 Critics at the beginning of the 20th century believed that the poem 's use of sound and tone made it great . The French critic Louis Cazamian claimed in 1927 that Gray " discovered rhythms , utilised the power of sounds , and even created evocations . The triumph of this sensibility allied to so much art is to be seen in the famous Elegy , which from a somewhat reasoning and moralizing emotion has educed a grave , full , melodiously monotonous song , in which a century weaned from the music of the soul tasted all the sadness of eventide , of death , and of the tender musing upon self . " I. A. Richards , following in 1929 , declared that the merits of the poem come from its tone : " poetry , which has no other very remarkable qualities , may sometimes take very high rank simply because the poet 's attitude to his listeners – in view of what he has to say – is so perfect . Gray and Dryden are notable examples . Gray 's Elegy , indeed , might stand as a supreme instance to show how powerful an exquisitely adjusted tone may be . It would be difficult to maintain that the thought in this poem is either striking or original , or that its feeling is exceptional . " He continued : " the Elegy may usefully remind us that boldness and originality are not necessities for great poetry . But these thoughts and feelings , in part because of their significance and their nearness to us , are peculiarly difficult to express without faults ... Gray , however , without overstressing any point composes a long address , perfectly accommodating his familiar feelings towards the subject and his awareness of the inevitable triteness of the only possible reflections , to the discriminating attention of his audience . And this is the source of his triumph . " 
