Christopher marlowe the father of english tragedy 19. Francis bacon was the greatest prose writer of the late 16 th century and also of the early 17 th century and till today his essays are considered as of. If brevity is the soul of wit, bacon s essays reflect that style. Francis bacon was a legendary english philosopher, scientist, lawyer, author, statesman, jurist and father of the scientific methods. Francis bacon was an essayist, and his essays were short,but loaded with meanings and ideas. In this article, we will discuss of travel by francis bacon. A comparative study of francis bacon and bertrand russells. According to ugc syllabus as prescribed isbn9789387346512, bacon francis bacon francis. Francis bacon prose style stylistic qualities of bacons essays.
He very expertly uses different types of literary devices like paradox, aphorism, climax in his essays. The king james bible, since its publication in 1611, has had a profound influence on the development of the english language, not only in the words and phrases that it employed but also in the syntax and grammatical usages that it rendered into the english vernacular. These essays are very unique, and their format is a genre of literature. Bacon is the first scientific philosopher to write english in a clean, and terse style. Of studies by sir francis bacon complete summary and. The two main defects of english prose were unwieldiness and a tendency to find writing. He remains for the sheer mass and weight of genius. Bacons essays, much of the prose in shakespeare and the authorised version of the bible show the evolution of a prose style that combines dignity and rhythm with simplicity of expression. Of studies by sir francis bacon complete summary and analysis. Bacon s fame as a writer depends most of all on the fact that he is the father of modern english prose. A scientific utopia new atlantis is a utopia novel by sir francis bacon, published in latin as nova atlantis in 1624 and in english in 1627. He evolved a prose style that proved for the first time that english could also be used to express the subtleties of thought, in clear and uninvolved sentences. In the development of english, there are many periods and every period has its own style.
His works are credited with developing the scientific method and remained influential through the scientific revolution. Francis bacon, 1st viscount st alban, pc qc also known as lord verulam, was an english. He believed that his works written in english would not receive any lasting impression. In this work, bacon portrayed a vision of the future of human discovery and knowledge, expressing his aspirations and ideals for humankind. The great defect found in english prose was prolixity and diffuseness. Dr vickers purpose is to reinstate bacon as one of the supreme masters of english prose in a period which made rich use of all the expressive resources of the medium. In bacons writing we find a style which is distinct and at the same time characteristic of his age. The advancement of learning novum organum new atlantis. His drunken excesses in the colony room club in soho.
He modifies his style, beautifies his language and embellishes his expressions with similes and metaphors. Sep 16, 2016 but all admit that he is one of the greatest writers of english prose of his age. He was born at york house, london, on 22 january, 1561. Francis bacon was an english writer, philosopher and statesman. Most of the lines from his essays have always been. May 14, 2014 the great defect found in english prose was prolixity and diffuseness. Of travel summary by francis bacon english summary. But, above all, bacon was the first to set up through his personal example a model of english prose which had hitherto been nonexistent. From 157679 he traveled with sir amias paulet, the english ambassador to paris. There are certain stylistic qualities in bacons essays due to which he gained fame. At his fathers death in 1579, bacon was penniless and he decided to follow a legal career. He evolved such a prose style which proved that english can be used as a medium of expression. Francis bacon is often referred to as the father of english read more of. Francis bacon is often referred to as the father of english read more of travel summary by francis bacon categories english prose in literature tags francis bacon.
The final quotation is from sir tobie matthews, a contemporary of sir francis bacon. Francis bacon is the first great english essayist who enjoys a glorious reputation and considered to be the father of english essay. Francis bacon is often referred to as the father of english essay with his essays discussing topics of ethics, governance and pragmatic living. He created a new style of writing the modern style and may very well be called the father of modern english prose. Oct 18, 2016 francis bacon is often regarded as the father of english essays. But it is often argued whether his essays correspond to the conventional definition of the term. Bacons style is most remarkable for its terseness and condensation. Write a short note on the history of english prose. Bacon can rightly be called the father of english essay. A lawyer, statesman, philosopher, and master of the english tongue, he is remembered in literary terms for the sharp worldly wisdom of a few dozen. He took one of the biggest steps ever taken in the evolution of english prose style, a step which set that style on the road which it travelled, though not without divagations. In these essays, bacon presents himself as a novelist, a statement and a man of the word.
