Francis Bacon

Q: Discuss Bacon’s prose style with reference to “Of Studies”

Answer: Sir Francis Bacon, English philosopher and statesman, one of the pioneers of modern scientific thought. Widely considered the most influential and versatile English writer of the 17th century, Sir Francis Bacon addressed a broad range of topics in his works, including ethics, philosophy, science, law, and history. He also enjoyed a long political career. There is no denying of the fact that, the essays written by Francis Bacon are the fruit of his experience and knowledge about human life. He is most remarkable for his terseness. The most economic in the use of words, characterizes his essays. As a matter of fact, brevity is the soul of wit. The essay “Of Studies” is the finest example of bacon’s capacity to write things excellently both in ideas and style. This essay is one of the finest essays ever written in English. This essay is written in the simple and ordinary language for the edification of Renaissance Youth. The images that are visualized in the essay “Of Studies” are taken from day to day life. The essay is short and to the point, utmost it does not confuse its readers. Bacon has shown his delicate choice of diction and idioms in his essay “Of Studies”. It is a wonderful illustration of Bacon’s terse style. Within a short space he has put a world of ideas. Every sentence is pregnant with serious as well as significant meaning. Bacon is the master of condensed style. He has proved this quality in this essay better than elsewhere in his writings. This essay gives us a number of sound and maxim and a number of sentences that we can use as quotation whenever occasion demands. Many of the sentences of this essay, indeed cling to our memory without any mental efforts. The very opening sentence, “Studies serve for delight, for ornament and for ability” is a superb example of Bacon’s power of compressing ideas. In this sentence, he has used only nine words, but the idea he expressed is vast. Likewise “Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them”.  In the terse style we find abundance of precept and the precept is sound and practical. For instance “Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider”. The very purpose of studies and their misuse has have been put in this sentence very compactly and convincingly. The similes are quite appropriate and original. Bacon says, “Distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things”. Another simile is found in the comparison between the efforts of various physical exercises on bodily diseases and the effect of different studies on mental defects. Latin quotations as found in this essay adds the importance and weight to the essay.

He divided the subjects of the books and performed a classification of books with simple, clear and yet to be the sweetest lines in English literature “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and few to be chewed and digested”. That means all books should not receive equal attention of the learned readers.

Next the essayist makes it clear what benefit we derive from reading- “Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; writing an exact man”. He describes the purpose of study. Only reading cannot be of utmost importance. It should be combined with discourse and writing. Bacon points out that difference subject’s benefit in different ways. So it is necessary for men to acquire knowledge of different subjects.

Thus bacon is too deeply engrossed in serious matters of life. His essay contains counsels of the shrewd man of the world. They are based on his personal experiences and observation of men and manners. And this essay “Of Studies” is a direct fruit of his expertise.