Of Discourse by Francis Bacon – Explanations and Short Answer Type Questions

Q. What does Francis Bacon mean by the term ‘discourse’ in his essay “Of Discourse”?

    The term discourse means conversation or discussion. Francis Bacon does not use the term in the foucauldian sense. In this essay, Bacon points out the dos and the don’ts of discourse. In his famous style he offers pragmatic advices.

Q. Briefly describe: “Some, in their discourse, desire rather commendation of wit, in being able to hold all arguments, than of judgment, in discerning what is true : as if it were a praise to know what might be said, and not what should be thought.”

    In the opening sentence of “Of Discourse” Bacon suggests that speech should be meticulously spent. Mindless speech is not at all desirable. There are some people, according to Bacon who prefer the manifestation of their learning by holding all arguments to using their judgment in conversation. Speech should be well-thought and well-judged or otherwise it will have neither significance nor acceptance.

Q. What is the problem of speaking on some particular subjects?

    Discourse on some particular subject matters or topics may result in monotony. The lack of variety makes any discourse dull and tedious. The tendency to speak on some particular subjects should be avoided altogether. Initially it will produce boredom and once perceived it will be ridiculous or laughable.

Q. What is the honourable part of talk? Why does Bacon compare discourse to dancing?

    The honourable part of discourse, according to Bacon, is ‘to give the occasion’. In other words every speech should be well-contextualized. Relevant speech is easily accepted by others. Speech beyond context or occasion may sound whimsical.

    Bacon compares discourse to dance or group dance. In group dance, the principal dancer leads the other dancers. Similarly in discourse one may lead the conversation with contextualized and well-moderated speech that has the spice of variety.

Q. What does the expression “tales with reasons” mean?

    The expression ‘tales with reason’ means, relevant or contextual anecdotes that may be used in discourse to illustrate a particular point and also to add spice to the speech.

Q. What are the important elements of an ideal discourse?

    Relevant and moderated speech with references to different pertinent subject matters, anecdotes, asking of questions and opinions and finally earnest jest are the elements of an ideal discourse.

Q. What are the subjects that should be avoided from jest?

    According to Bacon, certain areas or subject matters should be avoided from jest, such as, religion, national matters, great persons, any business of importance, and any sympathetic matter. One should be very careful while ridiculing, otherwise it may result in offense and annoyance.

Q. What does Bacon mean by the word ‘quick’?

    The sensitive skin underneath the dead skin or hard nail is meant here.

Q. Describe briefly: “Parce, puer, stimulis, et fortius utere loris.”

    The English meaning of the Latin quotation from Ovid (Metamorphoses, ii, 127) is “spare the spur, young man, and use the reins more firmly”. Bacon quotes from Ovid to mean that in discourse, one should be meticulous enough to moderate speech instead of using superfluous and impatient words. With reference to the tendency of sparing uncontrolled and offensive words, Bacon advises that the inclination to do so should be shrinked (avoided); otherwise it may irritate the audience. Spur refers to the spike attached with the footrests to accelerate a horse. Bridle is used to control a horse. A rider should prefer the reins to spur to avoid accident. Speech is compared to riding. Speech may offend the listeners as if an arrow is shot to the quick , the sensitive skin under hard nails.

Q. What is Latinism?

    Latinism refers to the use of Latin words or expressions. Bacon is famous for his Latinism. He often uses expressions borrowed from Latin to illustrate or introduce a point.

Q. What does Bacon mean by ‘saltness’ and ‘bitterness’?

    By saltness Bacon means good taste and by bitterness, spoiled or rotten taste of food for excessive use of salt in it. Bacon compares satire to salt and implies that, a good proportion of satire can enhance the taste of a discourse. But uncontrolled use of satire in discourse may lead to bitterness. Evidently, Bacon uses a culinary (adj. cook) metaphor to illustrate his point.

Q. What does Bacon say about satire in discourse?

    Bacon promotes the moderated use of satire in discourse as it enhances the taste. Excessive use of satire can mar the taste of discourse. One needs to be alert while satirizing others. People whom he satirizes will be afraid of his wit. In return he should also be careful of people’s memory. The answer to a satire must be in satire.

Q. What does Bacon say about asking of questions?

    Asking of questions is promoted and praised by Bacon. He argues that one who asks questions continually gathers knowledge and also satisfies the person whom he asks. But questions should be relevant, so that the man who answers gets an opportunity of speaking. Asking troublesome questions is fit for a dissembler or poser. If one asks questions he must allow others to speak to reply and answer the questions.

Q. What is galliards?

    Galliards is a spirited or gay dance for two. Bacon refers to galliards to imply that one who rules over others in discourse must replace his listeners frequently. In galliards the same thing happens. The musicians, tired of playing on their instruments frequently replace themselves with another band of musicians, when people dance galliards for a long time.

Q. What does Bacon want to mean through this line: “If you dissemble sometimes your knowledge of that you are thought to know, you shall be thought another time to know that you know not.”

    Dissembling to knowledge, according to Bacon, may result in ironically. If one pretends to be ignorant of something, he is supposed to know, on another occasion he will be supposed to know what he actually doesn’t.

Q. What does ‘Speech of a man’s self’ mean? What is Bacon’s view of it?

    ‘Speech of a man’s self’ means speech of self-praise.

    Bacon warns his readers against self-praise in discourse. One must not boast of one’s virtues. ut there is one way of doing so; one must praise virtue in others to be praised by them. If one commends others, they will commend the person in return.

Q. “He must needs be a wise man, he speaks so much of himself;” – Who is the speaker? What does the speaker imply?

    Bacon quotes the scornful reaction of a man who was disgusted with another. The second man was boasting of himself. The man scornfully taunted the proud wretch by saying that he must be a wise man because, he boasted of himself so much.

    Bacon quotes the remark to illustrate his point that self-praise should be avoided totally in discourse.

Q. What does Bacon mean by ‘Speech of touch’?Give the meaning of the phrase ‘coming home’?

    ‘Speech of touch’ is a speech that touches or affects other people personally. In other words, ‘Speech of touch’ means a sensitive speech with insulting personal references.

    The phrase ‘coming home’ means having special reference to especially in a harmful way.

    Bacon warns his readers against the use of speech of touch. He compares discourse to a field, a public ground where everybody may participate in the discussion of a general subject without being personal to any of the interlocutors.

Q. Why does Bacon refer to noble men from the west part of England?

    In order to illustrate his comment that discourse is a public conversation in which all the participants should be engaged impersonally, Bacon alludes to two noble men from the west part of England.

    One of the two noble men had an inclination to scoff in the public, but in his own house he was pleased, and happy. The second noble man used to watch the former and would ask his guests if he had marred a good dinner by scoffing. The guest would reply accordingly. Bacon implies that the habit to scoff at others should be avoided. Any personal attach is harmful to a discourse. Discourse is like an open field where everybody roams about freely without coming home to any.

Q. Why does Bacon refer to greyhound and the hare towards the ending of “Of Discourse”?

    Bacon refers to the greyhound and the hare to illustrate the point that those who can reply quickly but not substantially destroy the pace of a discourse. On the other hand those who can reply in a lengthy continued speech without a good settled speech destroy the depth of the discourse.

    A similar tendency may be found in animals. The animals that can run fast on a straight course can not take turn quickly. On the contrary, the animals that can take quick turns, cannot run fast in the straight course. Taking turn is compared to a speech of interlocutor. The greyhound can run fast but cannot take turns as quickly as the hair that is slower than the greyhound in a straight course.