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 Elements and Qualities of Francis
Bacon's Prose Style
 

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Introductory

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Style is a particular way or manner in which something is
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performed, said, done or written. It is style which makes or
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mars the visual, as well as the philosophical aspect of a piece
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of writing. Without style, a piece of writing losses its

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attraction both philosophically and visually. Sir Francis

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Bacon is known as the father of English Prose. Bacon

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implements the style of Montaigne, a French essayist and

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originator of essays in general. Montaigne was known for his

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distinctive art of brevity. Bacon adopted Montaigne's style in

his essays.

Elements of Bacon's Prose Style

 

Vocabulary
In terms of vocabulary, Bacon stands on the second number
after Shakespeare. Although his reading was only limited to
the Latin version of the Bible and the philosophers of
medieval ages, yet he introduced their philosophy to the
English language by using apt. Vocabulary in his essays.

Quotations

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The use of quotation was an order of that day. Bacon, as well,

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diversified his essays through the use of appropriate

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quotations. For example in his essay Of Adversity, Bacon

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quotes a quotation from Seneca "Good things which belong
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to prosperity are to be wished, but the good things which
belong to adversity are to be admired"
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Sentences
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The sentences of Bacon Essays are well "balance and point".

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Unlike other prose writers of the Elizabethan Era, who

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preferred to structurise their sentences in an old fashion,

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Bacon preferred to use modern structure.

Figures of Speech

The main crux of Bacon Essays are the use of figure of

speech. His essays are loaded with similes, metaphors,
analogies, wit & pith, epigrams and aphorism. No other
writer has excelled Bacon in terms of superb use of figurative
speech. Such elements, collectively make his essays quotable
in any form of writing. For example, in his essay Of Studies,
he classifies books in following joyful epigram: "Some books
are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be
chewed and digested;

Qualities of Bacon's Prose Style

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Simplicity

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Bacon's writings are simple in terms of sentence structure.
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But this simplicity is deceptive and an eyewash. To
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understand the entire context of his essays, one must have

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been acquainted with ancient schools of philosophers and

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with Latin. But most of the sentences in his essays are easy
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to grasp. For example, in his essay, Of Expense, he asserts

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the importance of wealth in a simple manner:

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Riches are for spending and spending for honour and for
good actions.

Brevity
One of the prominent features of Bacon Prose Style is
brevity. Bacon is well versed in the art of building a bridge
over the sea. A single sentence carries a sea of meanings in
it. His essays can be explained in volumes. Bacon prologues
his essay Of Revenge:

Revenge is a wild kind of justice.

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This is a beautiful example of brevity.

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Strength

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The strength of Bacon's Essays, according to critics is
intellectual, not emotional. Bacon's Essays make people
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think of their characters and doings. Bacon says what he has

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to say in plain words what he observes. His essays are rich in

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philosophical truth and amoral realities. For instance, in his

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essay Of Truth, he unveils how people are brave enough to lie

in front of God and how they hide themselves from other
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people:

A lie faces God and shrinks from men.

Conclusion
Bacon's Essays are unique in style and coupled with brevity,
epigrammatic terseness, peculiar pithy, wonderful wit, apt.
aphorism, alienic quotations, structural simplicity, intense
vocabulary and intellectual strength to lucidify his position
as the Father of English Prose.

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 Kinds of Prose
There are three major kinds of Prose:

1. Declarative Prose: Describes an aspect (or more than one

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aspect) of a certain idea, theory or scientific term, with

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the help of all five human senses, fully and promptly.

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2. Narrative Prose: Narrates/tells a story about a person, a

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place or something else, it can be fictional or based on
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reality. All the dramas, fictions, short stories and novels
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etc. are some examples of Narrative Prose
3. Expository Prose: This type of prose is widely used in
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newspapers, magazines and in internet blogs to

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elaborate a specific topic.

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 Sir Francis Bacon as a Worldly
Wise Person
What is Worldly Wisdom?

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Wisdom is the most refined and top-notch form of

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knowledge. Worldly wisdom is that type of wisdom which is

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required to achieve success in this world. Initially, worldly
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wisdom favours the attainment of success through fair and
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good means. However, it does not condemn the evil means
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to gain personal advantages as well. In other terms, we may

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call this Machiavellianism.

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Bacon's Portrayal as a Worldly Wise Man

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It is indisputable that Bacon's essays teach tactics to attain

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worldly success through the oft. disputed worldly wisdom.

Bacon was truly devoted to Renaissance which was an age of
the extortion of knowledge and exploitation of power. Mr.
Bacon was a highly intellectual person whose eyes were fixed
at a certain goal which centred at the attainment of power,
wealth and knowledge. The essays curated by Bacon also
preach its readers to gain knowledge for worldly success.
Worldly Wisdom in Bacon's Essays
Mr. Bacon and his essays are a hallmark of intellectual
enterprise. The core subject of Bacon's essays is the man
who is living for worldly success. His essays provide a sound
base to test and practice one's authority for his personal
gains but not without wisdom. For instance, Bacon
condemns 'cunning' not for its hateful nature, but for its

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unwise property. Bacon deems his essays as "counsel - civil

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and moral". In his essay, "Of Truth", Mr. Bacon glorifies

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truth and wants us, the people to exercise truth in our lives

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as thus: "A lie faces God and shrinks from man." His main
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objective behind writing this sentence is to make a person
fearful of the dooms day and God because God hates lie and
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liars. But on another moment, he asserts the importance of a

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lie as an alloy which 'strengthens' the quality of gold (truth)

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and according to him, a lie makes life colourful and

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enjoyable, "A lie doth ever add pleasure." Sir Bacon unveils
the difficult and responsible life of the authority in his essay
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"Of Great Place" in following words, "It is a strange desire to

seek power and to lose liberty; By pains men come to greater
pains" But then, his worldly wit wakes up and he advises,
"All rising to great place is by a winding stair; and if there be
factions [problems, conflicts], it is good to side a man’s self
whilst he is rising and to behave himself when he is placed."
This is purely a utilitarian advise and makes Bacon's writings
rather cynical (stern, kurakht). Mr. Bacon also blesses the
noble hobby of reading with his maxims pertaining to
worldly wisdom. In "Of Studies", he quotes, "Reading
maketh a full man, conference a ready man and writing an
exact man." Then he asserts the most intellectual but
elective advise to all the readers to select books with due care
[and the ones with good reputation], "Some books are to be
tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed
and digested."

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Mr. Bacon

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Bacon's Worldly Wisdom in his Actual Life

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Bacon was a lawyer by profession. In his essay, "Of Suitors",

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he advised his fellowmen to tell the truth about the possible

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chances of winning a case to his petitioner but in other

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passage, Mr. Bacon dilutes his "Saint-Like" portrait and says

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that if a patron changes sides for the non-deserving party,

then you have to charge him extra so that the deserving
party should not bear any great loss. [Extremely cynical!]
Earl of Essex was Bacon's loyal patron but when he got in
legal trouble, Bacon betrayed him and stood against him.
Resultantly, Earl of Essex was encaged in prison. Why did
Bacon grow so poisonous against the one who provided
enough resources to make him the Bacon we know? The
answer is simple. He wanted to appear in the good books of
Queen Elizabeth. So, Bacon practised his wisdom for the
worldly pursuits.

Conclusion
Manifestly, Bacon and his essays highlight his benefit

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seeking attitude, even in the matters of the heart. However,

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his Machiavelanistic essays, enriched with worldly wisdom,
earnestly teaches its readers to claim worldly success.

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Sources and Suggested Readings
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1. https://malinotes.blogspot.com/2014/03/worldly-
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wisdom-and-pragmatism-in-bacons.html
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2. http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-
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subjects/group-v/english-literature/269-francis-bacon-
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worldly-
wisdom.html#:~:text=The%20term%20worldly%20wisd
e

om%20means,knowledge%20to%20be%20my%20provin
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ce%E2%80%9D.
3. Notes Provided by Sir Saffi
4. Critical Studies on Bacon's Essays - Character of Bacon
Page 16 - 20
Critical Analysis - Of Great Place -
An Essay by Francis Bacon
Introduction

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Bacon's essays are renowned for their excessive taste of

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worldly success by following either positive or negative

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means. "Of Great Place", an essay on the attainment and
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retainment of power, is recalled for its 'cynical' as well as
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Machiavellianistic teachings. Bacon discusses the influence
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of an authoritative personality and how does its life

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adversely get affected by a gigantic number of

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responsibilities.
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Disadvantages of High Positions

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Mr. Bacon asserts these disadvantages of a high office which

are listed below:
A) A man of a high office has no freedom of relaxation at all.
He may have power over others but he cannot control
himself.
B) It is not easy to rise onto a high place. One has to bear
numerous insults as well as psychological injuries to pursue
a great place.
C) Rising to a higher position is time-consuming but its fall
is sudden and often disgraceful.
D) The lust for power grows so blinding that a person in his
last years cannot desire to give up [his] high office.
E) Men in high posts always stay anxious and worried. They
enjoy no times of leisure. Their life leads in fulfilling a high
demand of their responsibilities.

