language, Gray uses a more dignified and elevated style. For example, in The Bard, he uses sophisticated language, like in the following line:
“Frowns o’er old Conway’s foaming flood.”
Similarly, in The Progress of Poesy, Gray uses formal expressions:
“Awake, Aeolian lyre, awake,
And give to rapture all thy trembling strings.”
Gray also uses archaic words like “Poesy” for poetry and indirect phrases such as “Aeolian lyre” to refer to the musical instrument. These choices reflect his classical approach to language.
2. Myth-making and Symbolism: Gray is skilled in creating myths and using symbols, both of which are classical traits. In The Progress of Poesy, he creates a myth around Milton’s blindness, suggesting that Milton lost his sight after attempting to explore the mysteries of the universe and getting too close to divine light.
Gray also uses rich symbolism in his poetry. For example, in Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, he compares the unrecognized talents of the poor farmers to flowers:
“Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.”
Here, the flower symbolizes the farmers who never get a chance to show their talents because of their poverty.
3. Sensuous Art: Gray has a talent for painting vivid pictures with words, which is another classical trait. In The Progress of Poesy, he asks the reader to imagine a poetic chariot driven by two fast horses, symbolizing the quick pace of Dryden’s poetry. He writes:
“Behold, where Dryden’s less presumptuous car,
Two Coursers of ethereal race,
With necks in thunder cloth’d, and long-resounding pace.”
This sensuous imagery shows Gray’s ability to create lively, detailed pictures with words, another classical quality.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Thomas Gray is a poet who perfectly bridges the gap between the classical and romantic traditions. On one hand, he embraces romantic qualities such as an interest in nature, the common man, imagination, and emotion. On the other hand, he remains rooted in classical traditions with his use of dignified language, myth-making, and structured poetic forms. This combination of classical and romantic elements is what makes Gray a true transitional poet. His work reflects the changing literary landscape of the 18th century, and his poetry continues to be appreciated for its emotional depth, imagination, and careful craftsmanship.
Short Answer Type of Q&A
1. Write down Thomas Gray as a Romantic Poet.
Thomas Gray, though often associated with the transitional period between Neoclassicism and Romanticism, shows several important features of Romanticism in his works. Romanticism is known for its focus on nature, the common man, high imagination, strong emotions, and the supernatural. Gray’s poetry reflects all these elements in meaningful ways.
Interest in the Common Man:
One of the key features of Romanticism is the focus on the life of ordinary people, and Gray had deep sympathy for the poor and suffering. In his poem The Progress of Poesy, he talks about the hard lives of common people, writing that they suffer from “hard labour, miserable poverty, and intolerable pains.” This emphasis on the common man is further seen in his famous poem Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, where he speaks about the unnoticed talents and lives of poor farmers who lived simple lives but had no opportunities to rise. In one of the lines, Gray writes:
“Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.”
Here, he compares the lives of these common people to flowers blooming in hidden places, unseen and unappreciated, which is a deeply Romantic theme of valuing ordinary life and experiences.
High Imagination:
Romantic poets were known for using their imaginations to explore new ideas, and Gray does the same. His poem The Bard is a good example of this. In the poem, an old bard curses King Edward’s family for generations, showing how Gray uses his imagination to stretch reality. Similarly, in The Progress of Poesy, Gray describes how poets sometimes go too far with their imagination. One poet, blinded by his own ambition to understand the mysteries of the universe, loses his sight after seeing the dazzling light of God’s presence. Gray writes:
“He saw; but blasted with excess of light,
Closed his eyes in endless night.”
This shows how imagination can be both powerful and dangerous, a theme common in Romantic poetry.
The Supernatural:
Another important element of Romanticism is the fascination with the supernatural and the strange. Gray incorporates this in The Bard, where the ghosts of dead bards appear before the living bard, adding a sense of mystery and the uncanny. This supernatural presence is typical of Romantic poets who loved to explore the unknown and eerie aspects of life.
