Of Studies Questions and Answers
1. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.” Explain the line.
In the essay Of Studies’, Francis Bacon expresses his views on studies. Bacon’s sound advice to readers is to read actively and effectively. He tells us to build critical views while reading. Bacon suggests that reading should not be a practice that encourages disagreement. On the other hand, he discourages the readers to blindly believe any bookish theory as mere gospel. Bacon wams readers saying that reading should not be done for the sole purpose of collecting materials for conversation, debate and discussion.
One should read for the single purpose to read the text, analyse it, judge its credibility and validity, and then build a critical approach to form one’s own conclusions. Therefore, the real aim of studies is to sieve the important information from the rest, to put weightage to the proper materials for study and to consider the correct application of knowledge.
2. What should be the style of reading books on different subjects ? How does it help us for a meaningful existence ?
Books with diverse content need different ways of reading. A few books require a cursory reading. Such books are not of much concern to a reader. The reader can either concentrate on parts or read with little attention, If a reader wants to go deep, he needs great diligence. For matters of little interest, assistance may be taken. Extracts or summary can be read. Inferior and flashy publications do not deserve much interest. Therefore, readers should choose proper books for reading. Also, a reader should not read books to oppose or refute its content, nor should one accept everything that it says passively. One should also not read a book to collect materials for embellishing his conversation.
3. Reading helps us to think with logic and reasoning. analyse and scrutinise carefully and make adjustments accordingly for meaningful existance.
What are the benefits of study? What are its disadvantages?
We get primanly three types of benefits from study. First, it gives us delight. In our leisure hours studies give us enjoyment. Secondly, reading adds great value to our speech in daily life. It develops our ability to speak with others effectively. Thirdly, studies help us to judge everyday matters. and issues of life with ease and success. Lastly, the leamed men know the art of giving advice and use their skill in ‘marshalling affairs’ in life only with the help of their reading habits.
Bacon has written about some disadvantages of study. He thinks that spending a lot of time on reading causes laziness. Use of bookish knowledge in speech and high-flown words to impress others sounds strange. Too much use of theoretical knowledge in real life is foolishness. One who judges a situation by rules of books will meet failure in life. Study alone can hardly help one to overcome all the problems.
4. What is the use of studies, as propagated by Bacon in his ‘Of Studies’?
In his essay Of Studies, Francis Bacon explains that there are three main uses of study. First, it gives us delight. In our leisure time and in our privacy, we can spend our time reading books, which provides us both with education and enjoyment. Secondly, reading helps us to speak and communicate with people more efficiently. A thorough study of books helps in improving the speech and adding elaborate ornamentation to give weightage.
Finally, studies help us to deal with the everyday affairs of life more effectively. It enhances a person’s natural abilities. It Increases a person’s power of judgement and gives us indications as to how and in which way one should proceed. Studies help professional experts to deal with particular cases successfully.
5. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested;” -Where is the above sentence extracted from? Explain the analogy.
The above sentence is extracted from the essay Of Studies by Francis Bacon, who is considered the ‘Father of English Essay.
Bacon has made this comment in the context of different ways of reading books. He says that all books are not to be read in the same manner. Here Bacon has meticulously used an exquisite analogy
where books are analogous to food or the art of consuming food, to convey the categorization of books. In the first category, comes the books that are to be tasted which means that some books should be read in parts and not to be read thoroughly. These books are just worthy of a quick reading. They are to be read for fun and delight.
It is so because when we read them, we do not seek any deep. knowledge for example, the reading of a comic book. In the second category, he puts the books that are meant to be swallowed. To put it in other words, some books are to be read hastily, just for the sake of committing them to the memory for example, a railway timetable or notes for the examination.
Lastly, he says some few books are to be chewed and digested. He means to say that very few books demand our whole-hearted attention. These books contain important philosophical ideas that should be read slowly and thoughtfully. We need to understand and imbibe them. These books raise the readers’ level of thought and enrich their intellect. One is able to consume more than the content of these types of books. So, one has to be extremely choosy while reading because choice of books typify a particular character.
6. What is Bacon’s view on various types of books as expressed in ‘Of Studies’?
In his essay ‘Of Studies’ Francis Bacon mentions about different types of books and how they should be studied. He classifies books in accordance with the amount of attention that a reader should give in their reading. With wonderful skill Bacon has used at once three figures of speech metaphor, antithesis and climax. He has used the metaphor of eating by which he indicates the different ways of studying. He portrays books as various dishes offered at a banquet.
They are to be consumed in various ways. Some books are only to be tasted. They are not to be consumed fully and hence meant for mere cunsory reading. These books are just to be sampled and require no conscious reading from title to title. In the second category, there are books which are to be swallowed. These books are to be read completely but not with much labour or attention. We require only hurried reading of them. Only a very few number of books are selected to be read with complete and perfect attention. They demand a full grasp.
They are to be read thoroughly line by line, page to page Some books are also there which may be read with the help of an assistant or secretary. Instead of reading these books thoroughly one can have the summary of these for his/her knowledge. Of course, Bacon also warmed us that the summaries and extracts of books are always tasteless. insipid reading. Bacon compared them with distilled water which is equally tasteless but of course equally hygienic.
7. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.” Who made the above-mentioned aphoristic comment and where ? Elaborate the sentence to unravel its meaning.
The famous essayist Francis Bacon made the above-mentioned aphoristic comment in his essay ‘Of Studies In these lines Francis Bacon describes the total outcorne of reading, conference and writing. All these three yield three types of results. The exact mode of study is always reading books, making discussions with others about what we have read and then, noting down the excerpts from the books that we have gone through. Through reading a man matures his understanding and enriches himself with many information.
