The Elegy: A Lament (or is a lament an elegy?)

[ofcatslives]

This week in lecture, we discussed the elegy. This genre of poetry deals with death. An elegy may be defined as a lament for the dead (as this online dictionary does: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=elegy). But, this definition gets confusing when one learns

Comments

[tricia_stewart]

This was a very informative post Janice and it did indeed clear up the difference between the lament and the elegy for me. I knew there were differences between them but I wasn't sure what they were. Great job again! Ciao,

-Tricia

[ofcatslives]

I am glad that I have been able to clarify things for you as well, makes this posting business all worthwhile.

Janice

[roger_kuin]

Good post, this. But a lament does not have to be oral poetry: the definition says the genre arises from oral poetry, i.e. it has its roots there. But there are many laments in written poetry, and Tichborne's is one of them.
Language point: "moreso" is not one word but two; and here the "so" is unnecessary -- you could use "more" or (better) "rather". The "so" in "more so" reflects back to something: for example, "Tichborne is a good poet; Spenser even more so."

[ofcatslives]

Thank you. I appreciate that you are reading my posts, I think my group may be loosing interest in my blog. I also appreciate the language points, as much as they hurt my ego to read, I do keep your corrections in mind whenever I write.

Thanks again,
Janice