Introduction

“Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” was first published in 1751. ୧୭୫୧

ମସିହାରେ ଏହି କବିତାଟି ପ୍ରଥମେ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ହୋଇଥିଲା... The poet was Thomas Gray, a
precursor of Romantic poetry. କବିତାର କବି ଥୋମାସ୍ ଗ୍ରେ ରୋମାଣ୍ଟିକ ଯୁଗର ଅଗ୍ରଦୂ ତ. He
may, however, have begun writing this poem in 1742, shortly after the death of
his close friend Richard West. ଆଶା କରାଯାଏ କବିଙ୍କର ଘନିଷ୍ଟ ବନ୍ଧୁ Richard West ଙ୍କର
ପରଲୋକ ପରେ ଏହି କବିତାର ରଚନା ୧୭୪୨ ମସିହାରେ ପ୍ରାରମ୍ଭ ହୋଇଥିଲା

Dear friends, this poem, is always capable of striking a sympathetic chord in

every human heart…. ଏହି କବିତାଟି ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ମାନବ ହୃ ଦୟରେ ଏକ ସହାନୁ ଭୁତିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପ୍ରତିକ୍ରିୟା
ଉଦ୍ରେକ କରିବାର ସାମର୍ଥ୍ୟ ରଖେ... and it is possible because the poem embodies deep
human interest.... ଏହା ସମ୍ଭବ କାରଣ କବିତାଟି ଗଭୀର ମାନବବାଦୀ ଚେତନାରେ ଆପ୍ଲତ....The
ୁ
poem holds profundity and nobility of sentiment …. profundity and nobility of
sentiment.... ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ କବିତାରେ ଗଭୀର ଓ ମାର୍ଜିତ ଭାବନାର ଏକ ଅନୁ ପମ ସମ୍ମେଳନ ଘଟିଛ ି ....The
poem also displays perfect style and diction…ଉପଯୁକ୍ତ କାବ୍ୟିକ ଛଟ୍ଟା ଓ ସଠିକ ଶବ୍ଦ
ବିନ୍ୟାସରେ କବିତାଟି ରସାଣିତ.... ସେଥିପାଇଁ Dr. Johnson କବିତାଟି ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ କହିଥିଲେ "The
Churchyard abounds with images which find a mirror in every mind and with
sentiments to which every bosom returns an echo." ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚ ୟାର୍ଡ୍ କବିତାଟି ଅନେକ
ଚିତ୍ରରେ ପରିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଯାହାର ପ୍ରତିଫଳନ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ମାନବ ମନରେ ଉଙ୍କିମାରେ ଓ ସେଥିରେ ଉପଲବ୍ଧ
ଭାବନା ସମୂହର ପ୍ରତିଧ୍ୱନି ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ହୃ ଦୟର ଅନୁ ରଣନ ଅଟେ....

The Elegy consists of 128 lines which is divided into 32 quatrains (Four-line
stanza). କବିତାଟି ୧୨୮ ଧାଡି ବିଶଷ୍ଟ
ି ଯାହାକି ୩୨ଟି quatrains ବା ଚତୁ ଃଷ୍ପଦରେ ବିଭକ୍ତ... Each
line is written in iambic pentameter. ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଧାଡି iambic pentameter ରେ
ଅନୁ ଶାସିତ... The last three stanzas of the poem are devoted to the epitaph. Each
quatrain is self-contained and usually conveys a complete sense. ଶେଷ ତିନୋଟି ପଦ
କବିତାର ଏପିଟାଫ୍ ବା ସମାଧି-ଲେଖକୁ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଉତ୍ସର୍ଗୀକୃ ତ... ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ଥୋମାସ୍ ଗ୍ରେଙ୍କ
ସାହିତ ୍ୟିକ କୃ ତର
ି କେତେକ ମୁଖ୍ୟ ବୈଶଷ୍ଟ
ି ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଅବଗତ ହେବା...The main points are…

1. Discarding of strict classical rules ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ କଠିନ ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରୀୟ ରିତୀର ବର୍ଜନ

2. Study of Nature to find its relationship with human nature ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ପ୍ରକୃ ତର
ି
ଅଧ୍ୟୟନ ସହ ମାନବ ପ୍ରକୃ ତ ି ସହ ଏହାର ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧ ନିର୍ଣ୍ଣୟ
 3. The element of melancholy ବା ବିଷାଦଭାବର ଉପସ୍ଥିତି

