Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield, their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke; how jocund did they drive their team afield! how bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke! in these lines from “elegy written in a country churchyard,” which aspects are rooted in the period in which the poem was written, and which would apply to life in any period? the details about farming are rooted in the period, while the theme that hard work brings satisfaction can be applied to any period. utilizing a team to plow a field is rooted in the period, but using sickles is a modern concept. people clearing land for farming is rooted in the period, while enjoying one’s time off by playing team sports applies to any period. the idea of people finding joy in their hard work is rooted in the period, but such methods of farming can be applied to any time.