Shakespeare vs Milton: The Kings of English Literature Debate

I love both, because they both have good qualification in different genre.

I was fascinated and enticed at the same time by Milton and Shakespeare debate. The Actors did a marvelous job, I also love the script and playwright it moved me genuinely and it was so romantic. English Literature at it's best.

He said “Benedict” 😂

Thank u very much for introducing such a brilliant topic, having discussed from all parameter, it being great to have had a vision on this specific topic " Shakespear & Milton with various actors interpreting the excerpts of the topic.... A great knowledgeable programme....capturing many dimensions of Shakespear & Milton.....great work...for sure....

Shakespeare vs Milton because Chaucer would wreck both.

It is like the leg is important, or the right hand in a body.

loved it

WS wrote for the man in the street; JM, for the a new breed: the reader.

The feeling and vibration i got from watching these talented/professional actors is beyond comprehension. The works of these great writers will be taught for ages.

In the popular imagination, WS is the winner.
And yet there's more to JM than to WS's crowd-pleasing dramatisations.

Great debate!

o·ver·reach

/ˌōvə(r)ˈrēCH/

1.

reach too far.

Antitheatricality is any form of opposition or hostility to theater. Such opposition is as old as theater itself, suggesting a deep-seated ambivalence in human nature about the dramatic arts.

be·nef·i·cent

/bəˈnefəs(ə)nt/

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adjective

(of a person) generous or doing good.

rep·re·hen·si·ble

/ˌreprəˈhensəb(ə)l/



adjective

deserving censure or condemnation.

Milton was greater than King James -- easy win!

um.

I’m not sure the argument that Shakespeare is ‘easier’ than Milton carries much weight. Shakespeare has become more accessible through continued runs in theatre, numerous film adaptations and, in the UK at least, a long uninterrupted tradition of teaching his works in schools.

Despite this the average person continues to view Shakespeare as ‘intimidating’. Perhaps not to the same extent as Milton, however I’d contend that if Paradise Lost was a core part of the school curriculum, and received half as much attention in theatre and film, he would be considered more accessible than he currently is.

The ‘humor’ the Milton scholar presents is just another example of the author’s misogyny. He wrote Eve as dumb, gullible, vain, tumescent. Even in her ‘perfect’ state of innocence, he makes her out as ripe for corruption.

No other small country can compare with Greece in terms of impact on human benefit, indeed. When it comes to literature, Greek sees off all international rivals, whether it's in the spheres of comedy, tragedy or the sonnet. Even today you and I quote Greek without knowing it: Britain does not match the Greek Continent for music or art and literature. So, why don't you British solve your national identity crisis first and start believing you are something important later? But, you decide who should be crowned king of international literature?

oh my god! Samuel West! West plays John Keats in the Naxos recording of Keat's poems and letters. It's quite simply one of the best audiobooks I've ever heard. He so inhabits the role that for years now, whenever I hear West like this, reading/acting Shakespeare (and Milton in this case) I get the bonus pleasure of also hearing it as Keats himself reading that poetry - which of course he must have done. It's always like a double pleasure every time I hear him in such roles. Superb!

Paradise Lost has been dramatized by Dryden, the Dryden.

You know what all of these brilliant actors have in common….they were all on Midsomer Murders!

Wouldn't it make more sense to compare Milton to Dante and Shakespeare to Victor Hugo?

I’m supposed to be busy packing for my trip to Norway tomorrow. But here I am, sidelined & seduced by Milton & Shakespeare👀🤫🤩

Lol “he was at dinner and loved humor” Milton, 😂 lots of love to this gentleman.

The "question" of women writers? As in you are not SURE that they are important?

Milton wins because he writes original poems. Shakespeare merely retold the stories written by others.

Too bad today's generation don't know what acting looks like. They've replaced great acting with ugly faces on six pack abs. Don't believe me? Have you ever seen the cast of jersey shore or anyone on any cw show? No actors. No writers. No plot. No purpose.

The announcer shouldn't be if they can't pronounce the words.

Absolutely wonderful program, with intelligent and moving acting and readings.

Shakespeare masters the sensual; Milton reaches the sublime.

Nice discussion . But Milton and Shakespeare are not comparable like Apple and Orange.

Ah i remember when this event happened but the whip and nae nae was better

Milton was on another calibre -no fear Shakespeareans
One question, how did he know that rapheals job is teaching the angels 😇 ..any
And whenhis writings about eve, the way he described her.. Like a different creature as I she was out non human class-based imagined a cyborg for a sec. Would anyone imagine such thing ?
Cary is a great miltonist

Who is even qualified to choose one or the other?

Shakespeare's high points are truly high points, but he has a TON of filler. If you live your whole life, and you are on your deathbed, I promise you will have absolutely zero regrets if you never got around to reading The Merry Wives of Windsor, All's Well That Ends Well or The Two Gentlemen of Verona. The Shakespeare plays you never hear discussed are never discussed for a reason.

Whereas, Milton is the definition of quality over quantity. His complete poetry can fit comfortably in a 500ish page book but every line was crafted with such precision and purpose that you discover something new on each reread. I am Team Milton, and I think that he's not only better than Shakespeare, but completely demolishes him and it's not even close.

It’s asking rather too much for a ex civil servant of his time in history , to have much in the way of a sense of humour ! On the other hand Shakespeare’s head on his shoulders depended on his making the Queen laugh , whilst insulting her rule with his invented language !

Thank you so much for this ‘

english profs need philosophy, the English prof needs more philosophy

the rsc actors get it and are lucky to play w these puzzles, as a job

It’s hard… intelligence squared. Genius… we have little option to say no, or perhaps in this case nay… things are what they are, and are not what they are not. No need to preface. No need to lead the witness. If something be great, as we quantify and qualify, it be great; if needs be. Why can’t it just be? Be what it is and not what it is not?

Actors killed it