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Bacon's Advice to the People of High Office

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This is where Mr. Bacon shows his philosophic as well as a
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moralistic face. He advises a high man that he should study
and learn from the examples of his predecessors. He should
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also get some light from his previous conduct and if he

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notices some shortcomings in his behaviour and actions. If

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he spots a weakness in his fellow, he should not reform the

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other person bluntly, but with the best modest way possible.
He should be regular and constant while performing his
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duties. If he shows his disagreement to a custom, he should

present concrete reasons behind his disagreement. He must
respect the rights and privileges of others. Whenever
necessary, he should seek help from other members of his
office in his official work. He should patronize his spies.

Don'ts in a High Place

A person in a high place should avoid these four vices:
A) Delays: An officer must discharge his duties in the
required deadline. He and his services should be accessible in
time.
B) Corruption: He and his servants should not take bribes.
He should also make sure that bribes are neither offered to
him nor to his servants. To achieve this, he must acquire a
reputation of honesty. [Well, this is a piece of utopian advice

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as Bacon was himself a corrupt person. ]

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C) Roughness: While meeting with the general public or his

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fellow officers, he should behave politely and courteously.
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When rebuking his servants, his conduct should not be
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taunting as roughness nurtures hatred among the masses.
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D) Facility: He should not comply to others' wishes as

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facilitating someone is worse than bribery.

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Some Other Suggestions

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An office is a laboratory where manly character is tested. It

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makes honest worthy and wicked depraved. So, a person in

the high office should remain virtuous and honest to claim a
better name in his society and in the history books.

Rising to a great place is a tedious as well as a laborious task.

He should side with one's party when rising. When he
successfully attains his cherished seat, he should remain
neutral.
He should not defame but praise his ancestors, not because
of their good morality, but to secure himself. He should
consider the importance of his family and when away from
his office, he should behave like a common person.

Conclusion

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Manifestly, 'Of Great Place' is a beautifully and

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aphoristically crafted piece of prose which serves as a
consultant and advisor for the people of high authority. But

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Bacon hints him to "compromise between morality and
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worldly success" as Archer has rightly expressed.
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References, Sources and Suggested Readings

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1. https://goodstudy.org/of-great-place-by-francis-
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bacon-summary-critical-analysis/
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2. https://www.ukessays.com/essays/philosophy/critical-
analysis-of-francis-bacon-philosophy-essay.php
3. https://www.essaywriting.expert/critical-analysis-of-
great-place-by-francis-bacon-essay/
4. Bacon's Essays – A Critical Study by New Kitab Mahal –
Page 110
What are Culture and Imperialism
according to Edward Said?
Who is Edward Said?

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Edward Wadie Said was a professor of literature at Columbia

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University. He was a renowned a political activist as well as

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an intellectual scholar in the East and the West. Mr. Said
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critically examined culture and its deep roots in imperialism
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which was rampant in the nineteen and twentieth centuries
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as a core theme of the writers of the very age(s) in their

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poetic as well as in fictional work. A huge bulk about

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imperialism has been written but it was Said's Culture and

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Imperialism which acquired everyone's attraction. This book

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was a hot selling product all over the world because of its
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easy-to-understand revealance of imperialism.

Said's Book - Not a Sequel
Mr. Said asserts in the introductory part of his Culture and
Imperialism what his previous work, Orientalismwas limited
to the Middle East only. But the particular book covers the
Western relationship to its overseas territories. He says that
this book is not a sequel to Orientalism because both books

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cover a different set of topics which are not related to each

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other.

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Said's Views on Culture sa
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Mr. Said says that there are two general outlooks on culture.
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One which focuses on the refinement and development of an

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already established culture (progressive culture, in our

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terms). The other is a 'fixed' culture in which a slight change

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is rendered as an aggressive as well as a gross crime. This

type of culture is used as an identity which distinguishes 'us'
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from 'them'. That sort of culture is openly opposed by liberal

philosophers because such culture creates a sense of
nationalism (pride of one's nation) which pretty much
serves as a tonic to separate that "nation" from rest of the
world. "I have found it a challenge not to see", says he,
"culture in this way- that is, antiseptically quarantined from
worldly affiliations, but as an extraordinary field of
endeavour."
What is imperialism?
Imperialism is, according to the Oxford dictionary, "A policy
of extending a country's power and influence through
colonization, use of military force, or other means.". In
simple terms, imperialism is getting hold of a country either
through power or guile and exploiting its sources for the
imperialistic country. Said, in his book Culture and

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Imperialism, hints on imperialism through examples from

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literature. (Which shall be discussed in a different heading)

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Said's Literary Reflection of Imperialism
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Mr. Said implies examples from English literature to

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illustrate the fatality of imperialism. He cites the example of

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Great Expectations, one of the most recalled novels by

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Charles Dickens, which is a story of a boy Pip (Philip) who

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helps a prisoner Abel Magwitch to escape to Australia. The

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convicted person becomes rich and he secretly helps Pip

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financially to complete his education. When Pip successfully

becomes "something", Mr. Abel hails back to England to
meet the gentle whom he helped but he is badly rejected and
prejudiced by the "successful" Pip because Abel hails from
Australia which is a colony of Australia (Pip considers
himself a part of a superior nation who controls the distant
and gigantic islands like Australia). Through this story, Said
shows the prejudiced and discriminated face of the
imperialistic nations to the ones that are being controlled by
them. Another example of the imperialistic nature is alluded
by Edward Said through his reference to another novel
Nostromo by Joseph Conrad. The story takes place in the
independent America which is dominated by the outer
interests due to its vast treasure of silver mines. Holroyd, an
American financer in this novel tells to a British owner of a
gold mine: "We shall run the world's business whether the

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world likes it or not. The world can't help it- and neither we

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can, I guess." This example reflects a typical thinking of the

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imperialists. This is the actual motive behind civilizing the
world through "World Order". sa
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Conclusion
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Culture is man's attempt to go ahead of the competition

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(according to Edward Said) and when a specific culture is

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imposed on other countries to extort their resources, it is

imperialism. Imperialism of any kind is harmful to the
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freedom of mankind so let the progressive culture thrive.

References, Sources and Suggested Readings

1. Notes provided by Sir Saffi
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_and_Imperialism
?oldformat=true
3. https://neoenglishsystem.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-
is-culture-and-what-is-imperialism.html
4. https://profnaeem.blogspot.com/2018/07/ma-english-
prose-main-contention-in.html
5. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Edward_Said

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 Is Lytton Strachey Really an
Impartial Biographer?
 

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Lytton Strachey - An Introduction

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Giles Lytton Strachey was born in England who belonged to
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the Bloomsbury group, a crew of intellectuals who pursued
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their degrees from Cambridge University. Lytton Strachey
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pioneered straight forward biographies, representing the life

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of national heroes in a neutral angle. In the preface of

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Eminent Victorians, he asserts that selection and scrutiny

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are the main principles behind his biographies.

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Biographies Before Lytton Strachey

Before Lytton Strachey, biographies were dull and lacked
impartial portraiture. Biographers were inclined towards
showcasing only the positive sides of their heroes,
completely idealizing them and presenting them as if they
were angels. They (knowingly or unknowingly) neglected the
darker sides or negative aspects of their heroes. Moreover,
biographers wrote a lengthy book for a specific subject [in
this case, about the hero]. Manifestly, the previous
biographers were one-sided in caricaturing their heroes,
which is not human-like as humans are characterized by
their virtues and viles simultaneously.

Lytton Strachey as a Biographer

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Mr. Strachey was aware of the partiality and one-sidedness

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his fellow biographers. He focused on presenting a brief
juxtaposition (side-by-side comparison of one's goods and

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bads) and excluding what is superfluous (unnecessary). Mr.
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Strachey revolutionized biographies to look like the actual
human portraits. He not only added the glorifying aspects of
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the heroes he chose for his biographies but also he shared

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some jokes, feelings and farcical features of those heroes.

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For instance, Florence Nightingale is seen helping the

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wounded soldiers as well as she is shown protesting

(showing) obsession with her passion to a ridiculous level.
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Mr. Strachey says, "First class biographies can only be

written long after the hero’s death." as the hero's relatives
are hardly willing to disclose the secrecy of the particular
person.
Lytton Strachey

Eminent Victorians
Mr. Strachey published Eminent Victorians in 1918, a
biography focusing on showcasing the life of the renowned
personalities from the Victorian era like General Gordon,
Florence Nightingale and Dr. Arnold etc. As mentioned
before, through the very book, Mr. Strachey painted these
heroes as an embodiment of flesh and blood through their
strengths and weaknesses. Eminent Victorians was received
with great esteem and Bertrand Russel critically praises the

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impartial juxtaposition as thus, "It is brilliant, delicious,

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exquisitely civilized. ".

