John Milton's Paradise Lost - The Expulsion of Adam & Eve

A good presentation of one of the greatest poets in the world - along with Homer, Virgil, Ovid, Dante, Boccaccio, Petrarch, Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Goethe, Donne, Wordsworth, Keats, Yeats and (some) others.

Don't sleep on Yeats.

There are 4 titans: you forgot about Spenser! Yes, EDMUND SPENSER! Author of The Faerie Queene, the first longest published english epic poem.

Chaucer is obviously crucially important from a historical point of view, but slightly dull to the modern reader. But Milton and Shakespeare: that's what I'm talking 'bout. They're my boys! Milton's Satan is the greatest tragic hero in all literature. I worship Milton's Satan.

There's nothing at all dull about Chaucer. Not even Shakespeare could recreated the entire world of his time the way Chaucer did.

If you think Chaucer is dull you've probably misunderstood. If anything people find Milton a little preachy and difficult to get into.

Definitely haven't misunderstood, although I've only read (and studied in a lot of detail) the Franklin's Tale. I found it slightly dry. Paradise Lost on the other hand is magnificent and I am captivated every time I read it. It is far easier to get into at least because it's in Modern English.

The Franklin's Tale is a difficult one to start off on - it's less about the tale in his case and more about what's not being said. If you want something that is the complete opposite of 'dry', something really funny, crude and colourful, read the Miller's tale or the Wife of Bath's tale and prologue. I'd recommend in time reading the whole thing as a lot of the best humour is in the way the pilgrims talk to each other.

Are you confusing Sylvia Plath with Emily Dickinson?

No.