Written by Thomas Gray (1716-1771).
Click here to go to the literary analysis of Epitaph On A ChildThis epitaph is about a young boy who had passed away. This epitaph focusses on some of the qualities that this kid possesed (being 'the darling of his parents eyes', a 'gentle lamb' and a 'fair flower'). This poem ends with the confirmation that the boy died incredibly young.
An epitaph is a form of poetry used as tumbstone engravings, therefore the title, as this poem is the engravement on a tumbstone of a small child.
This poem serves the purpose of reminding others of the innocent kid who lies in his grave.
The tone of this poem seems to be mix between griefful and comforting. On one hand the child is now freed from pain and secure from missery, on the other hand the kid was taken by death much too soon. Both of these messages give the epitaph it's tone.
This poem is written from a third person (omnicient) perspective.
The rhyme scheme used in this poem is AA/BB/CC
Thomas Gray's early childhood was riddled with death, as he was the only one of his 12 siblings to make it past infancy. This could have contributed to Gray getting into elagiac poetry, which is the genre he is most famous for, having written 'Elegy In A Country Graveyard'.
Here, freed from pain, secure from misery, lies
A child, the darling of his parents’ eyes:
A gentler lamb n’er sported on the plain,
A fairer flower will never bloom again:
Few were the days allotted to his breath;
Now let him sleep in peace his night of death.