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Conclusion sa
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It is evident through his writings that he remained impartial

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while examining the subject for his biographies. His ironical

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scrutiny had "punctured something for good. " (Edmund

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Wilson)
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Sources and Suggested Readings

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1. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lytton-Strachey
2. http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-
subjects/group-v/english-literature/286-lytton-
strachey-biographer.html
3. https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-
culture/lytton-strachey--first-of-the-great-literary-
biographers-20180212-h0vx8o
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lytton_Strachey?
oldformat=true
5. https://1filedownload.com/wp-
content/uploads/2020/01/Unit-8.pdf
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminent_Victorians?
oldformat=true

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 Strachey's Treatment of Florence
Nightingale in his Eminent
Victorians

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Florence Nightingale - An Introduction
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Florence Nightingale is a renowned name in the world of
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nursing. "The Lady with the Lamp" opened her eyes on May
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12th, 1820 in Florence. She hailed from a family of reputable

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fame of wealth and social grandeur. She is considered as a

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towering figure of the Victorian Era because of her 'sincere'

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efforts in gathering statistics, reforming social problems and

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most importantly, she revolutionized and secularized

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nursing. Nightingale was awarded with a giant prize of $

250,000 from Queen Victoria which Nightingale used to open
a training school for nursing (known as Nightingale Training
School for Nurses) in St. Thomas Hospital. Nightingale
breathed her last on August 12th, 1910 in Mayfair, London,
United Kingdom.

Nightingale's Services in Crimean War

As already mentioned, Florence Nightingale is remembered
with the title "Lady with the Lamp" but why? In fact, she
was identified as a true nurse after she practically rendered
her services to the war-sicken soldiers. During Crimean War,
almost 18,000 English soldiers were admitted to the English
military hospitals where health and sanitary conditions were
in their worst conditions possible. Nightingale resolved to
fix the bad stuff. She was asked to arrange a group of female

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nurses so she sailed to Constantinople with almost three

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dozens of nurses to fix the dismal situation there. She had

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ordered her team to bring numerous scrub brushes so that
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the ceiling, walls and floors were cleaned from bacteria. She
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used to visit the sick soldiers in the evening by carrying a
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lamp to see how things were going. Soldiers were greatly

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moved by her compassion and titled her with "Lady with the
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Lamp" and "Angel of Crimea". Her untiring efforts

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decreased the death rates to the two-thirds.

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Florence Nightingale on Workspace

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Strachey's Disclosure of Nightingale's

Weaknesses
Lytton Strachey, the author of Eminent Victorians, unveiled
and released an impartial caricature of the Lady. Although
his biography written on the Lady signified her services as a
pioneering nurse not "as a saintly figure". Strachey has
asserted both strengths and weaknesses of the Lady to make
her a human of flesh and blood. She was, no doubt, a self-
sacrificing woman but she was ridiculously obsessed to her
passion and she was short-tempered, she used to flare up
over trivial matters.

Biography's Division
Lytton Strachey has divided his biography for Florence

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Nightingale into five parts. Each part is showcasing her

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"decent" nature. The first part mainly covers Nightingale's
early life [which is partially discussed in her introductory

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paragraph. ] When Nightingale's cousins were engaged in
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enjoying dancing parties [I bet you will remember Pride and
Prejudice here], she excessively wanted to be a nurse. Her
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immeasurable passion is illustrated by Strachey as thus,

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"She would think of nothing but how to satisfy that singular

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craving of hers to be doing something". The second part

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deals with her fierce adventure in the Crimean War at Scutari

in a military hospital. She was idolized, adored by the
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soldiers who were rescued by her but only surgeons and her
crew knew that "beneath her cool and calm demeanour
lurked fierce and passionate fires". She was adversely stern
to her crew and busy at night finding faults in the officers.
The third segment of Strachey's biographical essay depicts
Nightingale's anxious desire to reform military hospitals as
well as sanitary conditions. There were enormous problems
but she gradually won her victory over it but with the cost of
her health. When a doctor advised her to take rest, she
replied bitterly, "I am lying without my head, without my
claws, and you all peck at me". The fourth part glows
Nightingale's shadow of conquering the realm of philosophy
and religion. She detected many faults in church and
presented her points to fix those mistakes. Strachey
satirically notes, "she seems hardly to distinguish between
the Deity and the Drains". The fifth and the last part shows

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her last years when the thin lady grew fat, smiling all day

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long. Mr. Strachey says, "The brain which had been steeled

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at Scutari was indeed, literally, growing soft". (Special
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thanks to Suman Chakraborty for posting a detailed
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summary and critical remarks from this lengthy biography.
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You may check it by opening the source link number 5. )

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Conclusion
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Lytton Strachey's treatment of Florence Nightingale is

marked by modern scrutiny which is far from idealizing
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someone like a saint. Nightingale shall be remembered for

her practical works on nursing as a human being, not as a
divine creature.

Sources and Suggested Readings

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Nightingale?
oldformat=true
2. https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/florence-
nightingale-in-eminent-victorians-a-study-of-
characteristics-and-meaning/
3. http://lib.laic.u-hyogo.ac.jp/laic/5/kiyo21/21-09.pdf
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminent_Victorians?
oldformat=true
5. https://suman508.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-critical-
analysis-of-florence.html

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 Strachey's Views on General
Gordon in his Eminent Victorians
 

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Who is General Gordon?

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d
Mr. Gordon's full name is Charles George Gordon. He was
sa
born in London on 28 January 1833. He is also known as
-A
Gordon of Khartoum and Chinese Gordon. Mr. Gordon was a
rs

British army officer as well as administer who showcased his

to
ila

skills inside and outside of his country. He glanced the

im

martial action during Crimean war but his militant

s

reputation grew in popularity when his services were offered

As

in China and Sudan. Mr. Gordon was killed during the Fall of
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Th

Khartoum on 26 January 1885 at the age of 51.

Gordon's Achievements during his Military

Career
Mr. Garden was basically and professionally devoted his life
for the cause of militant activities and he acquired a pretty
good name during his military career. In 1863, Mr. Gordon
took charge of a Chinese army which was offered by
European which was offered by Europeans. The purpose
behind this militant group was to subdue the Taiping revolt.
Mr. Gordon openly protested against the execution of the
rebels but he rejoined his post at the end of 1863. The Taiping
revolt was crushed in 1864 and Gordon's refusal to accept
huge money offered by the Chinese kingdom spiked his
reputation as a hero. Gordon's fame kept growing during his

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services in his homeland when he was appointed to protect

Im
the Thames forts. He kept himself occupied in social working

d
activities. He visited schools of poor children and he even
sa
employed the needy boys in his house which further refined
-A
his image.
rs

Statue of General Gordon in Khatoum

to

Garden wanted independence of Sudan and to open the

ila

communications with the Red Sea but this was a tough task.
im

He asked the Turkish government to assist him but

s
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Khartoum (capital of Sudan) was occupied by the Mahdi's

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groups and Gordon was killed. His murder had a significant

Th

impression on the British people and the government of

Great Britain announced that day as a national day to mourn
his death. Gordon's martial departure brought forth a
movement which resulted in the collapse of the first
'imperialism' and of Liberals.

Strachey's Postmortem of Gordon's Character

Lytton Strachey's Eminent Victorians opened up the secrecy
of the Victorian heroes to the public. General Gordon was no
exception. On one side, we see Gordon as a true follower of
Christianity, studying the Holy Bible all day long. But on the
flip side, Strachey shows us a diplomatic person whose
personal ego creates a stumbling block for him against his
officials which pretty much ends at his death at Khartoum.
Instead of softening the already dismal situation at the

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capital of Sudan, Garden worsened it because of his stern

Im
attitude. So, Gordon was a mercenary "who got into and out

d
of conflicts on behalf of various dubious governments".
sa
-A
Conclusion
rs
to

Strachey's views on General Gordon are convincing and

ila

strategically presented. There is no doubt that he was a man

im

of knighthood (principled and intelligent) but he was a man,

s
As

a man of egoistic errors.

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Sources and Suggested Readings

 

1. https://www.kclibrary.org/blog/book-reviews/eminent-
victorians-lytton-
strachey#:~:text=Strachey%20finds%20it%20strangely%
20ironic,Gordon%20who%20died%20at%20Khartoum.
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_George_Gordon?
oldformat=true
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminent_Victorians?
oldformat=true

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 Critical Analysis - The Future of
Mankind by Bertrand Russell
 

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Who is Bertrand Russell?

Im
d
Mr. Russell is the most quoted name in the world of politics.
sa
He opened his eyes on 18 May 1872 in Trellech. Russell was
-A
proficient in mathematics, philosophy, logic, history and in
rs

social criticism. His collection of essays, known as

to
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"Unpopular Essays" is a mark of his accurate foresight. The

im

essay Future of Mankind pretty much represents what its

s

title says. The essay foretells how the mankind of the earth
As

may perceive its future? [This is what we will discuss in the

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later lines]

Summary
Russell gives three major possibilities when he starts this
essay. The first possibility is if a third world war gets ignited,
it will wipe out all the human population from the surface of
the planet earth. The second possibility is after the third
world war, only a small number of people will be left who
will recolour the human life once again after the cruel
barbarism. And the third possibility is about the formation
of a world government which might be established after
peaceful negotiations and war if necessary. Russell suggests
mankind to avoid the first two possibilities and to focus on
the third one for the globalization of peace. Russell openly
hints that the establishment of a single world government

n
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through force as Soviet Russia may retaliate against the

Im
concept of a world government. All the military force in the

d
leadership of the USA has to fight against the [communist]
sa
Soviet Russia and to defeat it to retain the worldly peace.
-A
Russell says that the U.S.A. respects and grants its masses
rs

the freedom of inquiry, thought, discussion and human

to

feelings. On the other hand, Russia idolizes a specific agenda

ila

through narrowing the science, art and literature. The

im

freedom which a person enjoys is absent in Russia. But

s
As

Russell also advocates that the freedom must be limited by

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the law so that the freedom should have its value.

