Of studies by Francis bacon

1. OF STUDIES
BY- Francis Bacon

2. PRESENTATION BY – SIDDHANT
ENROLLMENT NO – A50606119025
SUBJECT – PDA
COURSE – BA (H) ENGLISH
TOPIC – OF STUDIES BY FRANCIS BACON

3. About the Author
◦ Born on January 22, 1561 in London, England.
•In his late teens, he practiced of Law in Trinity College.
•At 23, he became a member of the “house of commons”
•During his career as counsel and statesman, Bacon often
wrote for the court. In 1584, he wrote his first political
memorandum, A Letter of Advice to Queen Elizabeth.
•In 1592, to celebrate the anniversary of the queen’s
coronation, he wrote an entertaining speech in praise of
knowledge. The year 1597 marked Bacon’s first publication, a
collection od essays about politics. The collection was later
expanded and republished in 1612 and 1625.
•His career flourished under king James I, but later scandals
ended his life as a politician.

4. •He was imprisoned in the tower of London stripped of all offices
and honors for having accepted bribes as chief justice of
England.
•He was also a philosopher/ scientist by nature.
•Known as the “Father of Empiricism,” Francis Bacon established
the Baconian method to investigate natural science. His
approach led to the development of the scientific method,
which is still used.
•He died on April 9, 1626, at the age of 65, because of bronchitis.
• Endeavour to reach the reader’s mind by a series of aphoristic
attacks .
• His Essays are models of succinct, lucid prose .
• Bacon’s primary object is the discovery of truth.
• Sheer density of material combined with felicity of expression .
• Ability to choose the right word.

5. OF STUDIES
◦ The importance of the reading habit .
◦ Covers almost all the aspects of reading .
◦ People read for three reasons : for pleasure, for ornament in the
society, for practical application of life .
◦ Studies not only improve knowledge but also improve one’s
behavior .
◦ Improves one’s personality by influencing his attitudes, actions
and judgements.
◦ Warns of excessive studying .
◦ Results in artificiality both in behavior and speech .
◦ Needless display of learning .
◦ makes a person bookish and makes him lack application .

6. ◦ Habit of studying instils a sense of discipline .
◦ Makes the writing more precise and systematic .
◦ Improves the skill of presenting the argument in one’s favor.
◦ Knowledge can be utilized whenever its need is warranted .
◦ History makes man wise .
◦ Mathematics makes him cunning .
◦ Poetry helps to foster wit .
◦ Natural philosophy helps to foster depth .
◦ Moral philosophy helps to foster gravity .
◦ Logic and rhetoric helps in nurturing one’s power of debate and
argument .
◦ There are several modes of studying .
◦ The aim of reading is to acquire knowledge .
◦ The aim of conversation is to acquire readiness .
◦ The aim of writing is to obtain accuracy .

7. Bacon also gives some rules for studies.
◦ One should weigh before reading.
◦ One should stick to one’s opinions.
◦ All books are not to be read fully.
◦ In reading there should be discretion of what to read and
what not to read and how to read and how not to read.
◦ Like physical exercises cure physical illness, reading cures
mental illness.
◦ Studies perform various functions.
◦ It dispels boredom of lonely hours and makes a person able to
take a balanced view of life.

8. Figures of Speech Used:
1. Simile
◦ - A stated comparison (usually formed with “like” or “as”) between
two fundamentally
◦ dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common.
Examples-
◦ “Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning, by
study”
◦ “Distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things”
2. Litotes
◦ - An understatement in which a positive statement is expressed by
negating its opposite.
Examples-
◦ “To spend too much time in studies is sloth.”
◦ “To use them too much for ornament, is affectation”
(them refers to studies)

9. Methods Used:
1. Comparison and contrast
- shows similarities and differences of the items included and focused.
◦ Examples-
“For natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by
study.”
“Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise
men use them”
2. Illustration
- explains a general statement by means of more specific examples.
◦ Examples-
“Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.”
“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.”