[Carl Copeland]

Originally Posted by Mark McDonnell

Before Shakespeare began his writing career, presumably somebody else must have been "the best poet ever". Chaucer maybe? So, by your logic Shakespeare himself should not have bothered writing because, well, how could he ever match Chaucer?

And before Chaucer...

Yes, Chaucer is far too recent. And why limit ourselves to English poetry? Quintilian wrote:

“Like his own conception of Ocean, which he says is the source of every river and spring, Homer provides the model and the origin of every department of eloquence. No one surely has surpassed him in sublimity in great themes, or in propriety in small.”

I’m sure many would still agree a thousand years later. Shaun can correct me on this, but I read somewhere that there’s no evidence Shakespeare knew Homer. If true, it may be a good thing.