Thomas gray's classic Elegy at the Grave is a masterpiece of English poetry.

This poem was written for eight years. It was originally written in memory of his good friend Richard West when he was studying at Eton College. The "epitaph" attached at the end of the poem was written for him. The content goes far beyond the grief of specific characters; Through the description of rural cemeteries, the poem expresses deep sympathy for people living at the bottom of society; Farmers can't give full play to their talents because of poverty, but they are not "arrogant and extravagant". Although "barren", "virtuous" and "virtuous". They are themselves. The poem praised their simplicity and kindness, regretted that they didn't have the opportunity to display their talents, and at the same time expressed their condemnation of the extravagant life of the dignitaries and their ridicule and contempt for human vanity.

Elegy at the Grave is arguably the best in English poetry. This poem has 224 lines, and thomas gray wrote it for 8 years. Gray is a representative figure of English grave poets who described death and mourning in18th century. Although he did not admire fame and refused the title of "Poet Laureate", he became the most famous poet of that century with this long poem, which is still in the hearts of mankind today. Although death and life are heavy topics, Elegy by the Grave is very peaceful and calm.

The long poem depicts a picture of rural life in England: the spire of the church pierces the gray-blue sky, the vast fields are like a huge lawn, farmers drive their wagons along the country road, and the soft and indifferent air covers the small cemetery and its faded memories. It is precisely the fine capture of a delicate and rare beauty that Gray can see death so thoroughly. In his poems, he reveals the reality of fate, that is, life has no second ending except death; At the same time, it reveals the truth of life, that is, fame and fortune are only fleeting. In fact, this poem is not great if it stays at this level. It really touches people's hearts and has eternal value because it celebrates ordinary and simple life. The heavy sadness and regret revealed in the poem are dedicated to ordinary people and express deep sympathy for the unknown lower class people.

Gray praised the simplicity and kindness of the bottom people with sincere brushstrokes and lamented that they had no chance to display their talents and talents and died in the wilderness, leaving an epitaph that they could not bear to read. At the same time, he also showed contempt and ridicule for the world's dignitaries and vanity, and condemned the extravagant life of adults. Such humanistic feelings are touching and sad. Democratic thoughts and sad feelings run through the whole poem, making Elegy at the Grave an enduring classic in world poetry. This time, Elegy by the Grave is the first Chinese translation. Translator Wen Aiyi wrote in the postscript: "The democratic thought condensed in the poem is the key to solve our chaotic reality, because the spirit it preaches is exactly what we lack now, and the emotion it expresses is exactly what we lacked a few days ago! This book has just won the title of "the most beautiful book in China" in 20 12, and its exquisite design highlights the quiet atmosphere of the poem itself, shining with the warm and moving light like the sun.