Information about Gray

Thomas Gray (1716-1771), an important British poet in the 18th century. "Elegy at the Graveside" is his masterpiece.

Thomas Gray (1716-1771) was an important poet in the late British neoclassicism and a representative of the "Graveside School". He was born in London to a broker's family and spent most of his life teaching and researching at Cambridge University. His life can be described as regular, fast and steady.

Gray did not write many poems in his lifetime, and only more than ten poems have been handed down to the world, among which "Graveyard Elegy" is the most famous. This poem took eight years to compose. It was originally written to mourn his friend Richard West when he was studying at Eton College. At least the "epitaph" attached at the end of the poem was written for him. But looking at the whole poem, its content has obviously gone beyond mourning for a specific person, but expresses deep sympathy for the unknown people at the bottom through the description of a cemetery in the countryside. It praises their simple and kind character and regrets that they have no chance to display their talents and talents. It also expresses contempt and ridicule for the powerful and the vanity of the world, and condemns the arrogant and luxurious life of the big shots. This poem fully embodies Gray's democratic thoughts. Due to poverty, farmers could not develop their talents and become writers like Milton or politicians like Cromwell. But on the other hand, there is no "ambition", "arrogance", "arrogance", "luxury" and "flattery" in them. Although they are "barren" and have no knowledge, they have "virtue" and "conscience". They are nature itself. Such thoughts and the sentimental mood permeating the whole poem make "Cemetery Elegy" a model of sentimental poetry in the late 18th century.