The phrase “elegy” is a mournful, melancholic, or plaintive poem, usually composed to lament the demise of an individual or to meditate on a solemn theme. A well-known instance is Walt Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!” written for Abraham Lincoln.
Elegies serve a significant cultural perform, offering a structured outlet for grief and facilitating communal mourning. They provide solace and catharsis for each the author and the viewers, reworking private loss into shared expertise. The shape dates again to historical Greece and has advanced by way of varied literary durations, reflecting altering cultural attitudes towards demise and remembrance.
