Elegy
Literary term · say it EL-uh-jee
An elegy is a poem of mourning, usually for someone who has died. It often moves between sorrow, memories, and praise, and may seek comfort or meaning without fully resolving the grief.
Two common kinds of elegy
Personal elegy
A personal elegy mourns a particular person. It often explores how that person's absence changes the lives of those left behind.
In In Memoriam A.H.H., the speaker imagines the ship bringing his dead friend Arthur Hallam home to England, making the journey a focus for his grief.
In In Memoriam A.H.H. by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Pastoral elegy
A pastoral elegy presents mourning through an imagined world of shepherds and countryside. Nature and fellow shepherds may seem to share the grief.
In Lycidas, the speaker mourns the drowned Edward King as a fellow shepherd and calls on the natural world to honour him with flowers.
In Lycidas by John Milton
How to spot an elegy
- Look for a death or absence at the centre of the poem.
- Notice memories, praise, and signs of sorrow.
- Watch for a turn toward comfort, acceptance, or unanswered questions.
What is the difference between an elegy and a eulogy?
An elegy is usually a poem of mourning, while a eulogy is usually a speech praising someone who has died. Both may honour the dead, but an elegy often spends more time exploring grief, doubt, and the experience of loss.
Does an elegy have to rhyme?
An elegy does not have to rhyme or follow a fixed verse pattern. The term describes its subject and purpose rather than one required shape. Elegies can use regular stanzas, blank verse, or free verse while still centring on mourning and remembrance.
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