FROM ''AN ALLERGY WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCHYARD
- Thomas Gray
Stanzas and their explanation
Stanza 1
The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the Lea,
The ploughman homeword plods his weary ways,
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.
Reference: This is one of the stanzas from 'An Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard composed by Thomas Gray.
Context: the poet is standing in a Churchyard of a small village, describe the coming of the evening. He gives a vivid description of everything that takes place.
Explanation: The evening bell is ringing in the Church. It shows that day has ended. The cattle are coming home slowly. They are walking on the meadow in a zigzag way. The farmer who had been ploughing his field is weary and tired. He works with heavy steps towards home. He will soon reach home where he will forget the world. There will be darkness in the world. The poet will be left alone in the darkness. He will think of the world.
Comment: There is Transferred elithet in 'weary way'. The way is not tired.
'The curfew tolls the kne of parting day' is the fine example of Onomatopoeia.
Stanza 2
Beneath those rugged elms, that yewhtreecs shade
Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap,
Each in his narrow cell for ever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
Context : In this Stanza the poet describe how poor and neglected people are laying buried in the most ordinary graves. They were simple and their Graves are also simple.
Explanation : There are some rough trees before him. There are some evergreen trees too. There are small graves under the those trees. These graves are decaying. At many places the surface of the graves is uneven and loose. These are the graves of simple and illiterate ancestors of the people living in a small village. They are worried forever.
Stanza 3
The breezy call of incense-breathing morn,
The shallow twittering from the straw-built shed,
The cock's shrill clarion, or The echoing horn,
No more shall rouse time from their lowly bed.
Context : Heare the poet says how the people in the graves are now beyond all worldly attractions and excitements. Now they will not be awakened by the things that are used to awaken them in the morning.
Explanation:
The morning is full of the fragrance of flowers. The cool pleasant wind in the morning attracts people to stir. In the small nests built of straw there are shallows. The chirping of the shallows is very agreeable. The cock makes a loud shrill call in the morning to rouse people. The hunters go out to hunt. They blow their horns. The echo of the horns spread everywhere. All these things usually wake up the people. But now all the material of a awaking, as they are sleeping a permanent sleep not to awake anymore.
Stanza 4
Let not be ambition mock their useful toil,
Their homely joys, and destiny obscure;
Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals of the poor.
Context:
The poet says that we should not look down upon the work and the lives of the poor people. Ambitious and great persons should pay proper respect to them.
Explanation :
These poor people laboured hard. They did things which are necessary for man. Their enjoyment was simple. They did what fate allowed them to do. But their actions were not famous. Ambitious persons should not make fun of them. When great people hear the simple life records of these village rustic, they should not smile with contempt.
Stanza 5
The boast heraldry the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave
Awaits alike th' inevitable hour:
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
Context:
The poet expresses his views that nothing is everlasting. The poet says why great persons should not look down upon the life and work of the poor. They should be mindful that death is the end of all and they too are subject to that death.
Explanation:
Some people are proud of their long decent. Powerful persons are surrounded by outward show. Beautiful persons are wealthy persons gain much praise and honour. But none of them can escape death. Death is sure to come to everyone. All wait for that moment. One may get high fame and honour for his actions but in the end one must die. So the end of everyone is the same. So the great and arrogant men should not look down upon the simple and unknown life of the poor.
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