ELEGY: CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES - LITERATURE - 2025

The elegy is a poetic-lyrical text through which the author expresses his feelings and emotions in the face of the loss of a loved one. In this sense, the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) defines it as a poetic expression in which the death of someone is felt or sadness is expressed for a painful event.

Now, the etymological origin of the term elegy comes from the Greek word élegos, which in turn is related to some songs that in Ancient Greece were expressed with the music of the lyre and the flute.

Example of elegy. "Al Cacique Macanao" (Juan Ortiz)

Historically, this lyrical subgenre originated among the Greek and Latin intellectuals and evolved into the Spanish poets. In fact, the elegy was established in the Spanish language with the emergence of the Renaissance and its content was oriented towards the theme of love.

However, as it was more closely linked to the Latin elegy, the Spanish authors left aside the property called "elegiac couplet". This meant the form of two verses, one in hexameter and the other in pentameter.

Characteristics of the elegy

The elegy is characterized by the following aspects:

Its Greco-Latin origin

As mentioned earlier, the elegies originated in Ancient Greece and later passed into the Latin language. Finally, this lyrical subgenre reached the Spanish language and was cultivated by the greatest poets of the Golden Age and of modern literature.

Some of the most prominent writers were: Jorge Manrique, Miguel Hernández, Ennio, Tibulo, Ovidio, Federico García Lorca, Octavio Paz, Solón, among others.

The sad and nostalgic theme

Although in its origins the elegy was oriented to externalize the pain caused by death, with the passage of time its theme expanded. Therefore, poetic writings can cover themes related to life, love, disappointment, heartbreak, hopelessness, and grief for any unfortunate situation.

Metrics

At first, the elegy was structured by two verses (made up of a hexameter and a pentameter) which were called "elegiac couplet". Later, Spanish literature adopted free verses and triplets for its composition.

Expressiveness

Elegies are poetic texts loaded with expressiveness, this is due to the content they develop. The author brings out his feelings of nostalgia, pain, melancholy, passion or love for some type of loss or other aspect related to life.

Examples of elegy

The following are some examples of elegies:

- "Al Cacique Macanao" (Juan Ortiz)

«They saw you go, lord of the hills of Margarita, crowned with honor, as a good son of the sea and the shore, warrior of the salt plains, They saw you leave early, wrapped in the early morning mist.

«Your death hits us, brings us mourning, but we will know how to respond like good children

to the legacy that you kindly leave us ».

Explanation

This text is considered elegy because it is a poetic song to Cacique Macanao after his death. Part of its qualities are exalted and the void it leaves is spoken of using very heartfelt language. It is written in loose triplets.

- «From the hand of salt» by

«One returns, shell soldier, to the shore where always, one returns, no matter where you are, hand in hand with salt.

To have crossed the line being sand, simple sand, it's a lot for a man, especially when life is enough

to complicate existence, when you breathe and wonder

why so much, of oneself.

The night has become a house of nostalgia,

a door before the dream that crosses me

to look to see what good I find in the man I was, a return to something among taciturn Bedouins

to learn to be silent while suffering to see how happy you were ».

Explanation

Unlike the previous elegy, this one is dedicated to the land, to the home. It is the song of an emigrant to return to her island, from which she had to leave for things in life. There are constant questions about what is gone, a melancholic language and a very present desire to return.

- «When we spoke yesterday» of

«When we spoke yesterday, I did not see the mapire on your trip, I

did not see nostalgia

or the sunflower overshadowing your sleep.

I saw you the chord,

the guitar,

the wise smile showered with winters.

When we spoke yesterday I told you again

that I admired your art,

the ear climbing on the sound peaks,

the archangel hand that God placed on you.

When we spoke yesterday it was as always,

twilight minstrel,

dear little boy, you

shone so much

that I believed you to be eternal,

that I could not see death.

Explanation

This elegy is aimed at the death of a loved one, of a friend. It is written in single verses of varied metrics. His language is melancholic, and you can see the closeness that existed between the poet and the person who inspired the poem because of the nostalgia with which it was written.

- «To Dalí» (Juan Ortiz)

«Spain has lost in you its greatest painter, in every space of the homeland your brushes resound, your work screams on the walls and in the corners your deep love.

«Dalí, magician, artist, soul of noble inventor, your land mourns your departure with great sorrow, there is no one who can comfort Spain in the face of such great pain.

Explanation

This elegy is a song to pay tribute to Dalí's artistic work and how his work exalted the Spanish nation. It is written in the traditional way in major art triplets rhyming A - A.

- «To Australia» (Juan Ortiz)

«Your land burns, your tree skin burns, your angels do not sleep because of the flames that rise, You burn, oh, my Australia, and there is no one to put out your fire.

Explanation

In this case the elegy speaks of the tragedy that occurred in Australia due to the fires. You can see the pain for the death of the animals and the burning of the forests. It is written in a loose triplet.

References

1. Elegy. (2019). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org.
2. Chirinos, A. (S. f.). Characteristics of the elegy. (N / A): Features. Recovered from: caracteristicas.pro.
3. Pérez, J. and Gardey, A. (2009). Definition of elegy. (N / A): Definition. From. Recovered from: definicion.de.
4. Harlan, C. (2019). Elegy. (N / A): About Español. Recovered from: aboutespanol.com.
5. Meaning of elegy. (2019). (N / A): Meanings. Recovered from: significados.com.