Abstract

As a world-renowned poet of British literature, Thomas Gray is deemed as one of the  representatives of Graveyard school. The poem of the Bard is hailed as one of his masterpiece, full of romantic elements, including individualism, imagination, melancholy mood and idealism. Those romantic elements come from the poet’ s pursuit of freedom and interest in Celtic culture. The romantic elements in this poem have their positive functions, which played an important role in the formation of British Romanticism in the 19th century, but the obscure and ridiculous description of the poem also has its negative impacts.

Key words: Romantic elements, Celtic culture, Graveyard school, the Bard nation, Poem

CONTENTS

中文摘要

Abstract

Introduction ..1 

1. The Romantic Elements in Thomas Gray’ s The Bard  3

1.1 Placing the Bard Against Authority  3

  1.2 Using Unique Writing Techniques 4

1.3 Yearning for Ideal World . 6 

  1.4 Attaching importance to folklore  7

2. The Formation of Thomas Gray’ s Romantic Ideas  8 

  2.1 Pursuing Freedom  8

  2.2 Influences From the Graveyard School 9

  2.3 Personal Experiences . 10

  2.4 Personal Interest in Celtic Culture .10

3. A Critical Account of Romantic Elements in The Bard . 11

  3.1 Positive Functions .11

  3.2 Negative Impacts  12

Conclusion . 13

Works Cited 15