Elegiac poetry has become increasingly popular in recent years and is associated with mourning, consolation and remembrance. It is characterized by its lyrical strength, its compact structure and its use of shorter poetic lines. The poetry often takes the form of a personal lament – a lamentation for somebody who has passed away, celebrating their life and constantly reminding the living of their absence. The elegiac poem is one of the earliest forms of written literature and is commonly found in the ancient Greek and Roman world. It is also evident in much of the writing of the Bible.
Elegiac poetry is usually composed in the form of a stylized lament. These laments involve a combination of sorrow, sadness, and reflection – often accompanied by a tenderness that encourages the reader to consider their own mortality. They often include a sort of refrain or repeated statement, encouraging readers to think about the magnitude of the loss. These laments are often composed in hexameter (six feet) verses and focus on the passing of a loved one in mournful tones. The elegies are always connected to a specific person, place, event or emotion, making them emotive and relatable.
Generally, elegies revolve around two main themes: mourning the death of a loved one and the consolation of the living. Through the elegies, poets attempt to capture the sorrow and the beauty of death and grieving. They are usually composed in a single, fluid stanza and focus on a single perspective or emotion, to evoke an emotional response. The form has remained popular and continues to be used in modern poetry – often focusing on topics such as love and loss.
The question of which of the statements are true about elegiac poetry depends heavily on the individual poem and its intended audience. In general, however, it is true that elegiac poetry is composed in the form of a stylized lament, focusing on the death of a particular individual and the consolation of the living. It is also true that it often takes the form of a hexameter verse, and focuses on evoking the emotion of sorrow and the beauty of death.
Style and Structure
As poetry, elegies are highly structured and often utilize specific poetic devices. Their unique form is composed of two stanzas, each of which contains a series of six-footed lines: three feet characteristically known as ‘paired’ iambs, placing emphasis on the last foot.
Elegies often focus on a single theme and evoke a singular emotion. This allows poets to articulate their feelings in a detailed, but succinct manner. Furthermore, the poems usually employ the use of metaphor and imagery to create a vivid experience of sorrow. Through the use of rhetorical devices, such as anaphora and personification, the poems can build a sense of empathy and emotion.
The structure of an elegiac poem is often used to convey a consistent message throughout the poem. This is done through the use of refrain – or the repeating of a phrase at regular intervals. This allows poets to remind the reader not only of sorrow, but also of the permanence of death. In addition, poets often focus on the beauty of death, using imagery and vague references to allow the readers to find solace in the ideas of death.
Rhetorical Devices
Rhetorical devices are often employed in elegies to create a vivid portrait of the loss and enable the reader to connect to and fully feel the emotion of the work. For example, alliteration is often used to convey sorrow and pain; the repetition of certain sounds creates a sense of mournfulness that echoes throughout the poem. Personification is also used to allow the reader to connect more deeply to the subject of the poem, as the reader is able to empathize with the lamenting figure.
Other rhetorical devices, such as anaphora, can be used for various effects. For example, anaphora can create a sense of unity within the poem, as multiple lines are connected by the use of a single phrase or theme. This can also create emphasis on certain words, as the joys and pains of life are echoed in the writing. Inversely, anaphora can be used to create a sense of distance and detachment from the poem, allowing the reader to feel isolated and disassociated from the topic at hand.
Metaphorical Language
In addition to rhetorical devices, elegies often incorporate metaphorical language to create vivid pictures of the emotions within the work. This technique allows the poet to express their feelings without explicitly stating them; creating a more profound and lasting message. Metaphors can take many forms, ranging from classical figures of speech to creative interpretations of everyday objects. For example, the use of birds to represent freedom and death, or a journey to represent life, is commonly found in elegies.
Metaphors also allow poets to keep their lyrics relevant to their audience. Through the use of familiar elements, readers are able to relate to the ideologies presented in the work. For example, the image of a weeping willow has been used for centuries to evoke feeling of mourning and sadness. This allows readers to connect to the poem on a deeper level, become emotionally invested in the message of the poem, and be moved by the sentiments in it.
Narrative Structure
An important part of elegiac poetry is creating a narrative. This narrative can take many forms, but often serves to drive the poem and convey the poet’s message. For example, the narrative could focus on the stages of grief and the reflection of the sadness and pain that accompany the loss of the deceased. This story allows the poet to establish the importance of mourning and to show the beauty of death.
Another approach to elegiac poetry is the focus on memories. This type of narrative emphasizes the importance of preserving the memories of the deceased and recreating them from the perspective of the living. It relies heavily on vivid imagery and employs the use of various poetic devices to evoke emotion and make the reader nostalgic. Through this narrative, the poet can remind the readers of the fleeting nature of life and that, in death, all things are remembered.
Themes
Elegiac poetry often focuses on various themes associated with death and the mourning of loss. The poem typically contains phrases and imagery associated with a beloved person’s demise, and lamentation of the same. Poets often use words such as “nevermore” and “eternal rest” to remind readers of the permanence of death, while other phrases such as “smile of joy” or “eternal bliss” may serve as metaphors for life after death.
Metaphors and symbols are commonly used in elegies to evoke feelings of sorrow and nostalgia. For example, a willow tree may be used to illustrate the grief of the living and the immutability of death. Other symbols, such as roses or the sun, can be used to symbolize love or hope. All of these symbols serve to remind readers of the sorrow and beauty that can be associated with death.
Furthermore, elegies often contain a moral message or lesson. This can be as simple as “All things must come to an end” or “Death is no escape from life”. The moral message can be used to remind readers of the importance of mourning and finding peace among the loss of a loved one.
Language
Elegiac poetry typically employs language that is accessible and emotional in its nature. Poets often use a combination of formal and informal language, creating a feeling of intimacy between the poem and its audience. The use of end rhyme and sonnet-style stanzas adds a lyrical quality to the poem and helps to emphasize the gravity of the situation.
The use of simile and metaphor is key to elegies, as these symbols often serve as a bridge within a single elegiac poem and as a bridge to past elegiac works. Through the use of language, poets are able to paint a vivid picture of death, loss and the beauty associated with it.
Conclusion
Elegiac poetry is a form of written literature that focuses on memorializing and mourning the dead. The elegies usually take the form of a stylized lament, using a combination of sorrow, reflection and tenderness to evoke an emotional response. Through the use of rhetorical devices, symbols and simple language, poets are able to convey their feelings of grief and conjure images of beauty and hope.
