 Claimed as " probably still today the best @-@ known and best @-@ loved poem in English " , the Elegy quickly became popular . It was printed many times and in a variety of formats , translated into many languages , and praised by critics even after Gray 's other poetry had fallen out of favour . Later critics tended to comment on its language and universal aspects , but some felt the ending was unconvincing , failing to resolve the questions the poem raised ; or that the poem did not do enough to present a political statement that would serve to help the obscure rustic poor who form its central image . 
