On some fond breast the parting soul relies, Some pious drops the closing eye requires explores Thomas Gray's universal truth that every dying person desires to be remembered by their loved ones.
What Are the Famous Lines from Thomas Gray's Elegy?
On some fond breast the parting soul relies,
Some pious drops the closing eye requires;
E'en from the tomb the voice of Nature cries,
E'en in our ashes live their wonted fires.
These lines have been extracted from "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard", composed by Thomas Gray, an eighteenth century poet.
Here Gray suggests the universal truth that every dying man wants his people to remember him.
How Does the Poet Support the Raising of Tombs?
In these lines the poet supports the raising of the tombs for the dead villagers. He argues that every human being wants to be remembered after death. In the foregoing stanzas, the poet has glorified the simplicity of the villagers. Then, he passes on from the particular to the general in order to establish the fact that these buried rustic people should not be blamed for having the desire to live in the minds of the living people. Here the poet's own desire has been reflected. In the next few stanzas he identifies himself with the humble villagers and implies his own intention of living in the minds of those who will live behind him after his death. These lines are replete with rare pathos as they suggest a man's last desire for living through others.
Key Takeaways
- The famous stanza is extracted from Thomas Gray's eighteenth-century poem "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard".
- It expresses the universal truth that every dying person desires remembrance by their loved ones.
- The poet transitions from the particular villagers to the general human desire to live on in the minds of others.
Quick Practice
What is the central theme of the lines beginning with "On some fond breast the parting soul relies"? Write your answer in the comments below!
FAQ
What poem do these lines come from?
These lines come from Thomas Gray's eighteenth-century poem "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard".
What universal truth does Thomas Gray suggest in these lines?
Gray suggests the universal truth that every dying person wants their people to remember them after death.
How does the poet identify with the villagers?
The poet identifies himself with the humble villagers by reflecting his own desire and intention of living in the minds of those who will live behind him after his death.