In conclusion, Thomas Gray shows many Romantic qualities in his poetry. Through his focus on the common man, use of high imagination, and inclusion of supernatural elements, Gray can be seen as a poet who paved the way for the full development of Romanticism in English literature.
2. Describe the Churchyard Scene in Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.
In Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, Thomas Gray paints a peaceful yet melancholic picture of the churchyard as seen by the poet. The poet sits all alone in the churchyard, observing the calmness of the evening. It is the time of dusk, as day slowly fades into night. The scene begins with the animals returning home after grazing in the fields all day. The farmers, too, are heading back to their homes after a long day of hard work. Their movements are slow and tired, showing the quiet end to a day of labor.
As evening deepens into night, a calm and silent atmosphere surrounds the churchyard. The wind, which was once blowing, stops, and complete stillness takes over the scene. This silence is only broken by small, faint sounds. The poet hears the buzzing sound of a beetle in flight and the soft ringing of bells tied to the necks of animals as they move in their sleep.
In the distance, the poet also hears the hooting of an owl perched on top of the church tower. This owl’s cry adds a sense of loneliness to the scene, as it is often a symbol of isolation. The poet notices the large elm and yew trees spread across the churchyard, under which lie the graves of the dead villagers. These villagers, who once lived simple and hard-working lives, now rest forever in the quietness of the churchyard, their graves a reminder of the inevitability of death.
The scene of the churchyard is one of peaceful solitude but also one filled with deep reflection on life and death. The poet observes how the ordinary lives of farmers and villagers come to an end, and now they rest under the shelter of the elm and yew trees. This quiet scene, with only the sounds of nature and the sight of the graves, makes the poet think about the fleeting nature of life and the finality of death.
Gray’s description of the churchyard captures the calmness of nature, the quiet end to a day, and the stillness that follows the lives of the people who once lived and worked there.
3. What capacities does the poet imagine in the dead villagers?
In Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, the poet Thomas Gray reflects on the lives of the dead villagers who now lie buried in the quiet churchyard. He believes that although these villagers lived unknown and died without recognition, they had great potential and abilities. According to the poet, these humble villagers could have achieved great things and gained fame if they had been given the opportunity. However, due to their poverty and lack of education, their talents went unnoticed and unused.
The poet asks people not to be too proud of their wealth, power, or status because, in the end, death comes for everyone. He suggests that some of these villagers were filled with heavenly inspiration and had the ability to perform extraordinary deeds. He imagines that some of them could have held the specter of sovereignty in their hands, meaning they could have become great leaders or rulers. Others might have been skilled musicians, playing the lyre so beautifully that they could bring joy to everyone who listened.
Gray also believes that some of these simple villagers might have had the courage to stand up against injustice and resist the tyranny of powerful landlords. Perhaps there was someone among them who could have become as great a statesman as Oliver Cromwell, but unlike Cromwell, this person would have remained free from the guilt of shedding innocent blood. The poet emphasizes that, although these villagers had the capacities to become famous leaders, musicians, or statesmen, they never had the chance to develop their talents because they lived in poverty and were uneducated.
In imagining the possibilities of what these villagers could have become, the poet highlights the tragedy of wasted potential. Despite their hidden talents, their lives remained simple and unnoticed, and they were unable to rise to greatness. Gray’s reflection serves as a reminder that many people, who might have been capable of doing great things, never have the chance to do so because of the circumstances of their lives. The poet mourns not only their deaths but also the loss of the greatness they might have achieved if given the right opportunities.
This thoughtful reflection shows Gray’s deep sympathy for the common man and his understanding of the limitations imposed by poverty and lack of education. Even though these villagers are now gone, the poet imagines the greatness they could have achieved if only their circumstances had been different.