Th

Bertrand Russell

Is Russell a Prophet?
In this essay, Russell shows his political insight at its best.
His words truly imply with today's situation (but rather
differently) and most of his prophecies went true by the time
when he was writing this essay. He signalled at a possible
war between Russia and the USA which did happen
indirectly. So Russell is partially a prophet.

Russell Advocates Democratic System

Russell's admiration of the democratic freedom found in the
U.S.A. and in the Great Britain significantly holds water
against the totalitarian influence which persisted Russia and

n
China. According to Russell, the USA and the UK are

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champions of democracy but Russia is a looser and China
does not also leg behind the race of communism in this

d
sa
regard. So, Russell is a true advocator of democracy.
-A

The War Between Russia and the USA could

rs
to

Destroy the Whole World

ila
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Russell directly asserts that if democracy has to survive

s
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against the communism, then the democratic powers (the

UK and the USA) have to wage a war against Russia and
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China. This is a severe miscalculation of Bertrand Russell

who forgets that Russia is the owner of the largest reserves
of nuclear bombs. If a war is inflamed between the two, it
will prove the final knell (a bell of death) to the existence of
mankind on the planet earth. But both are aware of this fact
of great danger so they have decided not to create an infernal
planet. A balance of powers between the two has terminated
the anxiety of any possible war in future.
The Idea of a World Government will Remain a
Dream
The concept of a world government sounds utopian and
impractical but valid at its point. Russell is himself aware of
the fact that the giant Russia and even the small countries
will not accept the idea of a world government. Nationalism
and ego of the small countries like Pakistan, Iran and

n
Afghanistan etc. have risen to a sky-like height and they

ra
launch challenges against other nations as if they were the

Im
owner of the world. Such independent behaviour will

d
sa
minimize the sense of a single government.
-A

Conclusion
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to
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Even if we may not agree with Russell's prophecies about the

im

future, we still have to admit that the main motive behind

s

his essay is the protection of mankind from a possible

As

extinction through a nuclear war. This essay of Russell is

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Th

marked with vivid clarity and transparent lucidity while

retaining his superb command in the English Prose.

Sources, References and Suggested Readings

 

1. Notes provided by Sir Saffi

2. https://englishhelplineforall.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-
future-ofmankind-by-bertrand.html
3. https://neoenglishsystem.blogspot.com/2010/09/analyz
e-and-comment-on-ideas-expressed.html
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertrand_Russell?
oldformat=true

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 Critical Analysis - The Functions
of a Teacher - An Essay by
Bertrand Russell

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Summary
sa
-A
The essay The Functions of a Teacher consists of some
rs

theories of Bertrand Russell which relate to the department

to

of education. Russell advocates that a teacher must have the

ila

freedom to teach how he likes as well as the ideas what he

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thinks is right and beneficial for his students. A teacher is a

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guardian of civilization. He should teach his students to

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weight something impartially, be it a dismal political

Th

situation or staggering economy. A teacher should not

adhere to a specific political party as well as he must not
observe the act of flattery before officers. Society must
protect the teachers whose independent opinions hurt
[imperial] political interests. Teachers should teach their
pupils to live their life without jealousy and prejudice against
their fellows. He must work hard on strengthening the kind
impulses in the students to spread happiness in their
society. A teacher of today's time has to lead a difficult life.
He feels overworked and harassed. Why? Russell suggests
two core factors behind a teacher's miserable condition.
Firstly, a teacher is considered as a trainer to pass the
examination. So, he is unable to invoke the impulse of
mental as well as liberal development in his students.
Secondly, his methods of teachings and curriculum are
controlled and framed by bureaucrats. Mostly, the

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curriculum framed by the higher authorities serves no

Im
purpose other than the promotion of the ideological agenda

d
of the state which creates a fatal sense of nationalism. A
sa
teacher feels restricted to teach what he wants to teach.
-A
rs

The teachers have no authority to decide what shall be

to

taught or what the methods of instruction are to be.

ila
im

Russell also defines civilization besides asserting his views

s
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on the duties of a teacher. He says that a country cannot be

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termed as a civilized one on the bases of the cutting edge

Th

technology and abundance of machinery. Civilization makes

its full disclosure through inner peace of mind. Civilization is
a matter "partly of knowledge and partly of emotions". A
civilized person is not only aware of the affairs of his own
country but also of the whole world. As far as emotions are
concerned, a civilized man does not take side to his personal
self; he admires what is admirable and hates what is
injurious to mankind. A teacher retains a balance between
the two elements of civilization which are knowledge and
emotions through his teachings.
Bust Of Bertrand Russell-Red Lion Square-London
Lastly, Russell openly opposes the dogmatic (making an idea
or concept true without evidence) and totalitarian
imperialism through controlled education which
significantly lead to extremism. Russell gives an example
from Germany where Roman Catholicism was mixed with

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their curriculum which pretty much served as a toxic tonic to

Im
form the most barbaric group Nazis. Despite its horrors, the

d
controlled curriculum is imposed in many countries and our
Pakistan in no exception. sa
-A
rs

Russell Opposes the State Control over

to

Education
ila
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It is evident through his essay that Russell openly shows his

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"hatred" against the State control over education and

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curriculum. His detest (another fancy word for hatred) is

Th

justifiable. In a democratic state, it is ridiculous that the

state holds full control over curriculum and it decides what is
right and what is wrong for its people. Such curriculum is of
no use other than propagation of a specific agenda and
exploitation of its people.

Russell takes Teachers to Mountains

There is no doubt that this essay outshines the importance
of a teacher in the best way possible. But Russell makes a
teacher dominant to his upper authorities. He raises a
teacher to an extremely higher point where he can be
compared to a philosopher, a leader or a nation builder.
Russell forgets that many teachers in the developing
countries, including our Pakistan and India, exploit their
freedom to serve on their ends or for the political parties

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they support [political union in a university is a pretty good

Im
example].

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sa
Russell favours Democracy of Education
-A

Every essay of Russell is recalled for the sufficient advocacy

rs
to

of democracy. In this essay, Russell asserts his views in

ila

favour of the democracy of education which can only be

im

achieved through a fair and a free-from-State-control

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As

education. Democracy has some faults of its own but still, it

ranks on top of the other forms of governments. To support
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his democratic advocation in this essay, Russell alludes

examples from history. He says that the aftermath of wars in
the seventeenth century afterwards have resulted in a
democratic state. He also adds that ruin becomes destiny for
the nation who is run by a narrow-minded government.

Civilization is something about the Internal

Russell's opinion on civilization is also admirable.
Civilization is not about accumulating external pleasures, it
is about the attainment of the internal peace of mind
through a well-balanced intellectual reconciliation of
constructive knowledge and emotions. Russel expects from
teachers to teach their pupils the civilization which is
'required' for international peace and prosperity.

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Conclusion

Im
This essay is no exception from Russell's humanitarianism.

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He wants to safeguard the people from cruelty through an
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impartial teacher and education. But a teacher must
recognize his duties and should act for the betterment of
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himself and his society in the best way possible. The

ila

functions of a teacher are to teach without spreading malice

im

against any group and to preach the true pursuits of the

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civilization.
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Sources and Suggested Readings

 

1. https://neoenglish.wordpress.com/2010/09/18/what-
according-to-russell-are-the-functions-of-a-teacher-
and-what-are-the-difficulties-and-hurdles-in-the-
way-of-the-teacher%E2%80%99s-performance-of-
these-functions-what-comments-would-you-offer/
2. https://englishhelplineforall.blogspot.com/2016/02/func
tions-of-teacher-by-bertrand.html?
showComment=1597467699166#c5578023613018771163
3. Notes Provided by Sir Saffi
4. https://www.facebook.com/Englishliteratureonline/phot
os/function-of-a-teacher-as-russell-said-from-the-
desk-of-mk-bhuttateachers-are-the/971539049537830/
5. http://www.askliterature.com/prose/functions-of-a-
teacher-by-bertrand-russell/
6. http://yazdaliterature.com/m-a-english/the-functions-

n
the-teacher-critical-summary/?

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unapproved=40324&moderation-

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hash=c5447a873af61b1c9f35fd55bb19907a#comment-

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40324
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 Stylistic Qualities of Bertrand
Russell's Essays
 

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Russell as a Prose Writer

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Bertrand Russell was basically a mathematician. Therefore,
sa
he applied the mathematical fundamentals into his writings
-A
which are precision and problem solving through
rs

[democratic] formulas. Russell touched almost every human

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ila

problem and provided a mathematical sum (solution) to it.

im

That is why there is a cynical and dry accuracy of solutions.

s

The prose style of Bertrand Russell is marked with simplicity

As

[of words], lucidity, clarity and elegancy.

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Th

Russell makes simple words difficult to

understand
Mr. Russell's prose is piled up with simple words but the
subject matter in it is hardly understandable by a layman
(common people like us). This tough-ho subject matter can
only be parsed by a person who is acquainted with scholarly
enterprise and philosophical values. So, in this regard, his
simplicity of language is inverted by Francis Bacon whose
language is pretty hard to digest. There are no fancy
fragments of sentences [yea, we are talkin' about jewelled
phrases here.] just intellectual complexity takes over the
kingdom of lingual simplicity.

