Contents
- J. INSIGHTS
Francis Bacon Francis Bacon was born in York House, London on January 22, 1561. His Father, Sir Nicholas Bacon, was the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Queen Elizabeth I. Bacon studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, from 1573 to 1575. The younger of two sons, Bacon was eighteen when his father died in 1576, leaving him impoverished. This was the year Bacon gained entrance as a senior governor at a legal education institution, one of the four Inns of Court. He also traveled to France as a part of the English ambassador’s suite, but was forced to return to England upon the news of his father’s sudden death.
A. AUTHOR’S BACKGROUND
He became a resident at Gray’s Inn (one of the Inns of Court) and in 1582 was entitled a barrister. Although his career was successful, he had other political and philosophical ambitions. He entered politics but he experienced a tough setback due to his objections to increased expenses of the war against Spain, a position that displeased Queen Elizabeth. In 1591 Bacon befriended the earl of Essex to whom Bacon offered the friendly advice. Essex in turn recommended Bacon for several high offices without, however, attaining any position.
The relationship ended tragically in a failure of an expedition by Essex and his later attempted coup d’etat, which cost the head of Bacon’s protector, Essex, in 1604. The following year he married Alice Barnham, the daughter of a London alderman. In 1621, he was made Viscount St. Albans. The appointment was not to last long, for in the same year, he was charged with accepting bribes, tried and found guilty. His offices were taken from him and he was sentenced: a fine of L40, 000, imprisonment during the king’s pleasure, expatriation from parliament and exiled from coming within twelve miles of the court.
Feeling utter disgrace, he went into retirement and devoted the remainder of his life to study and literary work. The parliamentary sentence, however, was not imposed, and King James I practically remitted his fine. In March 1626, Bacon attempted a scientific experiment; he bought a chicken in order to see how long its flesh could be preserved by stuffing it with snow. He caught cold and went to stay at the Earl of Arundel’s house nearby. Bacon preferred the nobleman’s best room, where there was a damp bed, to a more modest room in which there was a dry bed.
On April 9, 1626, due to complications arising from bronchitis, Francis Bacon died at Highgate, in the Earl of Arundel’s house. “ Of Studies” is the first essay of the first collection of ten essays of Francis Bacon which was published in 1597. But it was revised for the edition of 1612. More than dozen new sentences were added and some words were also altered. “ Of Studies” is typically Baconian essay with an astonishing terseness, freshness of illustrations, logical analysis, highly Latinized vocabulary, worldly wisdom and Renaissance enlightenment.
B. STYLE
Professional Francis Bacon explains the advantages of studying in our life, LOGICALLY. ? Philosophical ? He pursues wisdom. He showed his personal stand point in the topic which is “ study”. ? He also uses some RHETORICAL DEVICES or LITERARY DEVICES such as PARALLELISM. He uses parallelism to clearly show the correspondence of each idea existing on the essay.
C. COPY OF THE ESSAY
Of Studies Francis Bacon STUDIES serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment, and disposition of business.
For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best, from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar. They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need proyning, by study; and studies themselves, do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.
Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments and the meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know, that he doth not.
Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay, there is no stond or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body, may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again.
If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study 197 the lawyers’ cases. So every defect of the mind, may have a special receipt.
D. TYPE OF THE ESSAY
Expository Essay ? It is an expository essay because it explains a specific topic to the reader which is “ the importance of studying”. ? Persuasive Essay ? Francis Bacon actually tries to persuade the reader to study.
E. PURPOSE/S OF ESSAY
This essay wants…… ? To inform us about the benefits of studying and advantages of studying in our life. ? To explain to us that study is an important aspect of our life. ? To give an advice that we have to apply studies or our learning to “ weigh and consider”.
F. ANALYSIS
The message of this essay “ Of Studies” which is written by Francis Bacon, is clearly visible on the title itself. Study may be done for three purposes; first is, we are studying to obtain pleasure or delight, next is for ornament.
As we study, our vocabulary also widen that’s why every time we are on a conversation, the knowledge we have adds decoration or makes our speech more profound. Lastly, for ability, if we are an educated person, we have an ability to make a judgment from the things we had. Let say for instance, if we studied, we could analyze the book that we are reading and that is our ability. But Francis Bacon also proposes that we can achieve knowledge not only by studying but also from our learning and experiences. For Bacon, “ Knowledge is the Fruit of Experience”.
On his essay, he explains that different types of person have different interpretation on the word “ study”. Just like crafty men, they condemn studies, simple men admire knowledge while the wise men really treasure their knowledge. This essay also discuss the three types of book which are; books to be read just only in parts, books to be read just for fun and books deserve to be read in full with enough attention.
G. VOCABULARY
Abeunt Studia In Mores- Latin phrase means “ Studies pass into and influence manners. Apt- Fit or fitted; suited; suitable; appropriate; qualified. ? Confute- To prove to be wrong or in error; refute decisively. ? Cymini sectores- splitters of hairs; small seed of that plant. ? Mearer- Deficient in amount or quality or extent. ? Proyning- To cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of (a plant, for example) to improve shape or growth. ? Sloth- Aversion to work or exertion; laziness; indolence. ? Subtile- Difficult to understand, clever. ? Wholly- In a whole or complete manner; entirely; completely; perfectly. ? Wrought- Archaic term for “ work”.
H. THEME ?“ Studying is Applying the Mind in Learning and Understanding the topic through reading and our experience” ? “ Knowledge is the Fruit of Experience” ?“ Study is an Important Aspect of our Life”
I. TONE
There is serious emotion existing on the essay.
J. INSIGHTS
This essay tells us that we have to study to achieve our 3 goals: for delight, for ornament and for discourse. As well as, we study to have a broader mind and be considerate to all things around us. Also, always remember that we gain more knowledge out of our experience.