<P> Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard is a poem by Thomas Gray , completed in 1750 and first published in 1751 . The poem 's origins are unknown , but it was partly inspired by Gray 's thoughts following the death of the poet Richard West in 1742 . Originally titled Stanzas Wrote in a Country Church - Yard , the poem was completed when Gray was living near St Giles ' parish church at Stoke Poges . It was sent to his friend Horace Walpole , who popularised the poem among London literary circles . Gray was eventually forced to publish the work on 15 February 1751 , to pre-empt a magazine publisher from printing an unlicensed copy of the poem . </P>
<P> Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard is a poem by Thomas Gray , completed in 1750 and first published in 1751 . The poem 's origins are unknown , but it was partly inspired by Gray 's thoughts following the death of the poet Richard West in 1742 . Originally titled Stanzas Wrote in a Country Church - Yard , the poem was completed when Gray was living near St Giles ' parish church at Stoke Poges . It was sent to his friend Horace Walpole , who popularised the poem among London literary circles . Gray was eventually forced to publish the work on 15 February 1751 , to pre-empt a magazine publisher from printing an unlicensed copy of the poem . </P>
what is the poem elegy written in a country churchyard about
what is the poem elegy written in a country churchyard about
partly inspired by Gray 's thoughts following the death of the poet Richard West in 1742 .
partly inspired by Gray 's thoughts following the death of the poet Richard West in 1742 .