Russell's sentences are worth a billion pages

n
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Im
Long sentences are Russell's favourite choice but he
manages his long sentences so well that ideas pertaining to

d
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the particular sentence flow in a guided sequence. But some
-A
of these [short] sentences are so condensed with rhetorical
gossip that their explanation can be recorded in several hard
rs
to

drives.
ila
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Extreme hopes are born of extreme misery.

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As

This short sentence is a striking example of Russell's

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Th

Baconic terseness. It is no lie that extreme hopes (this type

of hope can be characterized with an extremist attitude)
catch fire in uncountable suffering. Manifestly, Russell's
sentences carry a flood of meaning in them.
Bertrand Russell

Russell's Prose is sequenced with a harmony of

thoughts
Mr. Russell implemented mathematical and logical formulas
into his writings. The upper body of his essays are presented
with logical arguments to the problem or issue Russell
addresses into his essay. Then he draws a conclusion in
keeping with arguments asserted above in sequential
development of thought. So, Russell skillfully and
sequentially concludes his essays after presenting ample
(sufficient) arguments to support his essays.

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Russell writes what he means to write

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sa
Russell's scientific thinking creates a detest in himself
-A
against the use of fancy and difficult words. He uses simple,
transparent, pure and rich-in-meaning words to make us
rs
to

read what he wants us to read and understand. Obscurity is

ila

hardly present in his written genius and if ambiguity takes

im

place somewhere, he clears it in the sentence proceeding

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As

next to it. He avoids excessive use of words. Here is an

example of his pointy sentence: We know very little, and yet
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it is astonishing that we know so much, and still more

astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much
power.

Russell's writings are serious

Mr. Russell did not write for his readers to attain
entertainment. His writing career was deeply influenced by
the two great wars and its horrible impact on mankind.
Russell opposed [nuclear] war and favoured democracy.
Therefore, his writings carry a serious tone and a silent
protest against the clash between two superpowers of the
world. Russell seriously promotes democracy for the
betterment and development of mankind. His mind was
deeply stressed to see an ideological battle between two gods
of the earth and its terrible consequence on the developing

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countries. He wanted to wake humans against imperialism

Im
and totalitarianism, and to promote peace through

d
establishing a global democracy.
sa
-A
Russell is a master of the English language
rs
to

Although most of his writings are simple and clear, however,

ila

Russell does not hesitate to show his command on the

im

English language. The essay, A Free Man's Worship in his

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As

book Mysticism and Logic is the only example where Russell

proudly exhibits his flowery language.
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Th

Conclusion
Russell's distinctive prose style, characterized with brevity,
lucidity and harmonic precision, makes him one of the
greatest prose writers of the 20th century.

Sources and Suggested Readings

 

1. http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-
subjects/group-v/english-literature/288-bertrand-
russell-prose-style.html
2. https://neoenglishsystem.blogspot.com/2010/09/what-
are-stylistic-qualities-of.html
3. https://neoenglish.wordpress.com/2010/09/18/russell-
as-a-prose-writer/
4. https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/17854.Bertra

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nd_Russell

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 Political and Social Satire -
Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift
 

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An Introduction to Gulliver's Travels and Satire

Im
d
Gulliver's Travels is one of the most renowned works of the
sa
eighteenth century which was secretly published in 1726 by
-A
Jonathan Swift. He lensed the follies and problems in
rs

England and other European countries. Gulliver's Travels'

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ila

satirical caricaturing frowned many literary critics and they

im

regarded Swift's work a neurotic fantasy. Satire in Gulliver's

s

Travels grows from normal to bitter and then corrosive

As

(acidic) as Gulliver moves into different [fictional] distant

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Th

lands sequentially. Satire is a literary device in which human

follies, vices, abuses and weaknesses are displayed through
humour, ridicule, burlesque, parody and irony. The chief
reason behind a satire is to reform, not to ridicule. Jonathan
Swift asserts his views on satire in the preface of his Battle
of the Books,
 Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally
discover everybody's face but their own; which is the
chief reason…very few are offended with it.

The land of Lilliputians is a political satire

n
Gulliver makes his first voyage to the Land of Lilliput where

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its inhabitants are merely six inches tall. [Now we have
solved the literary context behind Doraemon's gadget

d
sa
Gulliver's Tunnel. 😀] Swift satirizes the feign politics of
-A
England through the first voyage. Filmnap's rope dancing
allegorically hints on Sir Robert Walpole's handy works in
rs
to

parliamentary affairs and political intrigues. Redressal

ila

signals at Lord Carteret who was favoured by Walpole to

im

become Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The line "One of the

s
As

King's Cushions" refers to King George's queen who played a

key role in restoring Walpole after his political demise in
e
Th

1717. Swift has also attacked the religious conflicts between

Roman Catholics and Protestants through an amusing
controversy between big-Endians and small-Endians on
which side should an egg be broken. In short, Swift mocks
the political and religious conflicts and issues which were
rampant during the early eighteenth century in Europe.
Gulliver at Lilliput
Mocking the English Ways
In the second book, the satire mostly consists in mocking
the English ways of leading their lives. Gulliver finds himself
on the island of giants where his condition is reversed. He
sees everything of the Brobdingnagians as minute as
possible. Thus satirizing the ugliness of the human body. But
Gulliver's talks with the king also satirizes the way England

n
and France stayed at loggers head at that time.

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Satirizing Scientific Endeavours

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sa
-A
In the third voyage to various Islands, Swift satirizes the
human intellect being used as a scientific means to destroy
rs

other humans. The details that are given for the scientific
to
ila

experiments going on in the laboratory of Lagado are

im

amusing as well as disgusting. For example, turning human

s

excrement back into food or trying to cast sunbeams through

As

a cucumber or building houses from the roofs. Here Swift is

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Th

mocking the scientists as well as planners who only give

theories and are practically null. Similarly, Swift satirizes
literary critics through Gulliver's interviews with the ghosts
as well as the use of science for dictatorship or destruction
by the floating island which stops sunlight to go through or
destroys them completely.
In the land of Houyhnhnms, Swift's social satire
grows unbearable
Gulliver's last voyage takes the surgeon to the land of
Houyhnhnms where Swift goes super san with his social
satire which fiercely attacks on the moral weakness of
mankind. Here rational horses are ruling over animal-like
humans known as Yahoos. Gulliver sketches the most

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pathetic picture of these humans as thus,

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Im
Yet I confess I never saw any sensitive being so

d
sa
detestable on all accounts; and the more I came near
-A
them the more hateful they grew.
rs
to

Houyhnhnms were the horses who lead their life with order
ila

and discipline. Since those horses were ruling over humans,

im

such act constitutes as a fatal attack on human superiority

s
As

on animals. Gulliver told the master of Houyhnhnms about

all the evils prevailing in Europe. Corruption, wars, political
e
Th

and religious intrigues which were eating into the vitals of

Gulliver's continent. Having heard Gulliver's account, the
master replied that the Yahoos were gluttonous and their
love of shining objects was unmeasurable. Since Gulliver
was, after all, a human, he covered his body at his best so
that he might not be sent to Yahoos,
 I had hitherto concealed the secret of my dress, in order
to distinguish myself, as much as possible, from the
cursed race of Yahoos.

The utopian perfection of the Land of Houyhnhnms made

Gulliver a fanboy of the idealistic lifestyle of the rational
horses and to detest himself as an inferior human being. He
shows his admiration as thus,

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Here was neither physician to destroy my body not

d
lawyer to ruin my fortune; no informer to watch my
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words and actions … here were no … backbiters,
-A
pickpockets, highwaymen, house-breakers …
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politicians, wits … murderers, robbers … no cheating

to

shop-keeper or mechanics, no pride, vanity or

ila

affectation.
im
s
As

And he expresses his hatred against his Yahoo-like body,

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Th

When I behold a lump of deformity, and diseases both of

body and mind, smitten with pride, it immediately
breaks all the measures of my patience.

This pretty much sums up his immeasurable hatred against

his fellow men. The fourth voyage is marked with a biting
satire on moral and social foolishness and weakness of the
European countries where countless humans are butchered
just to please a king.

Conclusion
Gulliver's Travels is corrosive by nature but it acts as a
mirror and reflects a multitude of flaws prevailing in the
mankind of past and present. Swift is, at heart, a reformer

n
and he wanted to save his society from the problems which

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Im
were weakening their identity as a civilized race. Swift gives
a finishing, philanthropic touch to his travels,

d
sa
-A
I write for the noblest end, to inform and instruct
mankind…I write without any view to profit or praise.
rs
to
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s im
As

Sources and Suggested Readings

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1. UKEssays. (November 2018). Gulliver's Travels by

Jonathan Swift | Analysis of Satire. Retrieved from
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-
literature/satires-in-gullivers-travels.php?vref=1
2. https://maenglishnotespk.blogspot.com/2015/01/swifts-
satire-in-gullivers-travels.html
3. https://www.uv.es/~fores/jsaron9.html
4. http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-
subjects/group-v/english-literature/285-swifts-
gullivers-travels-social-satire.html
5. https://englishhelplineforall.blogspot.com/2016/02/soci
al-satire-in-swifts-
gulliver.html#:~:text=Thus%20Jonathan%20Swift%20te
ars%20the,intellect%20and%20on%20moral%20shortco
mings.
6. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Gullivers-Travels/
7. https://literaryterms.net/satire/

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 Why is Jonathan Swift not
(entirely) a Misanthrope?
 

