II year Questions and Answers

Of Studies

What according to Bacon is the theme of “Of Studies.”?

Bacon in his essay ‘ Of Studies’ explains the advantages of reading books as well as the
disadvantages of reading them. He also explains various ways in which one should read different
books. According to Bacon reading books give us delight, enjoyment and education. Reading helps
one to communicate effectively. They also help us to deal with problems of our life. Spending too
much time with books can create problems for us. Bookish knowledge is not useful. Practical
knowledge is more important in dealing with the problems of our life. Reading makes a man up to
date.

How does Bacon emphasize the value of experience?

While Francis Bacon explains the importance of reading in acquiring knowledge, he also emphasises
the importance of practical experience. Too much of reading can stop us from understanding their
practical applications in daily life. The experience of lived life gives us wisdom while bookish
knowledge can only give us knowledge. Depending on books can prevent us from acquiring wisdom,
which is available in everyday life. That is why Bacon emphasizes the value of experience.

What did Bacon mean in the line “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some
few to be chewed and digested?”

Bacon in his essay explains the important uses of reading books. He explains how books give us
delight, enjoyment and education. But Bacon cautions the reader about how to read the books. It is
because all the books cannot be read in the same way and with the same seriousness. That is why
Bacon identifies which books are to be read thoroughly, which books are to be read only briefly.
Some books are to be read completely. Other books are to be read carefully and digested because
their contents are very important. Other books can be read by others such as assistants who may
read for us and report the contents to us. Bacon offers this advice because reading all the books is
practically impossible and all the books do not merit our attention.

How do studies cure the diseases of the mind?

Bacon in his essay tells us how studies cure the diseases of our mind. He explains how diseases of
the body are cured by appropriate physical exercises. For example bowling is good for kidneys,
shooting is good for the lungs and the breast and gentle walking is good for the stomach. In the
same way studies help us. If a man is unable to concentrate, he should study mathematics.
Scholastic philosophy is good for muddles thinking and the study of law is a good medicine for poor
memory. Thus every defect of the mind can be cured by studies.

The Secret of Work

How can the miseries of the world be cured, according to Swamy Vivekananda?

According to Swamy Vivekananda the miseries of the world cannot be cured by physical help. Even if
we create more physical facilities and build charity houses, we cannot solve the problems of the
world because new problems continue to emerge. Spending more money also cannot solve the
problems of the world. For Vivekanand man’s character is important. Unless man’s character is
changes, his miseries will not be solved. The only solution is to mankind pure. Ignorance is the major
cause of misery. We should educate mankind spiritually.

What does Vivekananda say about a man of character?

Vivekananda gives a lot of importance to a man of character. He compares such a man to a tortoise.
As the tortoise tucks its feet and head inside the shell, and even if you kill it and break it in pieces, it
will not come out. In the same way, if a man controls his own inner forces, nothing can draw them
against his will. A man of character has complete control over his mind. He is not influenced by the
external circumstances. Even if he is in the company of bad people, he will not be affected by them.

What is meant by working like a master and not as a slave?

Vivekananda asks us to work like a master and not as a slave. He believes that most of us work like
slaves and not as masters. The people who work for themselves are selfish because all they are
interested is their life. Even if they do not love the work they do, they still work because they are
attached to the work and the money it brings. For Vivekananda selfish work is slave’s work. There is
love in both of them. Master’s work is the opposite of selfish work. He is not attached to the work he
or she does. He does not expect anything from what he does. He does his work out of love.

The Tables Turned

Why does Wordsworth consider Nature to be a good teacher?

In his poem ‘Tables Turned’ Wordsworth consider Nature to be better teacher than books. In his
poem Wordsworth expresses his faith in nature and he is confident that nature is the best teacher.
He believes that man can attain wisdom in the circle of nature. He calls upon us to give up books and
come and spend time in the company of songs of the singing birds which have more wisdom than
any books we read in our daily life. He asks us to accept nature as our teacher.

Do you prefer to gain knowledge through books or become wise through experience of Nature? Give
reasons in support of your answer with reference the e to the poem ‘ The Tables Turned.’

In the poem Wordsworth asks us to give up books and become wise by spending our time in the
presence of nature. One can gain knowledge through books. But it takes years of hard work and it
makes life very dull. I agree with Wordsworth when he says that books are dull and endless strife.
But contemporary world has changed a lot. It has become commercial where everybody has to earn
his own livelihood. In such a situation one has to study books. However, even if we read books and
acquire knowledge, we can still spend time in the presence of nature and gain experience from it
and become wise.
 The Builders

What is the appropriateness of the title ‘The Builders? Do you agree with the poet about building
one’s own life?

The title ‘The Builders’ is very appropriate to the poem. It is a simple metaphor where human life is
compared to a building and we human beings are the builders. Just as builders build buildings, we
also build our own lives. As they use blocks to build, so we too spend building our lives using blocks
called time. How we build our lives depend on us. If are disciplined and careful, we can lay a strong
foundation to our lives. It is upon the strong foundation that we can build the other structures of life
which finally takes us the highest point of life which gives a proper perspective.

What is the central idea of the poem ‘The Builders?’

The poem ‘The Builders’ is written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In this poem he metaphorically
explains how human beings, like the builder, build their lives. It is about how we make our own
lives. The poet explains how build our lives within the walls of time. Each day is building block. What
we do every day contributes to the building of our life. But it takes hard work, resilience, honesty
and integrity to build a good life. It is only when we reach the highest point of our life that we
understand what is worth living for.