Differences between Elegy and Eulogy

Elegy vs. Eulogy

An elegy is a poem of serious reflection, traditionally a lament for the dead. A eulogy is a speech or piece of writing that praises someone, typically a person who has recently died, and is often delivered at a funeral. While both relate to commemorating the deceased, they differ in form, tone, purpose, and setting.

Comparison Table

Category	Elegy	Eulogy
Form	A poem or song. Modern elegies do not have a required meter or rhyme scheme.	A speech or written tribute in prose.
Tone	Mournful, sad, and reflective. It explores themes of loss and mortality.	Praising and celebratory. It can include humor and focuses on positive memories.
Purpose	To express the poet's personal grief, sorrow, and reflections on death.	To honor and celebrate the life and achievements of the deceased, and to comfort the living.
Content	Often moves from grief to a form of consolation or acceptance. It can be philosophical and explore broader themes of mortality.	Focuses on the deceased's life story, character, accomplishments, and personal anecdotes.
Setting	Not tied to a specific ceremony; it is a literary work for reading or reflection.	Typically delivered at a funeral, memorial service, or celebration of life.
Origin	Derives from the Greek word elegos, meaning a "song of mourning". Originally defined by its metrical form (elegiac couplets) in ancient Greece and Rome.	Derives from the Greek word eulogia, meaning "praise" or "good words".

Venn diagram comparing Differences between Elegy and Eulogy

Elegy in Detail

Historically, the term "elegy" in ancient Greek and Roman literature referred to any verse written in elegiac couplets, which could cover a range of subjects including love and war. Since the 16th century in English literature, the term has become more specifically associated with a lament for the dead.

Traditional elegies often follow a structure that moves through three stages: a lament expressing grief, a section of praise for the deceased, and finally, a sense of solace or consolation. Famous examples of elegies include Thomas Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard," Walt Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain!" (written for Abraham Lincoln), and W. H. Auden's "Funeral Blues".

Eulogy in Detail

The primary function of a eulogy is to pay tribute to the deceased's life, character, and accomplishments. It serves to comfort the bereaved by highlighting positive memories and the legacy of the person who has died. A eulogy is typically delivered by a family member, close friend, or colleague.

A eulogy is not required to be entirely somber and can incorporate humor or lighthearted anecdotes that reflect the personality of the deceased. The structure of a eulogy often includes an introduction of the speaker's relationship to the deceased, biographical details, personal stories, and a concluding thought. Notable eulogies include those delivered for public figures, such as Earl Spencer's tribute to his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Mona Simpson's eulogy for her brother, Steve Jobs.