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Allegations of Misanthropy against Jonathan Swift

Im
d
Jonathan Swift was severely 'accused' of misanthropy after it
sa
was revealed that behind Gulliver's Travels, there was no
-A
Gulliver but Swift. But first, let us investigate that what
rs

misanthropy actually is. Misanthropy is "hatred and

to
ila

mistrust of humankind", as the Webster dictionary suggests.

im

[Back to the topic] William Thackrey labelled Swift's

s

personality as “an immense genius” but “an awful downfall

As

and ruin” whose habitual way of being was to remain

e
Th

constantly “alone and gnashing in the darkness.” [The

Washington Post] George Orwell as well did not remain
silent and asserted his views for almost all the major works
of Swift, considered Swift “a diseased writer” who resided
“permanently in a depressed mood,” refused “to see
anything in human life except dirt, folly and wickedness,”
and was consumed by a “general hatred of humanity.”.
Gulliver in Lilliput
Why is Swift Termed as a Misanthrope?
Swift is [allegedly] termed as a misanthrope because of the
fourth voyage in Gulliver's Travels. He has pictured such a
deplorable picture of mankind, deformed and being ruled by
rational horses who are devoid of any feeling or desire. Here,
Swift partially forgets the fact that,

n
Man is a rational animal.

ra
Im
But Swift marks his views on man's rationality as thus,

d
sa
-A
Man is capable of becoming rational if he makes the
necessary efforts.
rs
to
ila

But we see Gulliver prioritizing one animal over the others.

im

His admiration for Houyhnhnms and his detest against

s
As

Yahoos gradually becomes strong and he denounces Yahoos

in the following words,
e
Th

Yahoos who are unteachable brutes, cunning, gluttonous

and disposed to great mischief.

So, it is evident that Swift, in the garb of Gulliver, is treated

as a misanthrope. But this gives rise to another question.
Why does Gulliver like Houyhnhnms more than
Yahoos?
When Gulliver, at first, embark on the land of Houyhnhnms,
he is welcomed by a herd of 'uncivilized Yahoos'. When they
are about to hurt him, he is "miraculously" saved by
Houyhnhnms the rational horses who live their life through
reason and rational co-ordination. Naturally, Gulliver's

n
fondness of Houyhnhnms develops but after a while, having

ra
been enamoured of the rationality of Houyhnhnms, he starts

Im
detesting every human being other than Yahoos. That is why

d
sa
when he returns to his family, he shows his disgust against
-A
the captain and his daughter. Such blunder is a concrete
evidence of Gulliver's misanthropical attitude. Gulliver
rs
to

admires Houyhnhnms because,

ila
im

Houyhnhnms are free from lust and greed.

s
As

According to Gulliver, that has been possible through the

e
Th

extermination of emotions. So, he suggests that,

The only remedy for doing away with Man’s corruption

and pollution is to get rid of all kinds of emotions.

Swift favours Golden Mean

Gulliver's idealization of Houyhnhnms based on their
rational intellect and his detest for Yahoos because they lack
such rationality and associating the Yahooic nature to all the
earthly humans put Gulliver in the sphere of a misanthrope.
It is Gulliver who is a misanthrope, not Swift because Swift
holds different opinions about the man in general. Swift
asserts that a man is one who maintains a balance between
rationality and sensuality. Such balance is not gifted by

n
ra
birth. It has to be attained. That is why, Gulliver is subjected

Im
to Swift's satire for he loses the said "golden mean".

d
Conclusion sa
-A

Swift, at last appears as a philanthrope but if we will eye him

rs
to

through the lens of Gulliver, he will look misanthrope. But

ila

Swift weathers the storm of misanthropy by himself, thus he

im

says,
s
As

I write for the noblest end, to inform and instruct

e
Th

mankind.

Sources and Suggested Readings

 

1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books
/jonathan-swift-not-entirely-the-misanthrope-you-
 thought-you-knew/2017/02/27/5b0554b0-fd00-11e6-
8f41-ea6ed597e4ca_story.html
2. http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-
subjects/group-v/english-literature/221-swift-
misanthrope.html
3. https://maenglishnotespk.blogspot.com/2014/12/swifts-
misanthropy-in-gullivers-travels_35.html
4. https://theconversation.com/why-jonathan-swift-
wanted-to-vex-the-world-with-gullivers-travels-
94972

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 Stylistic Qualities of Swift's Prose
in Gulliver's Travels
 

n
ra
What is a Prose Style?

Im
d
Prose is cooked through sentences and decorated through
sa
style. Style, in prose, is the way a writer expresses his ideas
-A
through his pen to the readers. To sharpen his style, a writer
rs

experiments with the scrutiny of words, the figure of speech,

to
ila

arrangements of sentences and paragraphs and many more.

im

The writing style is related to every lingual element which

s

may help a writer to convey his idea in the best way possible.
As
e
Th

Jonathan Swift as a Writer

Jonathan Swift's style in Gulliver's Travels is parodic and
biting which pleases and upsets many critics and
[contemporary] writers. According to some critics, Swift is
regarded as one of the Great prose writers of the English
Language. Many popular names like William Deans, Dr.
Johnson, T. S. Eliot and Coleridge show their respect for the
satirist as the one who writes unmatched prose in the
English Language. Surely, there are some reasons behind
their admirations. [Let's discover. ]

Swift's Prose is just Simple

After [some] 300 years, Gulliver's Travels is still counted
among the top 100 most read books. Such popularity is only

n
blessed with his simple and direct narrative. Swift pens

ra
Im
down events as if they actually happened with him. For
instance, the example stated below gives the reader an

d
sa
impression about how well Gulliver was served in the land of
-A
Lilliput.
rs
to

I had three hundred cooks to dress my victuals.

ila
im

Mr. Johnson's prose style was rather fancy but he did not
s
As

stop to praise the simplicity of Swift's style,

e
Th

The reader of Swift needs no previous knowledge.

S. T. Coleridge's style was marked with metaphysical beauty

but he adopted Swiftian simplicity into his writings. Says he,

Swift style is in its line: the manner is a complete

expression of the matter.
 

Swift abandoned the Prose Style of his

Forefathers
When Jonathan Swift initially started writing, he abandoned
the showy and pompous style of which his ancestors were
the fans of. Indeed, Swift replaced it with lucidity and

n
terseness. Swift can easily and instantly find words which

ra
Im
may convey the exact narration to his readers without the
hassle of opening reference books. His pointy sentences hit

d
right on the minds of his readers. sa
-A
Stylistic Qualities of Swift's Prose in Gulliver's Travels
rs
to

Swift Defines Style as a Proper Arrangement

ila
im

Jonathan Swift gave the style its definition as thus,

s
As

Proper words in proper places.

e
Th

And his prose is no exception from his definition's

standpoint. Swift's selection of words is highly governed by
a particular incident so that the sentence may create the
exact imprint which that particular situation demands. At
times, Swift knowingly ignores grammar to convey his prose
correctly and precisely.
 

Swift's Style Fits to the Tenets of Prose

Mathew Arnold describes the tenets (principles) of a good
prose, "unfairly, regularity, precision and balance". Swift's
Gulliver Travels follows exactly the same rule to describe the
hypocrisy and villainy of a minister to a Houyhnhnm with a

n
striking precision in the following paragraph,

ra
Im
I told him that a first or chief minister of state who was

d
sa
the person I intended to describe, was a creature wholly
-A
exempt from over joy and grief, love and hatred, pity and
anger; at least make use of no other passions but a
rs
to

violent desire of wealth, power and titles; that he applies

ila

his words to all uses, except to the indication of his

im

mind; that he never tells a truth, but with an intent that

s
As

you should take it for a lie, nor a lie, but with a design
that you should take if for a truth.
e
Th

Swift's Prose Style is a Tale for Kids and a Food

of Thought for the Adults
Jonathan Swift's art of narration is characterized by a dual
identity of a tale and of a satirical reality. His Gulliver's
Travels is a tale of adventures in different remote islands for
the children. [Although some scenes should be censored
when presented as kids story] It also serves as a satirical
caricaturing of humanistic follies and issues of that
particular age to the young minds. Manifestly, Swift's
narrations carry an apt food to the respective age sufficiently
and accurately.

n
ra
Swift's Prose Style lacks Imagination and

Im
Passion

d
sa
A French critic laments the lack of imagination and passion
-A
in Swift's writings as thus,
rs
to

Swift style lacks eloquence of ideas and sentiments.

ila

Eloquence in his sense is mind’s highest reach and

im

widest conquest. It is the creative energy of life itself,

s
As

manifested on those frontiers which we call variously

e

religion, philosophy and poetry.

Th

Well well, this is just a critical opinion and sometimes, these

opinions partially favour the truth which is aimed to reveal.
Because the age of Swift was governed by reason, not by
emotions.

Conclusion
Swift's prose style is marked with Swiftian precision,
simplicity and lucidity. His prose is direct and pointy without
any ambiguity or complexity of thoughts or narration.

