As a newshit who just started to read outside of classwork assignments pretty recently, how do I build up my vocabulary to easily read archaic old English? Does it come naturally by slowly reading older works? Because I eventually want to read stuff like Paradise Lost and the original Moby Dick
I only own like 10 books right now
God /lit/ is tanking lately.
Anyway: Yes. You need to read a lot more, Anon. And read those old, archaic texts slowly.
>Moby Dick
>Old English
>Even difficult to read
Dude, most of us read that in Elementary School.
Paradise Lost I could see, yes, but Moby Dick isn't difficult. Just keep reading and keep deciphering texts. Go slow if you need to, but never stop. I'd recommend starting with plain old Shakespeare. You could pretty easily interpret his works.
>>7657897
>>7658207
This is a new low
>>7658899
>>7658207
Holy hell you fucking uppity retards, the man is asking a rational question that all of us have faced at one stage before being so well-read.
Anon, if something is too difficult to read or you find you are struggling then just put the book down and read some less-difficult shit. That book will always be there for you when you need to go back, it won't run away. Take it slowly, if you read a book without understanding the words used you won't enjoy it and you'll force yourself into a reading slump and retreat to YA trash because it's easy and fun. Don't do the latter.
>>7658971
>if you read a book without understanding the words used you won't enjoy it
Spoken like someone who hasn't read Finnegans Wake and loved every second of it.
Read difficult things with commentary. Start with Shakespeare.
>>7659023
>Read difficult things with commentary.
blasphemy, let us all hold hands into mediocrity
remember when ppl used to makes sense of things themselves? me neither
