I disliked Shakespeare in general but I really loathed Chaucer. I prefer the likes of Melville, Milton, and Hawthorne.
Shakespeare and Chaucer too bawdy for you?
Loved Cooleridge.
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
PART I
It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.
‘By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp’st thou me?
The Bridegroom’s doors are opened wide,
And I am next of kin;
The guests are met, the feast is set:
May’st hear the merry din.’
He holds him with his skinny hand,
‘There was a ship,’ quoth he.
‘Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!’
Eftsoons his hand dropt he.
He holds him with his glittering eye—
The Wedding-Guest stood still,
And listens like a three years’ child:
The Mariner hath his will.
....
PART II
The Sun now rose upon the right:
Out of the sea came he,
Still hid in mist, and on the left
Went down into the sea.
And the good south wind still blew behind,
But no sweet bird did follow,
Nor any day for food or play
Came to the mariner’s hollo!
And I had done a hellish thing,
And it would work ‘em woe:
For all averred, I had killed the bird
That made the breeze to blow.
Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay,
That made the breeze to blow!
....
Complete poem....
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173253
I’ve read bits of Chaucer and Milton, a couple, maybe three of Melville, but I just couldn’t stay concentrated with Hawthorne.
Give me Shakespeare.
Love every creepy story he ever told.
Reading Shakespeare comes more naturally when you get older and aren't so impatient.
I suspect teachers will use one of the many video versions of Shakespeare's plays to familiarize students with the plot (or the kids will go to Cliff's Notes).
With Chaucer getting past the language barrier was even more of a chore, and the payoff was even less immediately apparent.
Sure, after I get through all this, I have the lusty Wife of Bath's tale, but it's the same hard slog through unfamiliar language.
Silas Marner gets in the curriculum because there's nothing in it to offend anyone. (Some) high school girls might prefer The Mill on the Floss by the same author.
The one I hated was The Vicar of Wakefield. Again, there's nothing in it that would offend anybody, but that's because there's just not that much in it.