An elegy is best described as which of the following?

• A. A lyric poem mourning the dead.
• B. A sentimental ode to nature.
• C. A lyric poem mourning the dead and reflecting on mortality.
• D. A humorous ballad about daily life.

Answer: (C)

An elegy centers on grief for a loss and a meditation on mortality. It’s a lyric poem, so it uses personal feeling and a musical, somber tone to express sorrow. The defining feature is not just mourning the dead but also contemplating what death means and how it affects the living, sometimes offering consolation. That’s why describing it as a lyric poem mourning the dead and reflecting on mortality fits best—the combination captures both the emotion and the deeper reflection. The other options point to different forms: an ode to nature is not about death, and a humorous ballad is a different kind of poem with a lighter, narrative focus.