Literary Perspective on Environment in Thomas Gray’s Elegy Written in the Country Churchyard

Abstract

The most cited Eco critical collections show that Literature and Environmental Studies have evolved significantly over time. Literature and Environmental studies together are known as Ecocriticism or Environmental Criticism. Ecocriticism aims to explore the environmental dimensions of literature and also other media. The significance of environment and natural world in poetry, fiction and non-fiction in literature is not only to connect human race with nature but also for evoking and promoting contact with it and to enhance the imagination and value nature preservation. The central interest in Literature Environment studies have been the concept of place. The place creates the atmosphere for the reader and gives him the opportunity to unite with it. This enchanting acquaintance with nature has been very beautifully captured in the poem Elegy written in the Country Churchyard written by Thomas Gray. Literature by itself an interdisciplinary study always gives an opportunity for Environment to develop and excel in its own creative form. The aim of this paper is to explore the Environmental significance and the impact laid by it creating the atmosphere of gloominess. The environment of the poem beautifully developed by Thomas Gray leaves the reader enchanted and captivated. Thus, the object of this paper is to probe into this environmental factor of the above-mentioned poem by Thomas Gray through literary perspective.