Honours First Year
Course: Introduction to Prose
Most important broad questions with answers
Q: Write a note on Bacon's prose style/ aphoristic style. ***
Answer: Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was recognized as the father of modern English prose. He contributed significantly to the development of English prose in the Elizabethan period. As an influential writer of his time, Bacon has his own distinctive prose style. In this respect it remains unique in the field of English literature. He developed a style of prose that showed/proved for the first time that in English it was possible to express a subtle idea in clear and simple language. In his writings we find a distinctive style and at the same time characteristic of his age. Indeed, Bacon's style rests on simplicity, force, brevity, clarity, and precision. Bacon's prose style is actually aphoristic, compact, epigrammatic and condensed.
The first and foremost feature/feature of Bacon's prose style is the aphorism. An aphorism is a concise expression of a universal truth. In the essays of Bacon there is brevity of expression and epigrammatic brevity. His sentences are short and fast, but also powerful. The essay "On Studies" is full of aphorisms. Like:--
"Some books need to be tasted, some to be swallowed and some to be chewed digested"
The quote above is a wonderful example of a compact and compressed by style Bacon. In the essay "On Studies" there are a number of sentences that read like proverbs. For as an example we can cite the starting line of this essay ---
"Study is for pleasure, for ornament, and for ability"
Bacon's prose is enriched with brilliant figures of speech. Bacon draws his images from familiar objects of nature. His similes and metaphors are apt, vivid and evocative. They are not mere embellishments, rather they add strength, charm and clarity to his style. In the essay "On Studies" Bacon skillfully used similes and was quoted as an example from this very essay -
"...natural faculties are like natural plants to be examined by study"
Bacon's Essays testify to Bacon's learned mind in his extensive use of quotations and allusions drawn from various sources, classical fables, the Bible, history, etc. His vocabulary is largely permeated with Latinism. In "Of Studies" we find the use of Latin words. Like. We can quote the following line…
"Abeunt studies in mores"
This quote means that studies influence a person's character and shape their personality.There is no humor in Bacon's Essays, but wit is abundantly used. He is the master of the skilled use of words. Bacon is unparalleled because his ideas are funny.
From the above discussion, we can say that Francis Bacon used a distinctive style in his essays. His prose style is unique in nature and he occupied a prominent position in the arena of English literature for his unique prose style.
*****The End*****
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