4. What does the poet say about himself?
In the later part of Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, the poet Thomas Gray reflects on his own life and imagines his future, making the poem somewhat autobiographical. As he talks about the dead villagers, he also envisions a time when he, too, will leave the world, just like those who rest in the quiet churchyard. This personal reflection adds a deeper emotional layer to the poem.
Gray imagines that, after his death, some of his relatives or friends might come to the village to ask about him. The villagers will then talk about how they often saw the poet wandering alone in the forest, under the shade of the trees. He would walk quietly, sometimes talking to himself like a lonely and sad person. The poet’s solitude made him appear as if he was lost in thought or burdened by some deep, personal feelings.
Sometimes, the poet would smile to himself or lie down under a tree, finding comfort in nature. Other times, he would stop to drink water from the nearby river, enjoying the simple pleasures of life in the countryside. The poet imagines that this quiet, solitary routine was noticed by the villagers, who would remember him as someone who seemed thoughtful and introspective, often keeping to himself.
However, one day, the poet was not seen in his usual spot under the trees or near the river. The villagers noticed his absence and wondered where he had gone. Three days later, they saw his lifeless body being carried towards the churchyard for burial. Just like the poor villagers and the “rustic forefathers” who had come before him, death had claimed the poet as well. He had finally met the same fate that awaits everyone, rich or poor, known or unknown.
Gray’s reflection on his own death emphasizes the idea that death is a universal experience, sparing no one. He acknowledges that, like the villagers he wrote about, he will also fade away, leaving behind only memories. His quiet, solitary life will come to an end, just as theirs did. In this way, the poet relates his own life to the lives of the humble villagers, recognizing that in the face of death, all human beings are equal.
By imagining how others will remember him, Gray expresses his acceptance of mortality and his awareness that life is fleeting. His thoughts show that he identifies with the simplicity and peacefulness of the villagers’ lives, and he accepts that he, too, will one day rest in the same churchyard. This personal reflection gives the poem a touching and introspective tone, as the poet contemplates his own end alongside the lives of the people he writes about.
Very Short Answer Type of Q&A:
Q. 1. What is an elegy in poetry? Give examples of elegy in poetry.
An elegy is a type of poem that expresses sadness and mourning, usually written to honor someone who has died. It reflects on loss, death, and grief. The elegy as we know it today developed in the 16th century, often focusing on deep, emotional thoughts about life and death. Famous examples of elegy include Thomas Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, John Milton’s Lycidas, Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Adonais, and Walt Whitman’s When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d. These poems beautifully capture sorrow while paying tribute to the dead.
Q.2. “The plowman homeward plods his weary way.” Identify the figure of speech.
Answer: The phrase “weary way” is an example of a transferred epithet. The word “weary” really refers to the plowman, who is tired, but the word is used to describe “way,” which is connected to him. It’s also an example of alliteration because the “w” sound repeats.
Q.3. “And leaves the world to darkness and to me” – What is meant here?
Answer: This line means the poet feels lonely at night. Both the farmer and the animals will soon disappear into the darkness, leaving the poet by himself. It describes the quiet, dark surroundings of the churchyard.
Q.4. “Now fades the glimm’ring landscape on the sight” – What does the line reveal?
Answer: This line shows that the landscape is slowly disappearing from view as it becomes harder to see in the fading light.
Q.5. How was the evening scene of the country churchyard at Stoke Poges?
Answer: The evening at the country churchyard in Stoke Poges is calm and quiet. The scene appears dim and blurry, with silence all around.
Q.6. What does the line “And drowsy tinkling’s lull the distant folds” mean?
Answer: This line refers to the gentle sounds of bells tied to the necks of sheep. These soft sounds make the sheep feel sleepy as they return home in the evening.
Q.7. What breaks the silence of the evening atmosphere of the country churchyard?
Answer: The silence is broken by the buzzing sound of a beetle and the soft tinkling of the sheep’s bells as they return from the fields.
Q.8. “The curfew tolls the knell of parting day.” What does ‘curfew’ mean?
