Bacon as a father of Modern English Literature and his prose style in different essay’s. By Ayesha Khalid BS English Literature

1. BACON AS A FATHER OF
MODERN ENGLISH
LITERATURE AND HIS
PROSE STYLE IN
DIFFERENT ESSAY’S.
By
Ayesha Khalid BS English Literature

2. 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.

3. 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 "

4. 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.

5. 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)

6. 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.

7. 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 truth
These 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.