Central Themes
Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” is noteworthy in that it
mourns the death not of great or famous people, but of common men.... “Elegy
Written in a Country Churchyard” କବିତାଟି ଉଲ୍ଲେଖନୀୟ କାରଣ ଏହା ମହାନ ଓ ପସିଦ୍ଧ
ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଜନିତ ଶୋକର ଆଲେଖ୍ୟ ନୁ ହଁ ବରଂ ସାଧାରଣ ଜନତାର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଏହି ଶୋକଗୀତର
କାରଣ... The speaker of this poem sees a country churchyard at sunset,...ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟାସ୍ତ
ସମୟରେ କବି ଏକ ଗ୍ରାମୀଣ ଗୀର୍ଜାଘର ସଂଲଗ୍ନ ଶ୍ମସାନକୁ ଅବଲୋକନ କରୁଛନ୍ତି... which impels
him to meditate on the nature of human mortality....ଏବଂ ଏହା ତାଙ୍କୁ ମାନବର
ମରଣଶୀଳତା ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ମନନ କରିବା ସକାଶେ ଅନୁ ପ୍ରେରିତ କରୁଛି… The poem invokes the
classical idea of memento mori,….କବିତାଟି କ୍ଲାସିକ୍ ସାହିତ୍ୟର memento mori ଚିନ୍ତନକୁ
ପ୍ରତିବମ୍ବି
ି ତ କରୁଛି... ‘Memento mori’ is a Latin phrase which states plainly to all
mankind, “Remember that you must die.”… ‘Memento mori’ ହେଉଛି ଏକ ଲାଟିନ୍
ଅଭିବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ଯାହାର ଅର୍ଥ ହେଉଛି...ମନେରଖ ତୁ ମେ ନିଶ୍ଚି ତହିଁ ମ୍ରୁତ୍ୟୁଲାଭ କରିବ.... The speaker
considers the fact that in death, there is no difference between great and
common people...ବକ୍ତା ମତବ୍ୟକ୍ତ କରୁଛନ୍ତି ଯେ ମୃତ୍ୟୁକୁ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର କରି ସାଧାରଣ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ଓ ଅସାଧାରଣ
ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ମଧ୍ୟରେ କୌଣସି ପାର୍ଥକ୍ୟ ନଥାଏ...

