Any recommended print for this?
Paradise Lost is one of the most important poems
11–20 of 52 posts
Re: Paradise Lost is one of the most important poems
#12No it's not.
Re: Paradise Lost is one of the most important poems
#13Just like Joyce's Ulysses, Dostoevsky's work, etc. those all are books that some people consider hugely important, yet because of their difficulty, they won't touch lives of many. Even students of literature often don't understand these works.
And so, I am sceptical when they get pronounced as extremely important. 'Important to whom?' seems to be the crucial question...
Re: Paradise Lost is one of the most important poems
#14Just like Joyce's Ulysses, Dostoevsky's work, etc. those all are books that some people consider hugely important, yet because of their difficulty, they won't touch lives of many. Even students of literature often don't understand these works. And so, I am sceptical when they get pronounced as extremely important. 'Important to whom?' seems to be the crucial question...
I'd argue that the importance of a literary work does not end at the reader. If the work changes the reader's world view and changes their behaviour, then it could in turn effect the way they interact with others.
Just being in the same room as someone who has understood Dante's Inferno, for example, might well have effects that alter the course of your life.
Proving this would be another thing entirely, however.
Re: Paradise Lost is one of the most important poems
#15Just like Joyce's Ulysses, Dostoevsky's work, etc. those all are books that some people consider hugely important, yet because of their difficulty, they won't touch lives of many. Even students of literature often don't understand these works. And so, I am sceptical when they get pronounced as extremely important. 'Important to whom?' seems to be the crucial question...
In literature studies, "important" usually means how many other works have been influenced by a work.
Re: Paradise Lost is one of the most important poems
#16Re: Paradise Lost is one of the most important poems
#17Just like Joyce's Ulysses, Dostoevsky's work, etc. those all are books that some people consider hugely important, yet because of their difficulty, they won't touch lives of many. Even students of literature often don't understand these works. And so, I am sceptical when they get pronounced as extremely important. 'Important to whom?' seems to be the crucial question...
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Re: Paradise Lost is one of the most important poems
#18Just like Joyce's Ulysses, Dostoevsky's work, etc. those all are books that some people consider hugely important, yet because of their difficulty, they won't touch lives of many. Even students of literature often don't understand these works. And so, I am sceptical when they get pronounced as extremely important. 'Important to whom?' seems to be the crucial question...
In literature studies, "important" usually means how many other works have been influenced by a work.
Probably true, but this also means that you need to find the source. And this is where debate occurs.
In this same way Enrique Iglesias would be called "extremely important" by naive musical literaries, Bloodhound Gang would be called "extremely important" by competent scholars; and finally, Pet Shop boys would casually be mentioned as "influential" by Yoda-level master scholars.
Re: Paradise Lost is one of the most important poems
#19Just like Joyce's Ulysses, Dostoevsky's work, etc. those all are books that some people consider hugely important, yet because of their difficulty, they won't touch lives of many. Even students of literature often don't understand these works. And so, I am sceptical when they get pronounced as extremely important. 'Important to whom?' seems to be the crucial question...
In literature studies, "important" usually means how many other works have been influenced by a work.
Exactly, His Dark Materials is mentioned in the article and is hugely popular.
Re: Paradise Lost is one of the most important poems
#20Just like Joyce's Ulysses, Dostoevsky's work, etc. those all are books that some people consider hugely important, yet because of their difficulty, they won't touch lives of many. Even students of literature often don't understand these works. And so, I am sceptical when they get pronounced as extremely important. 'Important to whom?' seems to be the crucial question...
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