Compare Chaucer as a learned poet with some other English poets. (MEG 101 CHAUCER)

Chaucer was certainly a learned poet, but so were many other English poets who followed him. Here are a few examples of other English poets and their learning:


John Milton: 

Milton was one of the most learned poets in English literature. He was fluent in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and was familiar with many other languages and literatures. His epic poem "Paradise Lost" is full of references to classical and biblical literature, as well as to the scientific and philosophical ideas of his time.


Alexander Pope: 

Pope was a poet of the 18th century who was known for his use of classical learning in his poetry. He was a master of the heroic couplet, and his poetry is full of allusions to ancient mythology and literature.


T.S. Eliot: 

Eliot was a poet of the early 20th century who was deeply influenced by his study of philosophy and literature. His poetry is often highly allusive, drawing on a wide range of sources, including classical literature, the Bible, and the work of other poets.


William Wordsworth: 

Wordsworth was a Romantic poet who rejected the idea that poetry should be highly learned or intellectual. Instead, he believed that poetry should be rooted in the language and experience of everyday people. His poetry often reflects his love of nature and his belief in the power of imagination.


Overall, Chaucer was part of a long tradition of English poets who valued learning and intellectual inquiry. While each poet approached the use of learning in their own way, they all shared a commitment to the power of literature to convey complex ideas and to enrich our understanding of the world.