Sources and Suggested Readings

 

n
1. https://onlineuseducation.blogspot.com/2016/02/swifts

ra
-prose-style-swift-is-undoubtedly.html

Im
2. https://notesvilla.blogspot.com/2015/08/swift-prose-

d
style-or-swift-prose-writer.html
sa
3. https://literatureessaysamples.com/on-the-style-of-
-A
jonathan-swift/
4. https://freeenglishlectures786.blogspot.com/search/lab
rs

el/Jonathan%27s%20Swift%20Prose%20Style
to

5. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
ila

guides/literature/gullivers-travels/analysis/writing-
im

style
s
As
e
Th
Prose - Short Questions and Their
Answers (From Sargodha
University Past Papers) MA
English Literature Part 1

n
ra
Im
View Long Questions/preview/button/#000000

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sa
-A
2020
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to

Q1: What are the chief advantages of studies as discussed

ila

by Bacon?Already answered in 2019 sectionQ2: How is

im

Bacon 'meanest of mankind'?He is called the meanest of

s
As

mankind because of his utilitarian approach towards

everything and even in matters of the heart. For instance,
e
Th

Bacon prosecuted agaiinst his patron, Earl of Essex to claim

the favour of Queen Elizabeth I. Q3: Who is Gulliver's worst
enemy at the Lilliputian court?The king himself is the worst
enemy of Gulliver because he is the most powerful person in
the Lilliput and the king's disgust against Gulliver increases
when he refuses to destroy the Blefuscu fleet. View
SourceQ4: What are some of the shows Gulliver sees and
participates and how do high government officials
participate in them?Gulliver participates in various
acrobatic shows. So as the government officials to get
themselves promoted. One of these shows is rope dancing. It
is a dangerous acrobatic show in which parliamentary
participants dance on tight ropes to attain a seat in the
parliament. View SourceQ5: What is the difference between
Simulation and Dissemination?Already answered in 2016
sectionQ6: What is culture, according to Edward Said?

n
ra
According to Edward Said, culture is an identity for a

Im
country. View SourceQ7: What are a couple of qualifies of

d
Russell's prose style?Already answered in 2015 sectionQ8:
sa
What are Strachey's targets of irony?Strachey's target of
-A
irony is the eminent Victorians who were showcased as
rs

flawless beings. Q9: How did Florence Nightingale prepare

to

for her life as a nurse?Florence Nightingale put her leaning

ila

of nursery to test during Crimean Wars when she focused on

im

cleanliness and healthy welfare for the soldiers. Q10: Why

s
As

was General Gordon given the nickname 'Chinese'?

e

General Gordon was given the title of Chinese Gordon for

Th

rendering his services during the Tipang Rebellion in 1863.

2019
Q1: What are the chief advantages of studies discussed by
Bacon? Studies, according to Francis Bacon, serve usefully as
a delight in a person's solitude, decorate his conversation
and develops practicality in worldly pursuits. Q2: How is
Gulliver fed? Gulliver is fed through many a small people,
carrying meat in buckets and they use ladders to reach
Gulliver's mouth. Q3: What does Gulliver's Travels suggest
about the relationship between 'Reason' and 'Brutality'?
Gulliver's Travels suggests that the relationship between
Reason and Brutality can be switched from one creature to
the other. For instance, Houyhnhnms are rational horses
while Yahoos are vileful brutal creatures, detesting each

n
ra
other as contrary to the world of human beings. Q4:

Im
Comment how the voyage to Lilliput shows smallness of

d
man? The voyage to Lilliput exhibits smallness of man over
sa
his small achievements that humans can devise as many
-A
reasons to draw daggers as Lilliputians used to fight with
rs

their enemies over the issue of breaking an egg. If a person

to

of the present age is physically taller but morally, he is a

ila

Lilliputian. Q5: What is Edward Said's idea about the plight

im

of Palestine? Edward Said's idea about the plight of Palestine

s
As

is the imperialism of superpowers and lack of

e

communication between the U.S. and Arab countries. Q6:

Th

Why is Russell called a prophet? Russell is called a prophet

because his predictions regarding the world and politics
went true. Q7: What are Russell's views on religion? Russell
did not believe in any God or in any religion or in the
afterlife. He termed Puritanism as fanaticism. Q8: In his
preface, what does Strachey claim are his goals in writing
'Eminent Victorians'? Strachey says that he has attempted
to present some Victorian visions to the modern eye. His
choice has been determined by simple motives of
convenience and of art. His purpose is to illustrate rather
than to explain. He claims a brevity which excludes
everything that is redundant and nothing that is significant.
(Copied) Q9: How did Florence get the title "Lady with the
Lamp"? Florence Nightingale attained the eminent title for
rendering her services in Crimean War to the wounded
soldiers along with other nurses, trained by her while

n
ra
carrying a lamp in the night. Q10: What services did General

Im
Gordon as the governor general of Sudan? As the governor

d
general of Sudan, Gordon rendered many services. He
sa
mapped the upper Nile River and established a line of
-A
stations along the river. He established his ascendancy over
rs

this vast area, crushing rebellions and suppressing the slave

to

trade. (Copied)
ila
im

2018
s
As

Q1: What are three great advantages of simulation and

e
Th

dissimulation?

1. They envelop suspicion and surprise the other party.

2. They help a person to show a fair retreat, if he thinks he
cannot achieve his aim.
3. Concealment of one's intentions paves the way to know
about other's intentions.
Q2: What is Bacon's contribution in essay writing? Sir
Francis Bacon is the one who fathered 'essay' linguistically
and regionally for he converted the French word 'assay' for
the one we are acquainted with and he pioneered essay
writing in English language and region. Q3: What does
Allegory mean? An Allegory is the story with another layer of
the hidden story. An allegory is a literary work which
conveys a hidden moral, social, situational and historical

n
ra
ideas through living characters. Q4: What is mock-utopia?

Im
Mock-utopia is the mockery of an ideal government. It is

d
rendered as fictitious by the masses just like no one will
sa
believe in rational governance of Houyhnhnms. Q5: Why
-A
does Russell prefer American victory? Russell prefers
rs

American victory as the U.S. offers freedom of speech and

to

propaganda than the confiscated atmosphere in Russia. Q6:

ila

What does Russell say about liberalism? "Liberalism is not so

im

much a creed as a disposition. It is, indeed, opposed to

s
As

creeds. But the liberal attitude does not say that you should
e

oppose authority." says Russell that liberality and freedom

Th

of expression must be allowed but it should be limited

through law. Q7: What is imperialism? Imperialism is the
gainity of a nation's territory through the dint of military
invasion or political interruption for one's personal pursuits.
Q8: Why does America involve itself in the affairs of Third
World Countries? America involves itself in the affairs of
Third World Countries to get hold of their geographical,
cultural as well as economical resources. Q9: How was
General Gordon killed? In 1884 Gordon was again sent to
Sudan by the British government to evacuate Egyptian forces
from Khartoum. Khartoum came under siege a month later,
and on January 26, 1885, the Mahdists broke into the city and
killed General Gordon at the Governor-General palace about
an hour before dawn. The manner of his death is uncertain.
(Copied) Q10: Why is Lytton Strachey accused of being a
partial biographer? Lytton Strachey is accused of being a

n
ra
partial biographer because of his method of selective

Im
scrutiny of the "Eminent Victorians". His selective approach

d
faintly magnifies the truth. Yet his biographies hold a
sa
trusting identity among literary people and historians
-A
despite being "partially impartial". (Answered with the help
rs

of Sir Mohsin and some literary Reddit users from

to

r/AskLiteraryStudies)
ila
im

2017
s
As

Q1: What is meant by terse and epigrammatic style? Terse

e
Th

means brief and to-the-point statement while an epigram is

a joyful statement, carrying a moral lesson in it. The style of
writing which is brief, enjoyable and lesson giving at the
same time is termed as terse and epigrammatic style. Q2:
Give an example of Bacon’s terse and epigrammatic style.
“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and
some few to be chewed and digested" (Of Studies) Q3: What
is the question debated at the grand assembly of the
Houyhnhnms? At the grand assembly of the Houyhnhnms,
the question debated is whether to exterminate the Yahoos.
(Copied) Q4: How does the Emperor of Blefuscu receive
Gulliver? The emperor of Blefuscu receives Gulliver warmly
who has escaped death from Lilliput successfully. The king
refuses to send Gulliver back to the little tyrants. Q5: What
was the argument between Tramecksan and Slamecksa
about? Tramecken requested the people to wear the shoes of

n
ra
high heels as he argumented that it was a demand of time

Im
while Slamecksa demanded the people to wear small heeled

d
shoes as of modern time. Q6: What are the Three possible
sa
Scenarios for the future of mankind? Russell asserts three
-A
possible scenarios in his one 'Unpopular Essay', "The Future
rs

of Mankind". The first prediction is the human race might go

to

extinct the second scenario might be seen in reversal of

ila

humanistic barbarism while the third scenario might end up

im

in the establishment of a singular global government. Q7:

s
As

What are the chief advantages of studies as discussed by

e

Bacon? Beep Boop! Already answered. Q8: What is

Th

imperialism? Can't sing the melody already sung. Q9: Define

prose. Prose is a simple flow of language devoid of any
metrical or rhyming structure but embroidered with
grammatical structure. Q10: What is the physical appearance
of General Gordon. General Gordon was short-statured with
grey whiskers and hair. His face was brick-red along with
shining but large blue eyes.
2016
Q1: What is meant by simulation and dissimulation?
Simulation means to pretend like someone and
dissimulation means concealment of one's intentions and
emotions. Q2: “The rising unto place is laborious” Explain
the statement. Francis Bacon asserts the fact in his essay,
'Of Great Place' that attainment of a higher position (here in

n
this essay, place means position or rank) requires extensive

ra
the struggle of the head, heart and a Machiavellian policy.

