Bacon’s Contribution to English Literature.

    

Of Studies

Francis Bacon

 

*What purposes are served by studies and how?

 

=> According to Bacon, studies serve a threefold purpose to give delight, to teach the embellishment of expression and to develop efficiency. Delight from studies can be obtained only in isolation and repose. Embellishment can be shown in discussion, written or oral, which efficiency is exhibited in the determination as well as execution of a matter.

 

 

* What is Bacon’s prescription of the remedial measure for physical and intellectual disease?

 

=> According to Bacon, bowling is good for the stone in stomach and troubles in Kidney. Shooting of arrows serves to cure lungs and Brest. Gentle walking is good for acidity and stomach problems and riding for head. Likewise, mathematics is good for inattentive students. Study of law cases in good remedy for the mind unable to recall post.

 

* Adverse effect of studies.

=> To spend too much time to studies develops smoothness and affect to the power of action. The use of an embellished language always causes a sort of artificiality in the style of expression. Finally to judge every issue according to the theoretical rules of studies, leads to an unpractical, unworkable scholasticism.

 

* How is natural Ability and natural Plant compare?

 

=> Natural plants have root and require nature and trimming for their proper growth. Natural abilities too, require the same nurture and culture by studies for their full flowerishment.

 

* How according to Bacon different books to be read?

 

=> Bacon advises that some books, not very important are to be read rather superficially. Some other books no doubt important but dull, are to be somehow read and understood. There are some other books very Important and interesting to be read thoroughly and seriously.

 

  * How study of different subject influence reader’s character?

 

=> Bacon’s discusses how the study of different subjects shapes a reader’s character. History makes a man wise. Poetry adds to power of imagination. Mathematics, natural philosophy and moral philosophy sharpen intelligence. Study of logic and rhetoric adds to the power of arguments and debates.

                                  

    

                    Bacon’s Contribution to English Literature

                        Bacon’s Contribution to English Literature consists of his influence of thought and of his prose which is remarkably direct and simple. Infect, Bacon represents for the English the typical aspiration of the Renaissance man. He himself boasted, “I have taken all knowledge to be my province”.

 

                             In his first important book in English, The Advancement of Learning (1605), Bacon provides sketch of his key ideas. He expresses his wish to review all the sciences of his time, all methods of acquiring truth and to work out a system of classifying the various branches of knowledge. In the New Atlantes (1627) Bacon provides a Utopian sketch of an ideal Commonwealth of scholars. His emphasis is not a government or social institution but on scientific achievement.

 

                                                It is the essays, which has given Bacon his fame in world literature. He called these essays ‘depressed meditation’: They are impersonal, almost curt and are designed to import worldly wisdom.

They are realistic, epigrammatic dissertations and based on Bacon’s own observations, even though the classics in support of his conclusion. Each essay provides a circle of aphorism and touches his subjects from versions points without making only logical or structural progress. The greatness of these essay lies as much in their closely packed thoughts, insight and wisdom as in their memorable expression. So, many of Baconian sentences have become legendary – “some books are to be tasted, others to be shallowed, some few to be chewed and digested ”; “Reading market full man, conference a ready man and writing an exact man” (Of Studies).

 

                                      But Bacon’s other contribution to English literature is a kind of prose which is simple and hard-hitting. He made for himself a style which was quite different from the prevalent style of his own time. It is not flexible modern but has path and an aphoristic quality that help it to convey his special his special kind of thought. Bacon was a devoted Latinist English. So, when, the balk of English writings was being written in loose sentences with enormous length. Bacon at once struck out short, crisp and family knit sentences of a type unfamiliar to English. He rejected conceits and overcrowded imagery of the euphuisly. But he knew how to light up his thought with well-placed figures. Thus Bacon’s was style artificial but appealing. It is remarkable for its compactness and vitality.

Bacon’s Style

                                            English Renaissance prose writer invariably sought the models of their styles among the classical authors. As a result in the sixteenth century. English prose we find two broad divisions. First, there was the Ciceroni an style, followed by hooker, Raleigh and Sir Thomas Browne, a style which was called ‘Copious’ – a full flowing and often, ornate style. The others style may be called Sense con – an aphoristic style which proposed brief, pithy units. Bacon’s prose style decidedly falls to this category.

