what is an elegy

An elegy is a poem that reflects upon death or loss, and it usually contains themes of mourning, loss, and reflection. It is a form of poetry in which the poet or speaker expresses grief, sadness, or loss. The elegy began as an ancient Greek metrical form and is traditionally written in response to the death of a person or group. Although elegies are often written as a lament for the dead in English literature, they can treat any subject, but they must treat it exclusively with reference to the poet. The purpose of this kind of poem is to express feelings rather than tell a story. The elements of a traditional elegy mirror three stages of loss: lament, praise and admiration of the idealized dead, and consolation and solace. A famous example of elegy is Thomas Grays Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard (1750).