Gray was a transitional poet, one of the first to write on a romantic theme and break away from neoclassical themes, along with William Blake. However, his other poems never gained the critical acclaim of ''Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.'' William Wordsworth was influenced by Gray’s style and theme, especially the pastoral scenes.
In his poem, Gray deals with the broad theme of death. He uses his descriptions of the English countryside and the natural world to establish a melancholy tone. His descriptions also draw parallels between the evening (the end of the day and a time of rest) and death (end of life and a time of eternal rest). However, Gray spends more time describing the lives of the farming community than he does on descriptions of nature.
In Wordsworth’s works, such as "Tintern Abbey," nature is not only a backdrop or a poetic device, but the subject and the theme. In "Tintern Abbey," Wordsworth speaks of nature as “The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse, / The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul / Of all my moral being.” In this and other poems, Wordsworth speaks of nature as an invigorating force that not only inspires him, but gives him life and heals him, even when it’s not present.
In contrast, Gray believes that everything, even nature, perishes in death and that nature’s beauty is often "wasted." He expresses that idea when his speaker states, "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, / And waste its sweetness on the desert air." In Gray’s poetry nature remains in the background and is not the main theme, whereas in Wordsworth’s poetry, nature is a driving force.
