Inferno is very entertaining, especially if you have a good grasp of mythology and Italian history -- or get an annotated edition.
I believe I do have a good grasp of mythology and Italian history, but I'd need an annotated edition anyway. It shows on occasion in Milton too - that the Middle Ages and Renaissance had some epics that are now completely lost to the big public. Very few people nowadays, and I'm not among them, recognize names from or references to Orlando Furioso, or Amadis of Gaul, and then I'm even limiting myself to the most famous examples.
True. I only know of them through Don Quijote.
True. Although one of the things about the allusions to Heaven in the Hell scenes was that it reminded me precisely of the fantasy trope of alluding to the long lost Golden Age (Valinor in Tolkien, obviously, but you find it in all epic fantasy that I can think of, and quite a few others) -- it is always just slight drips, never an attempt to properly describe it; and that works much better.
I was thinking more of the preaching in or from Heaven than of the allusions to Heaven in the Hell scenes.
Ah. Yes. Tolkien manages to keep it from mind-numbing boredom, at least.
Even in Tolkien, the radiance of Valinor is not as effective in Silmarillion, I think, as it becomes when all that is lost, in the longing of those who have lost it. Nümenor as well. Perhaps I am just in love with nostalgia.
No, that's true. The Ainulindale is quite readable, but hardly the best part of the Silmarillion.
Precisely.
Yes. 
I have now realized I really need to read Blake. Any suggestions on where to start?
I have now realized I really need to read Blake. Any suggestions on where to start?Depends. Do you want short poetry or insane cosmology?
Short poetry might be safer.
Then the obvious candidate is Songs of Innocence and Experience. They gain more meaning if you see them in the context of his insane cosmology, however. Of course, you could always read up on that separately. Reading The Lamb in connection with The Tyger and seeing that against his ideas is quite interesting.
You could always read Auguries of Innocence. It has one of the best opening stanzas, but I was never a great fan of the later stuff.
Read "The Rape of the Lock". It is short and sweet and might count towards your parody text for the challenge
Hm. Now that you mention that, I'm wondering if I didn't actually read it... I've certainly read about it. I might go for that, alright.
Or there is always The Dunciad. I always keep meaning to read it. It is another mock epic.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
John Milton - Paradise Lost (and Paradise Regained)
- 11/01/2011 11:25:45 PM
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Re: John Milton - Paradise Lost (and Paradise Regained)
- 11/01/2011 11:55:35 PM
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Wow. <<<<Should be over there<<<<
- 12/01/2011 12:03:38 AM
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- 12/01/2011 12:06:39 AM
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Re:
- 12/01/2011 12:47:50 AM
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- 12/01/2011 12:47:50 AM
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The word "book" is a bit misleading, they're really more like chapters.
- 12/01/2011 06:22:38 PM
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I'm glad we agree on so much. 
- 12/01/2011 06:50:27 PM
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- 12/01/2011 06:50:27 PM
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Re: I'm glad we agree on so much.
- 12/01/2011 07:47:21 PM
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- 12/01/2011 07:47:21 PM
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Re: I'm glad we agree on so much.
- 12/01/2011 07:54:37 PM
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- 12/01/2011 07:54:37 PM
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Re: I'm glad we agree on so much.
- 12/01/2011 08:09:46 PM
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- 12/01/2011 08:09:46 PM
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I thought I'd have a short response
- 12/01/2011 12:13:48 AM
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OK, I blogged about my own reaction to it
- 12/01/2011 05:26:18 AM
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Not that much in there that I disagree with, actually.
- 12/01/2011 06:30:28 PM
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With the utility of the religious discussion in poetic form
- 12/01/2011 06:50:30 PM
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- 12/01/2011 06:50:30 PM
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Well, if I'd found really all of those Heaven books boring, I'm not sure I'd have finished it.
- 13/01/2011 09:53:19 PM
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Re: Well, if I'd found really all of those Heaven books boring, I'm not sure I'd have finished it.
- 13/01/2011 10:32:49 PM
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I've started to read it three times and put it down due to the style.
- 12/01/2011 01:34:24 AM
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Yeah, if you really dislike the style, it really may not be worth forcing yourself through.
- 12/01/2011 06:33:43 PM
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Okay, i think I may change my classic from this to something else now *NM*
- 12/01/2011 02:41:59 PM
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It certainly wasn't my intention to frighten people off. Like I said, I'm glad I read it. *NM*
- 12/01/2011 06:31:31 PM
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Like I said, I'm glad I read it. *NM*
- 12/01/2011 06:31:31 PM
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