What is the primary function of the 'flower catalog' convention within a traditional elegiac poem?
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Correct answer: To symbolically strew chosen, expressive blossoms over the deceased's grave
The strewing of flowers is a poignant ritualistic moment in the pastoral elegy, as seen beautifully in Shakespeare's *Cymbeline* and Milton's *Lycidas*. The poet gathers an array of real or symbolic blooms to decorate the grave. Each specific flower often carries an allegorical meaning, such as rosemary for remembrance or pansies for thought, transforming nature into an active offering of love.
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