/lit/ - Literature

>>17697103

>Henry IV (1 & 2)
>Richard III
>Henry V
>Richard II
>
>
>King John
>Henry VI
>Henry VIII

It's actually hard to decide which is better between second and third place. I feel like Richard III is more iconic and fun but Henry V is probably qualitatively better you know?

The the bottom three are seriously shit tier though. Like so bad that they aren't worth reading. The only redeeming part of any of them is the bastard in King John. My advice, if you haven't read any of them; just stick to the second Henriad and read Richard III some time before or after as a nice supplement. Even then, though, the Histories in general (except Henry IV) aren't nearly as good or enjoyable as his tragedies or his better comedies, by virtue of them being generally earlier works, and very clearly attempting to both emulate an inferior poet (Marlowe (take for example his needlessly making a trilogy of Henry VI as Marlowe did of Timburlane as evidence), and the plays being deliberately didactic in nature.

The reason Henry IV is good is because it strays so much from the historical narrative.

>>15827917
what mode is it called when the "overt" and "covert" lists are swapped?

>>15787868
if i was illiterate, i think i would be a bloomer, not a doomer.

>>15416316
its just a magic ring, innit?
>>15416346
this guy gets it

>>15351459

Alright. The three essential writers are the following, for the following reasons.

>William Shakespeare

For the enormous impact which he had on the English language, the sheer aesthetic quality of his works, and the incredible developments he made in depth of personality and characterisation.

>Herman Melville

For writing a work which, contained within itself, is possessing of equal aesthetic merit to the Homerica or Comedy. In so doing, he achieved and solidified high-cultural legitimacy and autonomy for the North American continent.

>James Joyce

Essentially pioneered and defined the entire modernist movement, performed experiments on language the likes and success of which are unmatched before or since, and made enormous leaps in the way of explorations of consciousness in literature.

Based Auto-dad.

A toast, to Autopunk!

I am become Utility. Destroyer of Death.

I am utilitalitarianized.