>It is the period, the sentence and still more the paragraph, that is the unit of Milton’s verse; and emphasis on the line structure is the minimum necessary to provide a counter-pattern to the period structure. It is only in the period that the wave-length of Milton’s verse is to be found: it is his ability to give a perfect and unique pattern to every paragraph, such that the full beauty of the line is found in its context, and his ability to work in larger musical units than any other poet – that is to me the most conclusive evidence of Milton’s supreme mastery.

Drayton was better

>>24476402 (OP)
I thought Eliot hated Milton?

>>24476457
He changed his mind. Modernist literary criticism was good for establishing new blood and re-evaluating the Western poetic tradition, but an opinion as aberrant as their rejection of Milton, despite the validity of some of its critiques, simply cannot hold forever. It was inevitable that Eliot would soften on the issue.

>>24476456
>our trees so hack'd above the ground,
>That where their lofty tops the neighbouring countries crown'd,
>Their trunks (like aged folks) now bare and naked stand,
>As for revenge to Heaven each held a wither'd hand:

Beautiful description of environmental destruction.

>>24476402 (OP)
I started reading classics (and the bible) to read Paradise Lost, because of that opening, but when I started reading Iliad, I kind of prefer Pope (not a big fan of Milton's rhythm).

I didn't find Paradise Lost to be impressive. A lot of the lines were like jamming a square peg into a round hole. Very shoddy, actually.

>>24476663
>preferring pope to milton

>>24476676
Perhaps you're judging Milton according to a prosody that he had long outgrown and surpassed? If everyone is praising Milton for his auricular quality above all else, and you think that he SOUNDS awkward, then the problem probably lies with yourself.

>>24476678
I've read 50% of Iliad and only Book 1 of PL so take it with a grain of salt

i'm halfway through paradise lost, I think it's fire.

>>24477540
as you should. greatest thing ever written, nothing comes close

>>24477580
What about shakespeare

in medias res

>>24476676
I agree, I find his verse repulsive. I mean that almost literally. Its subvocalization grates on my throat.

>>24476704
>so take it with a grain of salt
you're on /lit/ so that's a given

>>24478279
shakespeare comes close to coming close, but he's no milton