In this one-word substitution question from English vocabulary, you must select the single word that best replaces the phrase "a funeral poem", that is, a poem written to mourn or reflect on someone's death.

Introduction / Context:
This question examines your knowledge of one-word substitutions in English. Instead of using an entire phrase like "a funeral poem", English provides compact words that carry the same meaning. Recognising and using these words improves both precision and elegance in writing. Here, you are asked to identify the correct literary term for a poem associated with death and mourning.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The phrase is "a funeral poem".
- The options are "Elegy", "Pandemonium", "Parody", and "Sonnet".
- The context is literary terminology, especially types of poems and related concepts.
- Only one option accurately represents a poem written in memory of the dead or expressing sorrow at a loss.

Concept / Approach:
In literature, an "Elegy" is a poem of serious reflection, usually written to lament the dead. "Pandemonium" refers to wild noise or chaos, "Parody" means a humorous or satirical imitation, and "Sonnet" is a poem of fourteen lines with a specific rhyme scheme, not necessarily connected to funerals. To answer such questions, recall precise definitions of literary terms and match them with the description given in the stem.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Interpret the phrase "a funeral poem" as a poem that expresses sorrow, grief, or reflection on death. Step 2: Consider "Elegy". This is defined as a mournful or reflective poem, often written in memory of someone who has died. Step 3: Consider "Pandemonium". It means wild uproar or chaos and is not a type of poem at all. Step 4: Consider "Parody". This is a comic or satirical imitation of a serious work, used to create humour, not mourning. Step 5: Consider "Sonnet". This is a structural form of a poem with fourteen lines, which can deal with many subjects, not only funerals.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard literary glossaries define "Elegy" as a poem of lament, grief, or serious reflection, especially for the dead. The phrase "elegiac poem" is also used to describe such writing. None of the other options carry this specific association with funerals. "Pandemonium" is about noisy confusion, "Parody" about humorous imitation, and "Sonnet" about structure rather than content. Therefore, "Elegy" is the only exact match for "a funeral poem".

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Pandemonium" is wrong because it is a noun relating to chaos, not to poetry or funerals. "Parody" is wrong because it describes a style of humorous imitation, almost the opposite of a serious expression of grief. "Sonnet" is wrong because it defines a fixed poetic form with fourteen lines, which can be romantic, philosophical, or about any topic, not specifically funerals. Only "Elegy" connects directly with death and mourning.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students confuse "Elegy" with "Eulogy". A eulogy is a speech in praise of someone, often given at a funeral, whereas an elegy is a poem of mourning. Both are connected with death, but one is spoken prose and the other is poetry. Another trap is to choose "Sonnet" just because it is clearly a poetic term. To avoid such errors, focus on the key idea in the phrase and match it with the core meaning of the options.

Final Answer:
The correct one-word substitution for "a funeral poem" is Elegy.