Write the summary and explanation of the essay entitled "OF STUD

Write the summary and explanation of the essay entitled “OF STUDIES”.

Ans.

Summary of the Essay

Studies are useful in day to day life. They give delight to the lonely, add charm in conversation and develop the ability to discharge the duties of life. At the same time excess of studies is forbidden because they make a person idle, their conversation are affected and the duties of life turn idealistic and unreal. Studies help in the development of natural qualities. Crafty persons look down upon studies, ordinary persons appreciate studies and wise persons use them to their best advantage in life. Studies should develop the ability to comprehend things properly. They are just like natural plants as proyning is necessary for plants similarly they are perfected and developed by experience. There are three types of books-some are to read partially some are to be read wholly and some are to be read with great care and deliberation followed up with careful concentration to comprehend, appreciate and understand the contents and their significance. The habit of reading makes a person full of knowledge, the habit of makes him precise and systematic, the habit of conversation makes him any person. Studies of different subjects help in the development of different mental faculties study of history makes a man wise, poetry witty, mathematics deep, philosophy deep, moral serious, logic and rhetoric able to discuss. The defects of mind are cured by the study of different subjects. Studies also help in moulding human character.

EXPLANATIONS

(1) “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 car 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.”

Reference: These lines have been taken from the essay ‘Of Studies’ written by the ‘father of the essays’ Sir Francis Bacon.

Context: In this essay the author discusses the significance of studies in human life.

Explanation: He says that studies have three fold functions to per form. They give delight and satisfaction. Studies also help in imparting beauty to the conversation. lastly, the studies give ability and wisdom to perform his duty in a good way. Learned persons are balanced and systematic in their opinions and so they judge well before taking any action.

Critical Comments: Bacon’s essays are a fine example of aphorism. Here also he has employed this device with great excellence.

(2) To spend too much time in studies, is sloth, to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to makes judgment wholly by their rules, is the humour of a scholar they perfect nature, and are perfected by experience for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning. By study, and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in experience.”

Explanation: Here the writer says that too much use of studies shows the laziness of the concerned scholar. If a person uses them too much for beautifying his conversation shows his caprice of making a show of his learning and if the person takes any decision entirely on the basis of theoretical learning without considering the practical aspects, it shows the whin of a scholar. Studies develop natural abilities and they themselves are perfected by experience because they are like natural plants as the trimming of plants and trees help them to grow healthily, similarly good experience develops the benefit of studies. Experience is also needed because the guidance provided by studies is not exact but vogue and general. They can be properly used only with the help of experience.

Critical Comment: Figure of speech Simile has been used in these.

(3) “Crafty men condemn 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.

Reference to the Context: These lines occur in Sir Francis Bacon’s enlightening essay ‘of Studies’. Here the writer describe different attitude of different persons regarding studies.

Explanation: Bacon says that there are various kinds of persons, cunning persons look down upon studies because in their opinion the knowledge obtained through them in impractical the hence useless for them. The foolish persons always have a feeling of respect for them because they feel greatly impressed by studies. But the wise readers use the knowledge of the books to their advantage in their daily life. Studies don’t know their own use. It depends on the wise persons and their keep and careful observation. Through their observation they learn how to use them in their life.

(4) 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 as to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be read only in parts; others to be read but not curiously and some few to be read wholly and with diligence and affection.

Reference: These lines have taken from the essay ‘Of Studies’ written by Sir Francis Bacon, the father of the essays.

Context: The wise readers use the knowledge of the books to their advantage in daily life.

Explanation: Study depends on the wise persons who through their observation learn how to use the teaching of books in their own life. The habit of reading makes a person full of knowledge. The author says that all books are not to be studied in the same way. Bacon advises the raiders not to read books to oppose. Studies should develop the ability to comprehend things prosperity. Books are perfected and developed by experience like natural plants. There are three type of books-some are to read partially, some are to be read wholly and some are to be read with great care and deliberation followed up with careful concentration to comprehend appreciate and understand the con tents and their significance. The readers should try to understand their deep meanings. Bacon believes that books carry their significance in different ways and they should be read accordingly.

Note: The passage beautifully presents Bacon’s depth of knowledge and wide spread experience.

(5) “Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man, and writing an exact man; and, therefore, if a man write little, he had need haves 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.”

Context: Here Bacon highlights the advantage of studies and says that from reading, writing and doing conversation are of great advantage.

Explanation: Reading of books make a person complete. It develops the insights of comprehension and judgment. It makes him a profound scholar. The habit of discussion and exchange of ideas with others, sharpens the intellect and makes a person quick witted. Again the habit of writing makes a person brief disciplined and orderly in the expression of his views. Hence if a person writes little he should have a great memory. If he converse a little, he should have a good wit, and if a person reads little should have proper cleverness.

Comment: The passage is a beautiful presentation of the importance of studies in the life of a man. It shows the depth of Bacon’s knowledge.