Comment on the issues discussed in francis bacons of friendship. Known popularly as the father of english essays, his essays have an evergreen freshness and an intellectual power. There is a terseness of expression and epigrammatic brevity in the essays of bacon. Bacon as a prose stylist it has been observed by a critic that, the quality of strength in bacons style is intellectual rather than emotional indeed the secret of bacons strength lies in his conciseness. He had a busy life, therefore, he hardly found time for writing yet his talent of writing was unsurpassed up till now. Sir francis bacon is commonly known as father of english prose and essays because of his style. New atlantis is a utopia novel by sir francis bacon, published in latin as nova atlantis in 1624 and in english in 1627.
Bacon as a father of modern english literature and his prose style in different essays. He was educated at trinity college, cambridge, with his brother anthony, then at grays inn in london. They cover topics drawn from both public and private life, and in each case the essays cover their. The leading prose writer of the english renaissance was francis bacon. Francis bacon was the younger of the two sons of sir nicholas bacon, lord keeper of the great seal, by his second wife anne, daughter of sir anthony cooke and sisterinlaw of lord burghley. He finds room for conjunctions and connective clauses. Modern journalism owes much to bacons contribution to english prose. Francis bacon has widely been read all over the world not only because of his philosophy but also because of his prose style. The style of bacon remains for the main part aphoristic.
The title of the father of english prose has been assigned to several different men, including king alfred the great, sir francis bacon, sir john mandeville and john wycliffe. Francis bacons mother was also the sisterinlaw of lord burghley. Whether turning a phrase or observing the politics of the day the father of the scientific method, francic bacon, also took his place with essays as the master of english prose. Due to this he is regarded as the father of modern english prose 4. Francis bacon is the writer of renaissance and bertrand russell is the writer of modern age. Incomplete and posthumously issued, his account of an ideal state in the new atlantis reveals both practical methods and unique fantasy. They cover topics drawn from both public and private life, and in. Francis bacon, in full francis bacon, viscount saint alban, also called 160318 sir francis bacon, born january 22, 1561, york house, london, englanddied april 9, 1626, london, lord chancellor of england 161821. Who was francis bacon and what was his contribution to. Prose writers of elizabethan age with special reference to. His essays are famous for their wit and aphoristic style. Several relatively affordable editions of the prose of francis bacon have appeared recently in paperback.
Bacon is lauded for his first performance, approved of as the originator of a new prose style in english, and harnessed with the popularity of his first achievement. Which point makes francis bacon the father of essay. Bacon the father of the english essay english tutorial. Feb 11, 2018 due to this he is regarded as the father of english essay before bacon, prose had more ornate and figurative style. This is because bacons essays have a certain distinctive characteristics which make us question the classification of their genre. John wycliffe the morning star of the reformation 18. Hie verse is technically excellent not for nothing is he called the father of english poetry. Bacons writing is the distillation of many manners of prose writing up to 1602.
He could express great ideas in short and effective sentences. Known popularly as the father of english essays, his essays have an evergreen freshness and an. These men lived in england in the ninth, late16th to early17th, and 14th centuries. His way of writing shares, no doubt, a number of qualities with that of elizabethan and jacobean writers. Notes and questions on the english prose of francis bacon. Bacon s writing is direct and to the point, the kind of plain prose his role model in essay writing, montaigne, excelled at. In april, 1573, he was sent, along with his brother. In the development of modern prose style, there were two traditions, one being the. Francis bacon, regarded by many as the father of english prose and the first notable example of the empiricist tendencies of english thought, keenly experienced and observed human mind, human activities as well as human life and wrote down them in his short but meditative essays on different topics. He is known as one of the greatest poet of old english period.
Bacons writing is direct and to the point, the kind of plain prose his role model in essay writing, montaigne, excelled at. Francis bacons was a life lived to extravagant extremes. The whole essay proves the intellectuality of sir francis bacon. Francis bacon was not only one of the greatest writers, but also a great english statesman, philosopher and politician. One must read the story of his life, an obscure and lovely life animated by a great spirit as told by izaak walton, to appreciate the full force of his contrast. He was a keen and intelligent observer of man and his life. He was born on 22 nd january in 1561 at york house near the. He gave more importance to latin, and all his works were written in that language, except essays, which were written in english. Dec 27, 2010 but, above all, bacon was the first to set up through his personal example a model of english prose which had hitherto been nonexistent. Nov 11, 2018 francis bacon has widely been read all over the world not only because of his philosophy but also because of his prose style. October 26, 2017 2 francis bacon is considered the father of modern english prose. He is often referred to as the father of empiricism. Moreover, he is called the father of english prose not only because of his deep philosophy but also because of his writing style.