A man who is not well read, often suffers from many loopholes in his understanding and only adequate reading helps him to plug those loopholes. He thus becomes a full man, a man with fully developed power of mind, knowledge and information. Conversation and discussion with others about what he has read simply sharpen and polish a man’s wit. It makes him a ready man, a man who can give a quick and apt reply according to the occasion.
Thus, conversation makes him quick-witted, precise and accurate. The habit of writing makes a man precise or accuate even to the minor details. In fact, the habit of taking down the notes and commnets while reading fixes the ideas permanently in the memory which cannot be easily forgotten.
If a man reads little he must have much cleverness or intelligence so that others may not find his ignorance. A quick-witted man with a sharp presence of mind can do without much talking or conversation. Similarly, if a man writes little, he must have a strong memory so that he can preserve in memory whatever he has read.
8. What are the different subjects to study ? How do they help to develop knowledge and character?
The different subjects to study mentioned by Bacon in ‘Of Studies’ are history, poetry, mathematics, philosophy, logic and thetonic.
Studies influence a man’s character and mould his personality. Man is in the possession of a tool that no other animal has. Yes, language, and hence a host of books on different subjects. There is a unique diversity in the sphere of subjects. Naturally different kinds of subjects have different effects on the readers. History lends wisdom to a character.
Poetry tums a man imaginative and gives him ingenuity. Mathematics gives one keen understanding and subtlety. Reading of logic and rhetoric prepares one for debate and argument. Natural philosophy enables a man to go deep into a subject and moral philosophy fosters a serious attitude in him/her. A reader should choose a book weighing its value before delving deep into the reading materials.
9. “Abeunt studia in mores” – From where is the line taken ? Who is the author ? Explain the thought hidden in the line.
The Latin phrase ‘abeunt studia in mores’ is actually found in Ovid’s work. Here this line is taken from the essay Of Studies.
Francis Bacon is the author of the essay.
This Latin expression if translated in English, means studies pass in and influence manners. In other words, what ane studies never fails to shape or mould one’s character. Bacon here quotes from Ovid’s poem “Heroides XV,83, to bring home his point that what one studies never goes in vain, rather it adds something positive to the readers’ character.
In this way the reading of history adds to a man’s wisdom; the reading of poetry makes one witty; the study of mathematics brings intellectual refinement; The study of natural philosophy or science lends depth to one’s mind, the study of moral philosophy or ethics makes one serious in his thinking and behaviour, the study of logic and rhetoric prepares one for debate and reasoning. Thus, whatever we study leaves a mark on our mind and moulds our character.
10. “Nay, there is no stond or impediment in the wit…” -How does wit impede the mind ? What will be the solution to such an issue?
Wit is a natural ability to use intellect for inventive thought and understanding. It helps in problem solving and creating innovation. But human mind sometimes fails to comprehend a matter because wit does not work properly. The mind can neither focus well nor it can use wit to judge things.
However, it can be sharpened by selective reading. If one fails to concentrate, one should practise mathematics Studying mathematics helps one overcome lack of concentration. If a person does not have the ability to discem, he should study the ‘Schoolmen’. As a result, the art of expression will be developed within him. If a person fails to collect facts, remember them and use them in his views, studying law cases will help him. Only in such law cases precedents are used at every step.
11. How can different kinds of diseases be overcome by exercises ? How can different kinds of mental defects be overcome?
Bacon had varied knowledge as he was a well-read man. His essay ‘Of Studies’ clearly demonstrates this fact. In order to illustrate a particular point Bacon refers to the curative power of exercises. He has said that as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises to get then cured, studies of different subjects cure different mental ailments and thus develop a perfect mind. He goes on listing out the benefits of various types of exercises.
Bowling is good for kidneys and helps to prevent gall bladder stone; shooting is good for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach and riding for the brain. These exercises are necessary for keeping the body fit and healthy, Mind is an extension of the body and very much prone to illness. Humans have certain mental defects which can be easily cured by studies. Il a man vacillates or is indecisive, he should study mathematics.
If a man is unable to make distinctions between things, he should study the writings of the philosophers of Middle Ages. Inability to examine a subject clearly from point to point makes it imperative for a man to study lawyers’ cases.
12. Write a note on the curative power of studies.
Studies have great curative value and Francis Bacon analysed how studies can be used to cure different mental shortcomings. Different kinds of diseases of the body can be cured with different kinds of exercises. Very often men suffer from the formation of stone in their kidney and the gall bladder. For such patients playing at bowls is a good prescription. To cure the diseases of the lungs and the heart, shooting or archery, which is an exercise with bow and arrow, will prove good. For all sorts of stomach troubles like acidity, indigestion and the like, slow walking is a very good exercise.
To cure the diseases of the head like giddiness, headache etc, riding is the best remedy. So, also various defects of the mind can be cured by proper kind of study. The study of mathematics is beneficial for a man who cannot concentrate on a particular point. If he can engage himself in a mathematical proof for a proposition, he can concentrate on one thing only and thus, in case of lapse, has to start all over again. If a man cannot distinguish between one thing and the other or fails to notice any subtle distinctions, Bacon recommends the study of scholastic philosophy.
The Christian scholars of the Middle Ages who applied Aristotelian logic to the doctrine of Christianity were known as the Schoolmen. These Schoolmen even distinguished and analysed those points of differences which normally the men of ordinary merit or understanding could not even think of. For a man who cannot go from one point to another quite logically, who cannot prove one thing or explain the other, the study of legal cases is useful for him. Lawyers always give particular attention to all such things. Thus, all defects of the mind can be cured through specific studies.
Read More – The Garden Party Question Answer