6 Comments

You're right that people generally underrate British prophets: William Blake is another one.

I could be wrong -- but in your opening paragraphs you seem to suggest that Milton (chronologically) precedes Shakespeare. Surely Iago (and Edmund) are the models for Milton's Satan?

A lot of scholars suggest that the "adult" version of Romeo and Juliet is Anthony and Cleopatra, which makes sense.

I'm a bit disappointed you didn't quote the end of Paradise Lost. Again, the subjects are Adam and Eve. It's possibly the most beautiful passage of English poetry outside Shakespeare:

They looking back, all th' Eastern side beheld

Of Paradise, so late thir happie seat,

Wav'd over by that flaming Brand, the Gate

With dreadful Faces throng'd and fierie Armes:

Som natural tears they drop'd, but wip'd them soon;

The World was all before them, where to choose

Thir place of rest, and Providence thir guide:

They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow,

Through Eden took thir solitarie way.

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I haven't read Anthony and Cleopatra... but makes sense from my knowledge of their story!

I've clarified the initial paragraph, thanks.

Beautiful passage...

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When I was in college we read Paradise Lost and I found it a very hard slog. My professor (who probably had some amateur actor in him) read the passage where Satan chooses evil and awed the class. Many years later I downloaded the audio version of Paradise lost and enjoyed it greatly. I think poetry is best enjoyed in audio.

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Yes I think reading it alone would have been harder to get going

I played Schubert’s Erlkönig to my kids (3 under 7) and they found it terrifying as I walked them through it. Would not have been the same if they just read Goethe

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Schubert’s Erlkönig is a terrifying masterpiece.

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