BACON AS A FATHER OF MODERN ENGLISH LITERATURE AND HIS PROSE STYLE IN DIFFERENT ESSAY’S.

By Ayesha Khalid BS English Literature

DEFINITION OF PROSE:

The word prose is derived from the Latin word 'prorsus' which means direct or straight and also signifies the plain speech of mankind. It is written without any reference to the rules of verse. We can also say that it is an excellent medium of expression.

BACKGROUND:

The art of prose writing developed during the Middle ages lost its glory and during Renaissance it again achieved the highest position. Bacon is one of the champion of renaissance. The great defect found in English prose was prolixity and diffuseness. Bacon put an end to this. He evolved such a prose style which proved that English can be used as a medium of expression. Due to this he is regarded as the "Father of Modern English Prose "

PROSE STYLE:

Bacon's prose style is very distinctive and aphoristic. This is the main reason of his utmost respect and admiration in both literary and non literary circles.

SALIENT FEATURES OF HIS STYLE:1: Aphoristic Style:Bacon's style is most remarkable for its terseness and condensation.

Although his sentences are brief but they are extremely forceful. He knows the art of making huge statements into abridged form, which appears to be very captivating and enchanting for readers. The essays of Bacon have to be read very slowly because of the compact and condensed thought. His essays are the true model of aphorism.

Examples:1: Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.( Of

Studies)This statement appears to be very condensed and concise but the

thought it carries is quiet deep. It represents that study is an activity which brings joy and happiness and enhances our thinking ,writing ,reading and speaking abilities. It also adds charm to our personality. Study is the most finest way of gaining wisdom.

2: Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.(Of Studies)

It means that reading adds perfection to man's personality. Discussing with others about the contents of book impart special practical skills to the reader. Writing removes all the residual weakness from the reader's personality.

3: Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other.(Of Death)

2: Antithetical statements:The force of aphoristic statements depends upon other

stylistic devices which supplement them; such devices are the 'balance' and 'antithesis' which mark the most of his sentence structure.

Examples: In essay Of Studies there is a use of three fold balance. 1: Studies serve for delight, for ornament and for ability.2: Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them

,and wise men use them.3: Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed

and some few to be chewed and digested.3:A Rhetorician:Bacon is considered as one of the greatest rhetorician. He

has a great power of attracting and persuading his readers. His essays are the finest examples of his persuasion.

Examples: 1: A man that sudieth revenge, keeps his own wounds

green.This example is taken from Of Revenge.

4:His Imagery and Analogy:The extensive use of metaphors, images, similes and analogies add excellence to

the Bacon's essays. According to Bacon these devices are important for persuasion. He draws his imagery from nature and everyday life while he draws his analogies from classical mythology, Bible, astronomy and philosophy.

Examples:Use of analogy:1:Clear and round creating is the honor of men's nature and that mixture of

falsehood is like alloy in coin of gold and silver, which may make the mental work better, but it embaseth it.

In this essay Of Truth, Bacon's communicates the idea of man's natural love of lie and proneness to mix falsehood with truth. He compares the falsehood to an alloy in the coin of gold or silver. The alloy makes the metal work better, but it lowers the value of metal.

Use of metaphors:2: For a crowd is not company, and faces are but a gallery of pictures, and talk but a

thinking symbol, where there is no love.3:Certainly it is heaven upon earth to have men's mind move in charity, rest in

providence, and turn upon the pole of truthThese examples are taken from an essay Of Truth.5:Allusion and Quotations:History bears the testimony that Bacon draws many allusions and quotations from

classical fables, Bible, History, the ancient Greek and Roman writers and also from the collection of proverbs. They serve to make his style more scholarly.

Example:In his essay Of Truth he draws allusions and quotations from Lucian, Lucretius and Montaigne.

6: Symmetrical Syntax:According to B.Vicker Syntactical symmetry is another quality of Bacon's style.

Syntax refers to the grammatical structure.Example:1: The good things which belongs to prosperity are to be wished, but the good

things which belong to the adversity are to be admired. These lines are taken from Of Adversity ,and through these lines we can easily

judge this syntactical style.7: Wit:There is no humor in Bacon essays but there is ample of wit. He is the master of

the skillful use of words.Examples:1: Through dignities men rises to dignity.2: By pain men comes to greater pain.8: Full of Wisdom:Bacon's essays are full of wisdom. His every word is like a pearl in the ocean of

knowledge.Example:1: Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.It is taken from Of Studies.9: Obscurity:Sometimes too much condensation leads to obscurity.Example:1: 'Secrecy in suits is a great mean of obtaining'.It is taken from Of Suitors.

CONCLUSION:

In a nutshell, it can be said that Bacon aphoristic style adds great charm to his work. We can say that his intellect, wit and wisdom are being packed in minimum possible words. There is a note of spontaneity in his essays. We cannot denied his position in English Literature.