Sir francis bacon s fame in england and even abroad rests very largely on his essays. Most of them are written on abstract but practical. All writings of contemporary prose are by sir francis bacon, also known as the father of english prose. Who was francis bacon and what was his contribution to english. The younger of sir nicholas and lady annes two sons, francis bacon. Francis bacon prose style stylistic qualities of bacons. Oct 26, 2017 write a short essay on bacon s prose style.
As we know francis bacon is known as the father of inductive reasoning and. Empiricism states that knowledge comes only from sensory experiencetherefore. He wrote essays in sixteenth century when the popular literary trend was poetry. Long, bacon s famous essays are the one work, which interests all students of english literature. Bacon, the father of english essay, is the first great english essayist who enjoys a glorious reputation. His essays introduce a new form of composition into english literature. Francis bacon 15611626 was an english philosopher of science considered the father of the scientific method and essayist, sometimes credited as being the first in the tradition of british empiricism and thus the father of empiricism. So the 17 century becomes the time for essay to enter in english literature. Bacons prose style is very distinctive and aphoristic. William tyndales influence, not only on the early translations of the bible into english, but also on the development of an early english modern prose has been significant enough to earn him the title of the father of english prose.
Attempt a critical discussion on william hazlitts essay, in praise of chimney sweeper. Francis bacon is considered the father of modern english prose. The great classical poet alexander pope regarded him as the wisest, the brightest and the meanest of mankind. Certain stylistic qualities in bacons essays helped him in gaining fame. Francis bacon literary prose wiki fandom powered by wikia. Francis bacon has widely been read all over the world because of his prose style. In strong contrast with bacon is richard hooker, one of the greatest prose writers of the elizabethan age. By proving the point he created a formal article in his simple and complicated style. Identify the theme and issues in a huxleys essay, pleasures. Bacon borrowed the general conception of his essays from the french writer and philosopher montaigne. Essay examples of analysis of francis bacons the four idols.
Bacon s influential works were greatly influenced by the renaissance creed. Aug 22, 2010 bacons writing is the distillation of many manners of prose writing up to 1602. The sudden death of his father in february 1579 prompted bacon to return to england. Chaucers canterbury tales has one lengthy section in prose, although the vast majority of the work is in verse. William shakespeare the father of english drama 21. Seene and allowed 1597 was the first published book by the philosopher, statesman and jurist francis bacon. The broadview anthology of seventeenthcentury prose. Therefore his style of writing is very prosaic, normative and formalistic.
English literature is in debt to him for making large reformation in english prose. His one great work is the laws of ecclesiastical polity, a theological and argumentative book. Then by the features mentioned above, francis bacon wrote his literary works, such. If brevity is the soul of wit, bacons essays reflect that style. Long, bacons famous essays are the one work, which interests all students of english literature. His observation was minute and accurate and his essays cover a. Bacon as a father of modern english literature slideshare. Jan 05, 2018 bacon is lauded for his first performance, approved of as the originator of a new prose style in english, and harnessed with the popularity of his first achievement. A comparative study of francis bacon and bertrand russells prose style 772 such as historical prose, fictional prose, oratorical prose etc. Francis bacon and renaissance prose cambridge english. Nov 02, 2017 to conclude, we can say that francis bacon was the prominent prose writer of the elizabethan age, and also considered as a father of essays in english literature of the world.
Separate editions that include all of the essays, alphabetically by editor, are as follows. Geoffrey chaucer is known as the father of english literature. At the age of 12, he went to cambridge, but left the university early, declaring the whole plan of education to be irrational. Francis bacon was born to english parents living in dublin, ireland, on october 28, 1909, and is the collateral descendant and namesake of the famed 16th17th century philosopher. Jan 25, 2019 conclusion of of studies by sir francis bacon. Francis bacon bacon is one of the most famous prose writers of the time was francis bacon who is also known as the father of the english prose. Every line, written by the author, is philosophically rich. There is a terseness of expression and epigrammatic brevity in the. Of studies exhibits all the characteristic of his prose style and they are. Jan 27, 2010 francis bacons prose style sir francis bacons fame in england and even abroad rests very largely on his essays. But all admit that he is one of the greatest writers of english prose of his age. He tries to demonstrate his thinking in concise words. He gave more importance to latin, and all his works were written in that. As an essayist as a man of letters, bacon is popularly known for his prose style.
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