 

                                                In Bacon these short aphoristic limits are often gathered into a longer structure where they are generally set against each other in some sort of formal balance or antithesis. Bacon avoided the two factors --- simplicity and complexity --- and concentrated the substance of a paragraph into single sentence: “Revenge triumphs over death, love slights it; honor asperity to it, grief filet to it”. There is no room here for poetic graces, for the play of fancy, for emotional behavior and glimpse of humor. His tone is uniformly, grave and his gait is always stately; his judgements are all readymade, and we never find him arriving slowly of them. Bacon has already made up his mind, and we never get the opportunity to see the inner evolution of a thought in his writing. For these reasons the Baconian essays have often been condemned as ‘Oracles’ rather than essays.

 

                                                    We have already noted that Bacon’s style is the rhetorical. Among the figures of speech, it employs antithesis, allusions, Paradoxes and metaphors. We may see all these in a single sentence of ‘Of Studies’: “some books are to be tasted, others to be sollowed, some few to be chewed and destroyed”. Beside Baconian prose is highly allusive, analogies and comparisons are drown from different sources from the Bible, from classical mythology and medieval sciences. But Bacon is also keen to the life around him. The references of gardening to natural abilities to different sports, such as to shooting and riding as a panacea -all these bear testimony to Bacon’s profound power of making his observation serve as supplement to his knowledge.    

 

                                      But Bacon faces criticism too for his particular style. Some of the charges are that his style unimaginative, impersonal, mechanical and dead. But we may say, that bacon’s style is certainly not colloquist, but it is well –suited to rendering at once the most complex thought and the common place experience of everyday life. Indeed Douglas Bush has mightily commented that the Baconian Cactuses not metallic, it is like some of the African verity – a flowering cactus.    

 

How does Bacon offer counsels to young men about the travel?

Bacon’s essays are so many counsels meant for young men of Renaissance ambition. There are series of personal comments. The charm of his essays lies in their appropriateness of advice.

In his essay “Of Travail” Bacon sternness’s the need of travel as a part of education to young men. Traveling is a continuation of the work of school and a preparation for the actual work of life. It is also important for elderly men for increasing their experiences. Bacon advice that they should travel to a foreign country in order to get maximum benefit out of minimum time and space. A traveled should learn the Language of the country he visits because the Language is essential for a proper understanding of the people and the place he visits. He must travel with an experience tutor. Things which are seen must be recorded in a diary. The manners and informs of a country is worth seeing. A traveler must get acquainted with the civil, military, social life of the country. The visitor must have a map a guide-book.

Bacon advises to seek profitable acquaintances, visit, eminent men and avoid quarrelsome companions. O return, they must keep alive the interest in that country and maintain correspondence with the friends.

Bacon’s final advice is that young man should not imitate foreign fashion and dresses. Traveling only enrich mind and conduct. They should imbibe the good qualities and culture of those countries and introduces them to their own countries. He pleaded for cosmopolitan culture through organic growth.

*What does Bacon meant by ‘Prick in some flower ………..customs of his own country’.

 

Bacon warns against imitation of foreign fashions by neglecting native customs and manners. It was a habit with the young travelers abroad to change their country manners for foreigner’s   fashion. This is highly harmful. A short travel to a foreign country should not make the young men forget their own country, its manners and customs. Devotion to one’s own country should not be so fickle and fragile.

But this does not mean dogmatic loyalty to the country. Young men should be liberal to adopt the countries and implant them by imbibing and assimilating the graces and beauties of the cultures and customs of other countries.

Bacon in not an insular patriot. He pleads for organic growth of culture through interaction with other countries.  The expressions prick in “suggest planting”.

How does Bacon offer counsels (advice) to young men about travel?

 

Bacon’s essays are so many counsels meant for young men of Renaissance ambition. There are series of personal comments. The charm of his essays lies in their appropriateness of advice.

 

In his essay “Of Travel” Bacon stresses the need of travel as a part of education to young men. Traveling is a continuation of the work of school and a preparation for the work of life. It is also important for elderly men for increasing their experiences. Bacon advises that they should travel to a foreign country in order to get maximum benefit out of minimum time and space. A travelers should learn the Language of the country he visits because the language is essential for a proper understanding of the people and the place he visits. He must travel with an experience tutor. Things which are seen must be recorded in a diary. The manners and customs of a country is worth seeing. A traveler must get acquainted with the civil, military, social life of the country. The visitors must have a map a guide-book.

Bacon advice to seek profitable acquaintances, visit, eminent men and avoid quarrelsome compassion. On return, they must keep alive the interest in that country and maintain correspondence with the friends.

