Thomas gray (1716-1771) is an important poet in the late neoclassicism in England and a representative of the "grave school". He was born into a family of brokers in London, and spent most of his life teaching and researching at Cambridge University. His life can be described as orderly, agile and steady.
Gray didn't write many poems in his life, but only a dozen were handed down from generation to generation, among which Elegy in the Cemetery is the most famous. This poem was written for eight years, originally in memory of his good friend Richard West when he was studying at Eton College. At least the epitaph at the end of the poem was written for him. However, looking at the whole poem, it is obvious that its content has gone beyond the mourning for a specific figure, but through the description of a cemetery in the countryside, it expresses deep sympathy for the unknown people at the lower level. Praise their simplicity and kindness, but unfortunately they have no chance to display their talents and talents. At the same time, it also shows contempt and ridicule for the world's dignitaries and vanity, and condemns the extravagant life of big people. This poem fully embodies Gray's democratic thought. Because of poverty, farmers can't give full play to their talents and become writers like Milton and politicians like Cromwell. But on the other hand, they have no ambition, arrogance, arrogance, extravagance and flattery. Although they are "barren" and have no knowledge, they have "virtue" and "goodness" They are nature itself. This kind of thought and sentimental emotion runs through the whole poem, making Elegy in the Cemetery a model of sentimental poetry in the late18th century.