Analyze the following poem as to its theme, poetic form, and rhetorical devices, and develop it into an essay of 200 words (for literature candidates only).
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The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Awaits alike the inevitable hour.
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
Nor you, ye Proud, impute to these the fault,
If Memory o'er their tomb no trophies raise,
Where through the long-dawn aisle and fretted vault :
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise.
Can storied urn or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
Can Honor's voice provoke the silent dust,
Or Flattery soothe the dull cold ear of Death?
Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid
Some he art once pregnant with celestial fire;
Hands, that the rod of empire might have swayed,
Or waked to ecstasy the living lyre:
But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page,
Rich with the spoils of time, did ne'er unroll;
Chill Penury repressed their noble rage,
And froze the genial current of the soul.
Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear.
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.
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This poem, Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, is the masterpiece of Thomas Gray.
In the passage, the poet reflects on death—no matter how poor or wealthy, or how important and humble one is, they are all equal in front of death. The author gives much sympathy to the poor and unknown.
As regards form, this poem is composed of 32 stanzas. Each stanza has four lines, and the rhythm is “abab”.Each sentence is composed of an iambic pentameter. The structure is neat, and the rhythm is harmonious and beautiful, which makes it easy to read aloud. As for writing techniques, Gray uses various artistic techniques to express themes. First, personification is adopted in many places, and the most abstract and inanimate things, such as “Ambition”, “Grandeur”, “Proud”, “Memory” and “knowledge”, are transformed into specific things epitomized on people, which adds a sense of motion to its language and visualizes Gray's imagination.
What's more, the author also uses a large number of onomatopoeia in the poem, making readers feel as if they could hear their voice and they were on the scene, and making the plot more vivid and natural. Gray's vivid description of the scenery shows his love and longing for nature, and makes people gain some comfort and sustenance in loneliness. The poet contrasted the poor and the noble, expressing his sympathy for the unfortunate and his contempt and ridicule for those who do not know the crops but live an extravagant life.