The next section of the poem explains that the people born into this obscure village may have had the same natural intelligence, talent, and ability of people who became famous. What prevented the villagers from achieving fame? What advantages came from their failure to achieve prominence? ( MEG 102 ) ( THOMAS GRAY )

In the section of "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" that follows the description of the lives and deaths of the villagers buried in the churchyard, the narrator muses on the possibility that some of the villagers may have possessed great talent, intelligence, and ability, comparable to those who became famous and achieved success in their lifetimes. However, he suggests that their lack of opportunities and resources prevented them from realizing their potential and achieving greatness.

The narrator notes that the villagers were born into a life of obscurity and poverty, with limited access to education and other resources that might have allowed them to develop their talents and abilities. As a result, they were forced to work hard and make do with what they had, without the luxury of pursuing intellectual or creative pursuits that might have led to fame and fortune.

Despite this lack of opportunity, the narrator finds value in the simplicity and humility of the villagers' lives. He suggests that their failure to achieve prominence allowed them to live in a state of relative peace and contentment, free from the pressures and stresses of fame and fortune. In addition, he suggests that their modest and unassuming lives may have allowed them to develop a deeper appreciation for the simple pleasures of life and to form more genuine and meaningful relationships with others.

Overall, the narrator seems to suggest that while the villagers may not have achieved greatness in the traditional sense, they lived lives that were meaningful and valuable in their own right. Their lack of fame and fortune allowed them to live in relative peace and contentment, and to appreciate the small joys and blessings of life that might have been overlooked by those who achieved greater success and recognition.