Thomas Gray and Robert Burns

 1. What do you understand by the term transitional? How do the poets and writers of the later half of the 18th century represent the transition from the sensibility of one literary age to that of another? What were some of the significant characteristics of their works?

Transitional is a term referring to a period of change from one phase to another. In literature, it refers to the late 18th century when writers were leaving the strict rules and logic of the Neoclassical Age (reason, order, and structure) to the more emotional and imaginative style of the Romantic Age.

Neoclassical writers focused on reason and society.

Romantic writers focused on emotions, nature, and individuality.

Writers such as Thomas Gray and Oliver Goldsmith were among those who bridged the gap. They merged the classical emphasis on form with a growing concern for feelings, nature, and rural life, paving the way for the Romantic poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge. Their writings often communicated intense emotions and a sense of melancholy-a feeling of sadness-while retaining some classical features.

Major Features of Transitional Writers:

Nature and countryside life.

Focus on emotions and personal feelings.

More use of simple direct words in comparison to the earlier poets.

Nostalgia towards the past and realization about the transience of life.

2.   “And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Awaits alike th' inevitable hour.” From which work are these lines taken? What do they signify?

The lines,

And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,

Awaits alike the inevitable hour

These are from Thomas Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard."

Meaning:

These lines stress the fact that everybody is bound to face death irrespective of how beautiful, wealthy, or powerful they may be. Gray thus points out the equality of man before death, which was the theme of both classical order and Romantic consideration of death.

3. Discuss why Robert Burns is also considered the National Poet of Scotland.

Robert Burns is known as the National Poet of Scotland because his works celebrate Scottish life, culture, and the common folk. He wrote in Scots, which makes his writings authentic and relevant to common Scots. His poems focused on themes such as love, nature, and equality, which really spoke to the people.

Reasons for His National Status

He gave a voice to the ordinary Scottish people.

His use of the Scots language preserved and propagated Scottish culture.

Poems like "Auld Lang Syne" and "To a Mouse" became cultural gems.

His work advocated themes of freedom and social justice in line with Scottish values.

Burns' ability to connect emotionally with readers and pride in Scotland made him a symbol of Scottish identity and pride.