Just Literature discussion

The greatest epic poem in the English language, written 'to justify the ways of God to man'; but are the British ashamed of their greatest poet?

Milton is regarded all around the world as one of the greatest poets in human history, together with Homer, Virgil and Dante. But while the others have the backing of their countries and their education systems, Milton has disappeared from school syllabi, and even from many degree curricula.. You have to study Milton in Italy, but not in England. Are we ashamed of him?

Interesting. My daughter, here in the US, has studied Homer and Virgil in school but not Milton or Dante.

Dante is basically impossible to translate, so, despite the fact that he's regarded as a subject in his own right, rather than a poet (in Italy, Dante is a subject, from Middle School onwards), I can see why the English-speaking world, despite his Commedia being the most popular poem of all time, gives him a miss.

My big issue is with Milton. He is by far the greatest poet in the English Language, and, hear my blasphemy, he has nothing to envy Shakespeare, and yet, although all the world bows down to his genius (he was regarded as the best-educated man in Europe in his own time), his fame seems to depend on political and sociological reasons, and come and go as a comsequence, on the British Isles. It's a shame! An outrage! We should be hanging our heads in shame for the way we treat one of the greatest poets in Western civilisation. Dryden said of him that, quoting by heart, as God could not make anyone better than Homer or Virgil, God combined the two and created Milton...

Ian wrote: "Having just finished an early Brit Lit course, I can say it alarmingly didn't have Milton in the syllabus. Which is shocking because that's the one name I assume with that period. it is a monster w..."

Hello Ian,

It's a colossal scandal! Milton is on the syllabi of all the world apart from the country that gave him birth. Appalling.

Ade

milton is a fine poet though I would question if he is the greatest english poet - let alone british (whatever that means)

for me shakespeare is the greatest english poet - in part for his scope

but I agree milton should be more widely read