Is paradise lost even worth reading

[cosmicx16]

or is it just glazed by teachers all the time
i was thinking about it because of the subject matter. Also it might be fun to read the old english. Translations for works that arent even a different genus of language is crazy.

 

[Sovereign]

or is it just glazed by teachers all the time
i was thinking about it because of the subject matter. Also it might be fun to read the old english. Translations for works that arent even a different genus of language is crazy.

I have a few copies of it and yes, go for it. the old english yes old can still be understood.

 

[wait whattt? :o]

or is it just glazed by teachers all the time
i was thinking about it because of the subject matter. Also it might be fun to read the old english. Translations for works that arent even a different genus of language is crazy.

Wait, what? I thought Paradise Lost was Old Middle English. Isn't Old English like... <1300? Hmm, lemme look that up real quick (yes I could've looked up before posting but Idc)

 

[wait whattt? :o]

After the Norman Conquest of 1066, English was replaced for several centuries by Anglo-Norman (a type of French) as the language of the upper classes. This is regarded as marking the end of the Old English era, since during the subsequent period the English language was heavily influenced by Anglo-Norman, developing into what is now known as Middle English in England and Early Scots in Scotland.

Source: Wikipedia - Old English

Hehe, I was technically right. Old English is even OLDER than that. So, I suppose, Paradise Lost is Middle English, not "Old Middle English". :D



Anyway, Idk why I steered the post towards this direction even though this is not what you asked about. Sorry for being so annoyingly pedantic op :(
Also, I haven't read Paradise Lost but my friend recommended it to me so that's something Ig (I mean you don't know him but he is pretty cool I promise)

 

[wait whattt? :o]

I know I said I should not steer the discussion towards this direction but I felt I must correct myself:

Paradise Lost is not Old English (that’s Beowulf). It’s not even Middle English (that’s Chaucer). It’s not even anachronistically archaic (that’s Spenser). Shakespeare’s language was Modern English (indeed along with the KJV he practically invented it), and Milton wrote his epic a half century after Shakespeare’s death.

Source: Paradise Lost | Any Eventuality

I was wrong lol!!!! It's apparently Early Modern English? I was so off the mark! XD
I guess that makes sense since Shakespeare is considered Early Modern English. Oops!

 

[AhHoyHoy]

English speakers not knowing their own language... surprising?

 

[Hobbit]

It's not too bad. I read Paradise Lost (at least half of it or so) but not Regained.
It's just a fanfiction of the Holy Bible, similar to Dante's Divine Comedy trilogy. I'd prefer to read the Holy Bible, but it's worth reading if you're interested in theology.

 

[cosmicx16]

English speakers not knowing their own language... surprising?

And where did I say I can’t read it dumb fag?

 

[Kyoree]

It's the OG fanfic so yeah
I found it hard to understand since it's prose. Haven't even finished it. Maybe I shall.

 

[thehaircutgoats]

It's worth reading if youre into old Biblical epics and dense prose.

I'd say it's far more worthwhile to listen to the audiobook, though -- Paradise Lost isnt a novel, but an epic poem meant to be recited, so the text has a certain rhythm to it that is easy to disregard if youre consuming it via text. Milton actually "wrote" the novel by reciting the poem out loud and having it transcribed, because he was blind at the time of its writing.