Question

It was partly inspired by Gray's thoughts following the death of whom?

• A. Richard West
• B. Thomas Gray
• C. William Wordsworth
• D. John Keats

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Richard West

• Thomas Gray's reflections following the death of his close friend, Richard West, deeply influenced some of his writing.

• West's death in 1742 had a profound effect on Gray, and it is often said to have inspired much of Gray's melancholic poetry, including themes of mortality and the passage of time.

• The specific poem that reflects this is "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard," which explores themes of death, memory, and the humble lives of common people.