Im
Q3: What is Horatian satire? Horatian satire is a mild satire

d
sa
on the follies of man-kind, sounding tolerant, witty and
-A
amusing sentences. Roman Satirist, Horace fathered this
type of satire. Q4: In Gulliver’s fourth voyage, what is the
rs
to

name of the ship Gulliver captain? The name of a Portages

ila

ship's captain, who gives Gulliver his finest suits and twenty
im

pounds for his after-voyage in England. Q5: What is the fault

s
As

in humanity that Gulliver cannot be patient with-even

though he is not provoked by pickpockets, fools, gamesters,
e
Th

whoremongers, lawyers, colonels, and physicians? The fault

of humanity which provokes Gulliver despite other 'small'
evils is humans' lust for power and their shady overture of
utilizing weapons and imposing wars and other forms of
imperialism. In short, Gulliver hates humanity for cutting
the heads of itself. Q6: What, according to Russell, is the
main purpose of writing his essays? According to Russell, the
main purpose behind writing his "Unpopular Essays" is to
combat dogmatism from both Left and Right side (of the
world). Q7: Explain the quote “When he sits in place he is
another man’ (of great place). Francis Bacon wants to
evaluate the statement that when a person joins a high seat,
he has to forget his previous leisure-self and he has to make
himself ready for a careful rather responsible ruler for once
he was carefree. Q8: Why does Said refer to various
novelists? Said refers to various novelists as according to The

n
ra
Professor, novels or fiction depict the imperialistic society

Im
far better than any genre of writing. View Source Q9: What is

d
the etymological root of Houyhnhnm or horse in the
sa
Houyhnhnm language? The etymological root of the word
-A
'Houyhnhnms' is watered through its meaning in
rs

Houyhnhnms' language which reads "perfection of Nature".

to

The actions of these utopian rational horses were directed

ila

through Nature and reason Q10: What do you know about the
im

Bloomsbury group? Bloomsbury is a group of some renowned

s
As

Cambridge graduates including Lytton Strachey who utilized

e

their philosophical and intellectual forces in their prosaic

Th

creations.

2015
Q1: How, according to Bacon, men are servant and how they
are master in Of Great Place? In essay 'Of Great Place', Bacon
asserts the fact that men are servants of state, fame and
business. The one who rises to a high place, one becomes a
servant to one's self and master of one's employs. View
Source Q2: Why Bacon used “OF” before starting his essays?
Bacon has used the preposition 'Of' in place of 'about' to
signify or pivot the reader's attention on the topic presented
by the author. For example, the essay 'Of Truth' deals with
the cultural association of truth as well as lies. Q3: Discuss
that the charge of misanthropy against Swift is a serious
misunderstanding. It is Gulliver who shows misanthropy

n
ra
against the civilized Yahoos. But Gulliver's author Jonathan

Im
Swift is a philanthrope as he presents Gulliver's hatred, for

d
reformation of mankind so that they might refrain from
sa
cutting each other's head. Q4: How Gulliver’s Travels is a
-A
political allegory? The first voyage to the island of Lilliput is
rs

a political allegory. The rope dancing allegorizes Walpole's

to

tactics and political intrigues while the conflict between Low

ila

Heels and High Heels symbolize the tug of war between two
im

political parties Whig and Tories. View Source Q5: What are
s
As

some of the autobiographical elements found in Lamb’s

e

essays? Not in our syllabus Q6: What according to Ruskin is

Th

The Crown of Wild Olive stand for? Not in our syllabus Q7:
What is the message of War given by Ruskin? Not in our
syllabus Q8: What are a couple of qualities of Russell's prose
style? Russell's prose style is lucid and simple enough that
the sentences are understood by every Tom, Dick and Harry
while the subject matter is a hard pill to swallow. To
understand the meanings of his essays, one has to reread
several sentences. Q9: Why is Russell called a prophet?
Already answered Q10: What is postcolonialism, according to
Edward Said? Post colonialism, according to Edward Said, is
the philosophical as well as historical studies of colonial
motives, accomplishments and its aftermaths. Before Said's
'Postcolonial Theory', it was loosely known as 'Colonial
Discourse Studies'. View Source

n
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Im
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sa
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rs
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s im
As
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 List of Important Long Questions
of Prose in 2021 for MA English
Literature Part 1 - Sargodha
University

n
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Click on any of the questions below to view its detailed

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answer. sa
-A

Bacon's Essays
rs
to
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1. Bacon's Prose Style

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2. Bacon As a Moralist
3. Bacon As a Philosopher
s
As

4. Bacon's Worldly Wisdom

5. Renaissance Elements in Bacon
e
Th

6. Bacon As An Essayist

Gulliver's Travels
1. Swift's Prose Style
2. Swift As a Satirist
3. Swift As a Misanthrope
4. Elements of Utopia in 'Gulliver's Travels'
Eminent Victorians - Lytton Strachey
1. Strachey's Prose Style
2. Strachey As a Biographer
3. Strachey's Ironic Attitude
4. The Psychological Milieu of Strachey
5. Critical Appreciation of 'End of General Gordan'
6. Critical Appreciation of 'Florence Nightingale'

Russell's Essays

n
ra
Im
1. Russell's Prose Style
2. Russell As a Philosopher

d
sa
3. Connection Between Philosophy and Politics
4. The Future of Mankind - Critical Analysis
-A
5. The Functions of a Teacher - Critical Analysis
rs

6. Ideas That Have Helped Mankind - Critical Analysis

to

7. Ideas That Have Harmed Mankind - Critical Analysis

ila
im

Edward Said
s
As

1. Edward Said's Prose Style

e

2. Edward Said's Views on Culture

Th

3. Edward Said's Views on Imperialism

4. Relationship Between Culture and Imperialism
5. Classical English Novelists in 'Introduction to Culture
and Imperialism'
6. Influence of Post Colonialism on Edward Said
 Prose Style of Edward Said
Introduction

Edward Said has been a political critic who draws our

n
attention to the imperialism of the West upon the East. In

ra
Im
prose, style is a key element to convey the ideas of a writer.
Said uses his political themes as a tool to sharpen his style.

d
sa
But we find a musical tone, sense of exile, repetition of ideas
-A
aa well as references to different literary works to establish
rs

his theme of imperialism. Also, Said invents new terms to

to

make his style even more distinctive. Said's Prose Style

ila
im

Some Distinctive Qualities of Said's Prose Style

s
As

The first but obvious trait in the prose style of Said is his
e
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celebration of exile. Said was basically a Palestinian Arab

who shifted to the USA for a better political reach. His
celebration of the exile is his deliberate effort to isolate
himself from his rough past in his homeland. Said suggests
that life in exile passes differently and less comfortably as
compared to home country. The second but a noteworthy
point that can be traced in Said's works is his repetition of
certain ideas that are closely associated with him. This can
include Said's education and culture of his home country, his
advocacy for (the peace in) Palestine and exile. Another
striking feature in Said's Prose is his musical tone in his
essays. It must be noted that Said was himself a musician.
Said was bewitched by the relation of music with memory.
Music would give him a glimpse of his past. Therefore, his
love for music can be traced easily in his works through the
musical tone in his essays.

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References to Literature

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Said was well aware of the importance of literature as a tool
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to justify different historical events. He considered literature
more significant than the books of history because, through
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literature, one could grasp the psychological motives behind

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a certain subject. Said's prominent subject of discussion was

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the imperialism of the West. In order to establish a

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psychological link to imperialism, Said alluded to many

literary works like Great Expectations by Dickens, Heart of
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Darkness by Joseph Conrad and Robinson Crusoe by Dafoe.

According to Said, novels are not directly responsible for
imperialism but they give ample food of thoughts to
understand the "cultural" reason behind imperialism and
colonization.

Introduction of New Terms

Lastly, Said's prose style is known for the establishment of
new terms like Orientalism and Contrapuntal. Said defines
Orientalism as thus,

The basic distinction between East and West as the

starting point for elaborate theories, epics, novels, social
descriptions, and political accounts concerning the
Orient, its people, customs, mind, destiny and so on.

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To simply put, Orientalism means the difference between

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Eastern and Western Culture. Whereas, the musical term
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'Contrapuntal Reading' is used to get a broader idea of
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imperialism through the narratives (novels) concerning the
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mindset of imperialist nations.

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Conclusion
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The prose style of Edward Said is well centred to the point

that is intended to be conveyed. It delivers the motifs behind
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imperialism and the essences of culture attached to it

excellently. Thus highlighting a political issue in an eloquent
as well as well-explained tone.

Source
https://www.facebook.com/aishafaisal954/posts/edward-
saids-prose-style-edward-saids-prose-styleintroduction-
style-is-a-fundame/446754752796968/

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