Students Don't Know The Bible!

[Patrick]

Now, we don't do religion here on SC usually - this is more about literature than religion; "The Poet Laureate says it is becoming increasingly difficult to teach English Literature because students do not know the Bible or classical mythology.

Andrew Motion told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the lack of knowledge made it "difficult to even get beyond go" when teaching some of his recent students. "

He means Milton of course....

"Mr Motion told the BBC: "I've always been concerned about the levels of not-knowing since I started teaching, but quite recently I had a very bad experience of trying to teach some of my, in other respects, extremely good students about Paradise Lost. "

I'm sorry - but I did PL and I could not stand it! I know my Bible - C of E School and local church Bible studies club - but over the years I made up my own mind - and when faced with Milton I immediately had an allergic reaction. Who knows, perhaps twenty years on I could look at it objectively but I doubt it somehow - the book just seemed to preach at me rather than "just be" a work of Literature. Quite frankly I'd rather see it removed from the list - There are so many good works that could be used for examination purposes - I find it depressing that Milton is still around. Overrated IMO, and clunky.

[motorist]

Crap character development, poor continuity, naff storyline, time to put it to pasture

Let's bring in the new Feminist version where the Levitican Priest and that feller wot survived Sodom/Gomorrah get their wotsits cut off for offering their daughters up for rape


Charlton Heston wasn't bad though

[betty]

Feb 17, 2009 15:28:35 GMT Patrick said:

it is becoming increasingly difficult to teach English Literature because students do not know the Bible or classical mythology.

well that's obvious
much english lit is based on the bible and classical mythology.

the appalling thing is that someone has to point out what should be shining an uncomfortable beam into any teacher's eye

[riotgrrl]

How nice to see you Betty. I haven't 'spoken' to you for AGES. Hope everything is good with you?

Now do I have to think of something sensible to say about bible/literature 'n' ting.

I have a huge gap in my education; I know nothing of the classics. I find Boris J quite hard to follow sometimes, as he uses classical allusions quite frequently. It seems that posh people know all about the ancient Greeks and the ancient Romans and classical mythology, but us state kids did dinosaurs and world war 1 instead.

Maybe 50 or 100 years ago one could safely have assumed that all people in prominent positions in society would be familiar with the classics, but this is definitely no longer the case (not just because of me, but generally.)

The bible will go the same way.

It is a shame, but the world moves on . . .

[trubble]

Feb 17, 2009 15:28:35 GMT Patrick said:

He means Milton of course....

.... Quite frankly I'd rather see it removed from the list - There are so many good works that could be used for examination purposes - I find it depressing that Milton is still around. Overrated IMO, and clunky.

Had you bothered to watch University Challenge this week you would be aware that Milton has given more to the English language than Shakespeare.


herodotuswept.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/words-invented-by-john-milton/
Some of the words that are attributed to Milton:

Terrific Pandemonium Padlock Sensuous Earthshaking Moon-struck Lovelorn Jubilant Impassive Didactic Unprincipled Stunning Liturgical Unaccountable Self-delusion Dismissive Irresponsible Arch-Fiend Debauchery Fragrance Gloom Embellishing Literalism

As well as phrases such as “trip the light fantastic” and the ‘Outer Space’ conceptual usage of the word Space.


www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/content/articles/2008/01/15/john_milton_400_feature.shtml

Not only has the great man given us flying superheroes and light sabers, he's also furnished our language with a plethora of words that have infiltrated our everyday lives.


"We think there are over 600 words he introduced to the English language," says Dr Alexander. "Some of these are just taking a word that exists in a different form. For instance he's the first person to use the word terrific."

"He's the first person to use the word space, not to define a limited area, but to define the illimitable cosmos of the universe."

It is believed that Paradise Lost alone gave us words such as dreary, pandaemonium, acclaim, rebuff, self-esteem, unaided, impassive, enslaved, jubilant, serried, solaced, and satanic.



For homework this week read this:


Why Milton Matters

Test on Monday.

[Patrick]

There you see! If they'd started out telling us about that before we started reading - it might have been a different matter entirely!

I mean! There'f old Chaucer - the introduction to his talef if what a collection of dirte olde men they werre withe theire making of the merrie and drinking and lecherouf wayf - Made you want to dive in there and break the secrete code! didn't it! I mean! Top Bloke Chaucer! If only they'd spread it about that Milton was yer Van Gogh of his time! Then everyone would have a copy innit!