Bacon’s final advice is that young man should not imitate foreign fashions and dresses. Plant grows through grafting and transplantation. Similarity, culture grows through mixing and interacting with other customs.

 

Bacon is not only a pragmatist, but an enlightened empiricist.

 

     “Of Travel” – an appreciation

 

                                                    It was Bacon’s practice throughout his life to record his opinions current question of the day and on familiar practices. Indeed, the essay “Of Travel” deals with it in such a way that the reader may profit by his knowledge of men and manners and his keen insight into the requirement of expending. But we have to benefit not what we call the ‘Common reader’; they are intended for a social readership - the aristocrats the young courtiers and the future rulers or governors.

 

                                                     As always, the essay begins with a typical Beconean summary: “Travel in the younger sort is a part of experience”. The young man who goes on a visit to a new country actually goes to a ‘School’. Bacon’s emphasis is on the educational value of Travel in respect of the language which he may pick up, and the manners and customs he may become familiar with. But it is best for the young aristocrat to have an experienced guide – either a teacher or a trustworthy servant who may conduct him through this journey and help him to have access to those things and persons that deserve the close inspection. For Bacon, the things to be seen and deserve are all related to human institution matter related to administration, the course of justice, church - courts, town - planning and the construction of fortifications and harbors. Ancient monuments, ruins of great houses are also important, just as the training of soldier’s defense mechanism, decorations of home, personal ornaments and customs deserve close security. The young traveler must keep a diary wherein he puts down his important observation. He must try to be familiar with different sections of people and the customs of the country he visits. The celebrities of the foreign land must be seen from a close quarter, and judgement formed about the extent of fame they enjoy and the intrinsic quality they possess. Quarrels and the occasions for quarrels are to be avoided, and often the travel is concluded, familiar with the most worthy persons met must be kept up through correspondence.  

 

                                      The emphasis of Bacon, predictably, is on the pragmatic value of travel. Such visits enrich the mind, remove false notions, and are essentially educative. They give the young courtiers opportunities of learning the methods of governance practiced in different countries. Bacon, however, does not approve of variety or the acquisition of foreign manners and gestures. Travel should induce him to discriminate the good from the bad to engraft the good customs of a foreign country to the manners and customs of his own land.

 

Justify Bacon’s style with reference “Of Studies”   and    "Of Travail".                                                                      

                                    It is for the style, brief, exact and pregnant that Bacon possesses a noteworthy spot in writing. It has a few drawing in characteristics. Every one of the sentences resembles a finely cleaned diamond. There is an entirely wonderful blend of unique intuition with striking and solid picture.

                                    In his exposition "Of Travail" he says that an explorer should join the great characteristics in the framework and culture of a remote nation with the local traditions for a fast development of culture. His allegories is taken from plants and this clarifies the natural idea of culture. His similitude are unattractive and proper. Blossoms here methods graces of culture.

                                    In "Of Studies", he utilizes straightforward illustrations:
                      "So every imperfection of the Minde, may have an exceptional Recite.
                                Similarly as proper activities are essential for conditioning up the well being, so information on various branches is important for the improvement of brain. Bacon's sentences resemble consolidated truism. His sentences are-theatricals, epic gramatic and curt. In "Of Studies, he says."
            

                                    "Perusing market a Full Man, gathering a Ready Man, and composing a careful Man."
                        This enemy of dramatic structure drives home his focuses:
    "A few books are to be tasted, others to be gulped and about not many to be bitten and processed."

Bacon's style is an impossible to miss blend of motto and anti0-postulation:
        "They impeccable nature and are consummated by experience."(Of Studies)
                In his "Of Travail", his enemy of showy and aphoristic style is clear:
"He can say a great deal through a short articulation ("as though change were fitter to be enlisted then perception").

These is a modest hit at the individuals who imitated remote dresses and habits:
"Let it give the idea that he doth not change his nation way for those of outside parts."

In the articulation "prick in certain blossoms" he recommends the joining or transplanting picture. From the perspective of style and structure "Of Studies" is an increasingly trademark exposition of Bacon. There is an auxiliary turn of events. The article "Of Travail" is dreary.

                                                    Accordingly Bacon's treatment of subjects is intentionally short and terse. It is the great blend of significant and reliable discernment with a beguiling clarity of articulation that makes his articles the best examples of target.