Answer: The word “curfew” refers to the evening bell that used to ring at about 8 p.m. in England. This was a signal for people to put out their fires and go to bed, a practice started by William the Conqueror.
Q.9. Where are the narrow burials of the rustic villagers?
Answer: The rustic villagers are buried in narrow graves beneath the shade of old elm and yew trees in the churchyard.
Q.10. What is an elm? What is a yew tree?
Answer: An elm is a large, shady tree with a wide top. A yew tree is an evergreen tree often found in churchyards, known for its long life.
Q.11. Who are the rude forefathers of the hamlet?
Answer: The rude forefathers are the simple, uneducated villagers from past generations who now lie buried in the churchyard.
Q.12. What does the ‘narrow cell’ refer to?
Answer: The ‘narrow cell’ refers to the graves where the dead villagers are buried.
Q.13. What awakened the ancient rustics when they were alive?
Answer: When the ancient rustics were alive, they woke up to the sounds of birds singing, roosters crowing, and the echoes of these sounds.
Q.14. “The breezy call of incense-breathing Morn.” – What does the ‘breezy call’ refer to?
Answer: The ‘breezy call’ refers to the fresh morning breeze, which is described as a living, breathing thing.
Q.15. “The cock’s shrill clarion, or the echoing horn.” – What does ‘the echoing horn’ refer to?
Answer: The ‘echoing horn’ probably refers to the sound of a huntsman’s horn, blown to gather hounds for a fox hunt.
Q.16. What did the wives of the rustics do when they were alive?
Answer: When the rustics were alive, their wives prepared food and made arrangements for their evening rest after a long day of work.
Q.17. What did the children of the rustics do when they were alive?
Answer: The children of the rustics greeted their fathers when they returned from the fields, competing for a kiss from their dad.
Q.18. What did the rude forefathers do when they were alive?
Answer: When alive, the rude forefathers worked in the fields, harvesting crops, and planting trees. They did this work cheerfully and with their fellow villagers.
Q.19. “How jocund did they drive their team afield.” – Why does the poet use the word ‘jocund’?
Answer: The poet uses “jocund” to describe how the villagers happily worked in the fields. Gray uses this word to fit the poem’s rhythm and style.
Q.20. Whom does the poet ask not to mock the toil of the rustics? Why?
Answer: The poet asks ambitious people not to make fun of the hard work of the rustics because their labor is important and valuable for the country.
Q.21. What does ‘destiny obscure’ refer to?
Answer: ‘Destiny obscure’ refers to the humble and unnoticed fate of common people. It means that their lives and achievements are not recognized or celebrated, and their graves are just simple patches of grass.
Q.22. Whom does the poet ask not to scorn the simple tale of living of the common people?
Answer: The poet asks people who live wealthy and privileged lives not to look down on the simple lives of common people. He wants them to respect and value their straightforward existence.
Q.23. What does the poet mean in the phrase ‘the simple annals of the poor’?
Answer: ‘The simple annals of the poor’ refers to the basic and straightforward lives of poor people. The poet means that despite their lack of wealth, the poor take pride in their honest work and simple surroundings.
Q.24. Why according to Gray, are the urn and speeches in honour of the dead on their tombs useless?
Answer: Gray thinks that urns and speeches honoring the dead are useless because they can’t bring the dead back to life or make any difference to them once they are gone.
Q.25. “The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow’r” – What does the phrase ‘the boast of heraldry’ refer to? What is the figure of speech used in “the pomp of pow’r”?
Answer: ‘The boast of heraldry’ refers to the pride that people take in their noble family crests and titles. The figure of speech in “the pomp of pow’r” is alliteration, where the ‘p’ sound is repeated in “pomp” and “pow’r.”
Q.26. “Where thro’ the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault” – What does ‘the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault’ refer to?
Answer: ‘The long-drawn aisle’ refers to the long, narrow part of a church, and ‘fretted vault’ refers to the intricately carved ceiling inside the church where important people were buried.