This poem broadly meditates on the obscure destinies of the unknown and
undistinguished villagers buried in the country churchyard. କବିତାଟି ମୁଖ୍ୟତଃ ଅଜ୍ଞାତ
ଓ ତୁ ଚ୍ଛ ଗ୍ରାମୀଣମାନଙ୍କର ଅପରିଚତ
ି ନିୟତି ମମ୍ପର୍କରେ ବିଚାର କରେ The poem muses over the
unfulfilled greatness of the villagers who lived and died in the village failing to
give a fuller expression to their talents and potentials....କବିତାରେ ମୃତ
ଗ୍ରାମବାସୀମାନଙ୍କର ଅସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବା ଅପରିପ୍ରକାଶିତ ହୋଇ ରହିଯାଇଥିବା ମହାନତାକୁ ନେଇ ଖ୍ୟେଦ ପ୍ରକାଶ
କରେ...The elegy of Gray discusses death of a common man as the central issue.
କବିତାରେ କବି ଥୋମାସ୍ ଗ୍ରେ ସାଧାରଣ ମଣିଷର ମୃତ୍ୟୁକୁ ମୁଖ୍ୟ ବିଷ୍ୟ ବସ୍ତୁ ରୂପେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିଛନ୍ତି ଫଳ
ସ୍ୱରୂପ the shadow of death hovers over the poem....ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ କବିତାର ପ୍ରାରମ୍ଭରୁ ଶେଷ
ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମୃତ୍ୟୁର ଛାୟା ଆଚ୍ଛନ୍ନ... The opening line itself, with the curfew tolling 'the
knell of the parting day' is indicative of death.... ବାକ୍ୟର ପ୍ରାରମ୍ଭିକ ଧାଡି the curfew
tolling 'the knell of the parting day'....ମୃତ୍ୟୁର ସୂଚନା ଦେଇଥାଏ.........Gray’s Elegy
strongly pleads for the people who, mostly, after life’s fruitful toil embrace the
grave silently and remain unsung.... ଗ୍ରେଙ୍କର ଏହି ଶୋକଗୀତ ବା ଏଲେଜି ସେହି
ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିମାନଙ୍କର ଗାଥାକୁ ଦୃ ଢଭାବେ ଦର୍ଶାଉଛି ଯେଉଁମାନେ ଜୀବନବ୍ୟାପି କଠିନ ପରିଶ୍ରମ କଲାପରେ
ନୀରବରେ ସମାଧିସ୍ତ ହୋଇଯାଆନ୍ତି ଓ ଜୀବନର ଗୀତ ଅଶୁଣା ହୋଇରହିଯାଏ.....Another theme
treated in the Elegy is the transitoriness of human glory and joy...ଆଉ ଗୋଟିଏ
ଭାବଧାରା ଯାହା କବିତାଟିରେ ସନ୍ନିବେଶିତ କରାଯାଇଛି ତାହା ହେଉଛି.... the transitoriness of
human glory and joy...ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ମନୁ ଷ୍ୟର ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠା ଓ ଆନନ୍ଦ କ୍ଷଣସ୍ଥାୟୀ.... The poet attempts
to show that all 'the paths of glory lead but to the grave.' ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠାର ସମସ୍ତ ମାର୍ଗ
ଅବଶେଷରେ ଶ୍ମଶାନରେ ପରିସମାପ୍ତ ହୁ ଅନ୍ତି....It is suggestive of the futility of all human
ambitions and aspirations....ଏହା ମାନବ ଜୀବନର ସମସ୍ତ ଅଭିଳାଷ ଓ ଆକାଂକ୍ଷାର
ନିସ୍ପ୍ରୟୋଜନତାକୁ ସୂଚାଏ..... The contrast between the lives of the rich and the poor or
the privileged and the unprivileged forms another theme in the poem. The poem
also deals with the desire for fame, the desire to be remembered after death.
Thus the Elegy deals with a number of themes. These themes may not be
original but Gray's manner of treating them has lent a force and urgency to
them. Despite the dominance of the theme of death, the Elegy also presents a
nostalgic longing for life.
A short Summary of the Poem
Gray’s Elegy begins with an immaculate description of the countryside at
twilight meditating on lowing herd, tolling bell and slow plodding motion of a
ploughman returning home. As shadows fall and moon rises Gray directs
reader’s attention to the graves in the cemetery near the church. Then a dynamic
meditation on death begins with a description of the dead ancestors of the
village who are buried in the churchyard.
According to the poet, the death is the greatest leveller. All the rich and the poor
share the same fate because they all die. The poet's view is that the paths of
glory lead but to the grave. The poet shows great sympathy with the poor in this
poem. He speaks of those in the graveyard as unsung heroes, comparing them to
gems that are never found, or flowers that bloom and are never seen. This view
of life is undoubtedly the democratic spirit of the poet. The rude forefathers
were talented but they could not become popular due to the lack of
opportunities. And now the poor villagers lay at rest in the neglected spot of the
churchyard. The men were poor and humble, but some had hearts pregnant with
celestial fire, some would even make good emperors, some even were great
connoisseurs of lyre which filled them with ecstasy. But as chill penury
repressed their noble rage, and froze the genial current of their soul and they
remained hidden in the privacy of their glorious darkness. Some of them, if
given scope, could have becomes Miltons and Cromwells, but their promise did
not sprout as their lot forbade. They lived far from the madding crowd’s ignoble
strife, away from the shrines of Luxury and Pride. Their wishes were sober, and
they lived quietly, avoiding fuss.
The poem ends with the speaker imagining his own death.
The concluding part of the poem has been entitled as 'The Epitaph'. Here the
poet speaks about himself and mourns his own fate: The Epitaph sums up the
Elegy and shows the poet himself imagining as having come near the “rude
Forefathers”. The “poet” in the Epitaph is unknown to Fortune and Fame, who
is of humble birth and is marked for Melancholy. The poet here imagines
himself as having become one with the other humble people sleeping in the
narrow cells of the country churchyard.

Thomas Gray is a transitional poet. In this poem he is both a classicist and

Romanticist. The simplicity is the soul of the poem. As a precursor of romantic
poetry Gray shows his love for nature. He has presented vivid and lively picture
of nature. The description of sight and sound of nature is novel and romantic.
Thus this poem holds a singular position in the history of English poetry. It has
a lot of qualities as - simplicity, tenderness, human touch and universal feelings.
It has been written in iambic pentameter quatrains. The diction is highly
figurative. The use of alliteration has made the poem musical. In short, it is an
immortal poem.