Elegy
/ˈɛlɪdʒi/
nounC1
Definition
An elegy is a special kind of poem or song made to express sadness and respect for a person who has passed away. It often talks about memories and feelings of loss, helping people remember the person in a thoughtful way.
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See It in Action
A poem or song that expresses sorrow for someone who died
- •The poet wrote an elegy to honor his late grandmother.
- •At the memorial, they read an elegy that touched everyone's heart.
- •Many famous poets have created elegies for lost friends.
A piece of writing or music that expresses deep sadness or mourning
- •The orchestra played an elegy during the ceremony.
- •His novel contains an elegy for the lost innocence of childhood.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "elegy" like "song" or "poem" (A1 words), but one that is very sad and about someone who died.
- ✓Picture a quiet, slow melody or soft words that make you think about a lost friend or family member.
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you look at old photos and remember happy times with someone who is gone.
- ✓Sounds like "EL-e-gee" → imagine a gentle voice softly saying "Elle" (a name) while singing about memories.
- ✓In stories or movies, elegies are like the sad music played when a hero dies to show respect.
- ✓NOT like a "happy song" (joyful and fast), an elegy is calm and full of sadness.
- ✓NOT like a "funeral speech" (spoken words), an elegy is usually written or sung with artistic style.
- ✓NOT like "complaint" or "anger" — elegies show peaceful sadness and honor, not blame or anger.
Try Other Words
- •Lament: a song or poem expressing grief or sorrow (Use when focusing more on strong sadness or crying)
- •Dirge: a slow song for a funeral (Use when referring specifically to music played at funerals)
- •Memorial poem: a poem written to remember someone (Use when emphasizing remembrance rather than sadness)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix, the whole word is a noun)
- •Etymology: From Latin "elegia," from Greek "elegeia," meaning a song of mourning or lament
- •Historical development: Originally a type of poem in ancient Greece, often written in a special meter for sad themes
- •Modern usage: Used mainly for poems or songs that express sadness about death or loss, often in formal or literary contexts
Reflect & Connect
•How might writing or reading an elegy help someone feel better after losing a loved one?
•Can elegies be written for things other than people, like lost times or places? How would that change their meaning?
Fill in the blanks
1.An elegy is usually written to ___ someone who has died and express deep ___.
2.During the ceremony, the musician played an elegy to ___ the memory of the lost hero.
3.Unlike a happy song, an elegy has a ___ and slow tone that shows sadness.
4.When the poet wrote the elegy, they used ___ words to show respect and love.
5.People often read elegies at funerals or ___ services to honor the dead.
6.An elegy is different from a complaint because it shows peaceful ___, not anger.
7.The elegy helped the listeners feel connected through their shared ___ of loss.