Answer:
the emphasis on nature and the beauty of the natural world
Step-by-step explanation:
One major characteristic of Romanticism evident in the first 20 lines of the poem "Elegy in a Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray is the emphasis on nature and the beauty of the natural world. In these opening lines, Gray describes the setting of the poem, a country churchyard, and he uses vivid and evocative language to paint a picture of the surrounding landscape. For example, he describes "the lowing herd," "the plowman homeward plods his weary way," and "the moping owl" who "does to the moon complain." This attention to detail and focus on the natural world is a key characteristic of Romanticism, which placed a high value on the beauty and power of nature, as well as the emotional and spiritual responses it could evoke in humans.