Q.27. What failed to entertain the cold ears of the dead?
Answer: Words of praise and honors fail to entertain or affect the dead because they are no longer alive to hear or care about them.
Q.28. ‘Can Honour’s voice provoke the silent dust’ – What is meant here? Explain the figure in “silent dust.”
Answer: This line means that nothing can bring the dead back to life. Honors and flattery are useless to the dead. ‘Silent dust’ is a euphemism, which is a gentle way of referring to the dead bodies.
Q.29. What does the phrase ‘pregnant with celestial fire’ refer to? Explain the figure of speech in the quoted line.
Answer: ‘Pregnant with celestial fire’ refers to having divine or heavenly inspiration and talent. The figure of speech here is a metaphor, comparing the potential for greatness to being pregnant with fire from the heavens.
Q.30. Why none of the dead in the unnoticed place became a great ruler?
Answer: The poet suggests that even though some of the humble people buried there might have had the potential to become great rulers, they never had the chance because of their circumstances.
Q.31. Why none of the dead in the unnoticed place of the cemetery became a great musician?
Answer: Similarly, the poet thinks that some of the people buried in the cemetery might have had the talent to become great musicians but never got the opportunity to develop their skills.
Q.32. Why did the intellectual capabilities of the dead rustics never have a chance to bloom?
Answer: The intellectual talents of the dead rustics never had a chance to develop because their poverty and lack of opportunities prevented them from pursuing education and realizing their full potential.
Q.33. Why could the dead rustics never get a chance of getting knowledge?
Answer: The dead rustics couldn’t get knowledge because they were too poor to afford education and access to learning resources.
Q.34. “Full many a gem of purest ray serene, / The dark unfathom’d caves of ocean bear” – To whom are the dead rustics compared?
Answer: The dead rustics are compared to precious gems hidden deep in the ocean. Just like these gems are beautiful but unseen, the rustics had potential that went unnoticed.
Q.35. Who was Hampden?
Answer: John Hampden (1594-1643) was a British politician who opposed King Charles I and was known for his resistance against unfair taxes. He died in battle fighting for his cause.
Q.36. “Full many a flow’r is born to blush unseen, / And waste its sweetness on the desert air.” – To whom are the dead rustics compared?
Answer: The dead rustics are compared to beautiful flowers that grow in lonely places where their beauty and fragrance go unnoticed and are wasted.
Q.37. “Some village-Hampden, that with dauntless breast” – Why does Gray allude to Hampden?
Answer: Gray mentions Hampden to show that even among the common villagers, there could have been individuals with the courage and spirit to stand up against injustice, like Hampden did.
Q.38. “Some Cromwell guiltless of his country’s blood” – Who was Cromwell? Why does Gray refer to the name?
Answer: Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) was a leader in the English Civil War known for his role in the conflict and bloodshed. Gray refers to Cromwell to suggest that the common villagers might have had the potential to be powerful leaders but without the negative aspects associated with Cromwell.
Q.39. What prevented the dead rustics from receiving applause from politicians?
Answer: The simple and humble lives of the rustics did not attract the attention or praise from politicians, who often overlook the contributions of ordinary people.
Q.40. “Their lot forbade.” – What did their lot forbid?
Answer: Their lot in life prevented them from achieving great deeds or engaging in harmful actions. It kept them from doing both great things that might earn them recognition and bad things that might have brought them infamy.
Q.41. What bad deeds did the villagers’ lot prevent them from doing?
Answer: The villagers’ lot prevented them from committing bad deeds like plotting to gain power, hiding the truth, or using flattery to gain favor.
Q.42. To what is the villagers’ secluded life compared?
Answer: Their secluded life is compared to a quiet, peaceful valley, free from the storms and troubles that affect those in public and powerful positions.
The Answers to Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard Q&A provide insights into how the poet reflects on the lives of those buried in a simple country churchyard.
