Of Studies 课件

3. forceful and striking
---parallelism: balanced sentence structures 排比句
Style: how does the author use language in a unique way
---diction (individual choice of words) formal or informal words, colloquial ---syntax: long and complex sentences, or short, simple sentences; parallelism and balance; rhythm, punctuations ---- figure of speech: the use of simile, metaphor, images of comparisons, etc, in order to clarify abstract ideas, thoughts and feelings, and to illustrate a point with vividness
Francis Bacon (1561—1626)
Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. representative of the English Renaissance Statesman, philosopher , essayist Lord Keeper of the Seal and then Lord Chancellor of England. A pioneer of modern scientific thought. philosophy of materialism Scientific experiment, fresh observation, inductive reasoning (deductive thinking ) “A real progenitor of English Materialism”. The Advancement of Learning (1605) Novum Organum (1620). 《新工具》 新工具》 The New Atlantis(1626) (Utopia )
2. easy to understand
---simile ---metaphor ---analogy
Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need proyning by study Distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things. There is no stond or impediment in the wit but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises.
Of Studies
It is the most popular of Bacon’s 58 essays. It analyzes what studies chiefly serve for, the different ways adopted by different people to pursue studies, and how studies exert influence over human character. Forceful and persuasive, compact (简洁的) and precise, “Of Studies” reveals to us Bacon’s mature attitude toward learning. This essay impresses the reader not only by its argumentative strength but also by its elegance of style.
structure: how thought connect with thought Thought: ideas, views, arguments (Can be with feelings)
梁实秋散文 周作人散文 余光中散文 余秋雨散文 宗璞散文 杨朔散文 周国平散文
Of Studies
Elements of the Essay
Voice (tone, attitude)
---formal, dignified, elegant, solemn, allusive, authoritative, reversed,Baidu Nhomakorabeacontrolled ---casual, intimate, and conversational, humorous, concise and sharp, urgent, insistent, witty and charming
Bacon’s literary success: Essays
58 essays (1597 and 1625): covering a wide variety of subjects in relation to the social life of his age. Usually each essay discusses a single subject, for instance, Of Studies, Of Beauty, Of Riches. Short as they are, these essays show Bacon’s profundity in understanding man and society. Bacon’s essays were under the impact of Montaigne (蒙田 a French 蒙田), 蒙田 essayist in the age of Renaissance. Bacon’s essays are characterized by their conciseness and brevity, simplicity and forcefulness, practicality and versatility. Many sentences in his essays are succinct (简洁 impersonal (客观 简洁), 客观), 简洁 客观 aphoristic (似格言 and have become very popular. 似格言), 似格言 Bacon’s essays are recognized as an important landmark in the development of English prose.
What is the main idea?
1. what purposes does studies chiefly serve for? 2. How should people study? ---different attitudes to studies ---different ways adopted by different people 3. What influence do studies have on our human character?
Language and Style
1. succinct and concise
---ellipsis (omission) ---short sentences
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. Histories make men wise; poets () witty; the mathematics () subtitle; natural philosophy () deep; moral () grave; logic and rhetoric () able to contend
by Francis Bacon (1561—1626)
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. 知识就是力量。 知识就是力量。 Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. 读书使人充实，讨论使人机智，笔记使人准确。 读书使人充实，讨论使人机智，笔记使人准确。 Some books are to be tasted， others to be swallowed， and ， ， some few to be chewed and digested. 书有可浅尝者，有可吞食者，少数则须咀嚼消化。 书有可浅尝者，有可吞食者，少数则须咀嚼消化。 Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtitle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. 读史使人明智，读诗使人灵秀，数学使人周密，科学使人深刻， 读史使人明智，读诗使人灵秀，数学使人周密，科学使人深刻，伦理学 使人庄重， 使人庄重，逻辑修辞之学使人善辩 Wives are young men’s mistresses, companions for middle age, and old men’s nurses.
Essay Reading
What is an essay? (Prose?)
An article which discusses a topic. It undertakes to discuss a matter, express a point of view, persuade us to accept a thesis on any subject, or simply entertain. Inviting us to enter a world of thought and experience, it persuades us to view things in a particular way. ---direct and explicit (exposition of ideas) ---Based on facts, data and information, it is more factual rather than fictional. (In contrast to the imaginative feature of other genres) It has uncertain status in literature.
Types of Essays
Narrative essays: to tells stories, chronicle events Expository essays: to explain ideas and attitudes Speculative essays: to explore ideas and feelings, less authoritative, less insistent Argumentative essays: to make claims and present evidences to support