Poems help share feelings, while elegy poems specifically remember people who have passed away. In this sad poem, feelings of sadness and memories mix beautifully.
Elegy poems have been here for a very long time, even since ancient times. They began in Greece and Rome, where people used them to honor those who had passed away. Poets such as John Milton and John Donne played big roles in how elegies are written.
“Death is the golden key that opens the palace of eternity.” - John Milton
In this guide, we’ll learn about the rules, purposes, and advantages of writing an elegy poem.
What is an Elegy Poem?
An elegy poem is like a sad song in words. It's about missing someone or something that's gone. These poems remember the person or thing and talk about the feelings of sadness.
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.” - John Donne
They also think about memories and how life goes on. Elegies are known for being serious and deep, and they've been around for a long time, even in ancient times. People still write them today.
Purpose of an Elegy Poem
You know, elegy poems are pretty special. It's a way for poets to express their feelings when they're sad or missing someone they love.
And you know what's cool? These poems aren't only about feeling sad. They're also about honoring the wonderful lives of the people we've lost. They help us think about life and how it keeps changing, which makes us feel better.
What is the Structure of Writing an Elegy Poem?
When you write a sad poem called an elegy, how it sounds can vary based on what the poet prefers and the message they want to convey. Usually, elegies follow special rules for how they sound, like sonnets or quatrains.
A poet might use a special beat called iambic pentameter. It has ten beats in each line, and every second beat is stressed.
"Death, in itself, is nothing; but we fear, to be we know not what, we know not where." - John Dryden, Aureng-Zebe
For the ending sounds of the lines, a poet might pick a pattern where the first and third lines rhyme and the second and fourth lines rhyme too. Or, they might choose a pattern where every two lines rhyme.
But sometimes, elegies don't follow any rules and can sound however the poet wants. This gives more room to express feelings in different ways.
Benefits of Writing an Elegy Poem
These poems make people feel better when they're sad and help them remember loved ones who have died. Let's look at why writing these poems can be helpful.
- Writing an elegy poem helps you express your feelings, especially when you're sad.
- It can help you feel better and find closure when you've lost someone special.
- These poems honor the person who passed away and how they impacted your life.
- By writing about them, you can ensure that their memory stays alive.
- It's a chance to play with words and uniquely express yourself.
- When you write a poem, people can read it and feel connected to your memories, creating a sense of togetherness.
- It can make you think about life, death, and what it's like to be a person.
Related: 15 Types of Poems to Know, With Examples
7 Rules of Writing an Elegy Poem
Elegy poetry helps you share your feelings of sadness and memories and honor someone special.
Here, we’re discussing seven ways to write an elegy poem. Let’s take a look at these rules.
1. Select a Subject For Elegy Poem
Carefully select a person, event, or concept that makes you feel very sad or that you want to honor and remember. This sets the stage for showing your emotions and sincerely paying respect.
2. Establish the Tone
Create a sad and thoughtful feeling, like a touching song, by setting the mood for the story of the elegy and making it deep and meaningful.
3. Use Attractive Imagery
Use beautiful pictures and symbols, like painting strokes on a canvas, to make people feel deeply and understand important messages that stay with them even after they finish reading the poem.
Related: 9 Ways to Write a Sonnet Poem
4. Express Grief and Loss
Write down how you feel sad and miss the person who died. Use your words to show how much they meant to you and how you'll always remember them.
5. Celebrate the Life
We should honor and remember someone who has died by celebrating their life, the good things they did, and what they achieved. We should be respectful and grateful when we talk about them and the positive impact they have had on others.
6. Offer Closure
Help the poet and reader find a way to feel better after going through sad feelings like loss. Tell a story that makes them feel peaceful and okay with what happened.
7. Revise and Edit
Carefully go over every line and section of the elegy, making them better and clearer. Make sure each word expresses emotions well. This will make the elegy a strong tribute that people will remember for a long time.
Examples of Elegy Poems
Alright, now we’ll see some examples of elegy poems.
"O Captain! My Captain!" by Walt Whitman
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
"Remember Me" by Christina Rossetti
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.
These two elegy poems are written differently, but both express strong feelings and important ideas about remembering people who have passed away.
Conclusion
When you write an elegy poem, you remember someone or something important. You express our sadness and respect deeply. You create a serious mood and use strong pictures and symbols to make people feel deeply.
You write honestly about your sorrow, honoring how much the loss means, and celebrating the person's life. The poem makes the person who wrote it and the person reading it feel a sense of ending, remembering, and respecting someone or something important. You take care to choose the right words in the poem, so it becomes a lasting way to honor those you love.
FAQS
What are the elements of an elegy poem?
An elegy poem is sad and talks about losing someone. It remembers the person who passed away and thinks about how life doesn't last forever. It usually follows a specific pattern and paints a clear picture with words.
What is the tone of the elegy poem?
An elegy poem usually sounds sad and thoughtful. An elegy is a special kind of poem made to show sadness and sorrow for someone who's passed away. It feels sad and like we're missing the person who died.
What are the types of elegy poems?
Elegy poems come in different kinds: personal, public, and pastoral. Personal elegies are about people the poet knew and loved who have passed away. Public elegies mourn famous people or big tragedies.
Pastoral elegies use nature to show sadness and loss. Each kind of elegy lets people express their grief and memories in special ways. They show how different people feel sadness and remember it in short, deep poems.
Is an elegy a sonnet?
Some elegies might follow the rules of a sonnet, but others might use different styles of poetry or have no specific structure at all. What makes an elegy an elegy is that it's about feeling sad and remembering someone who has died, not necessarily how it's written.
What kind of rhyme is an elegy?
In an elegy, the way words rhyme can change. It depends on what the poet wants and the type of poem they're making. Usually, elegies have patterns in how the lines rhyme, like ABAB or AABB. But some don't follow any pattern and just use any words that fit.