Of Studies by Francis Bacon Questions and Answers
Very Short Answer Questions
Q: Who is the author of “Of Studies”?
A: The author of “Of Studies” is Francis Bacon.
Q: What are the three benefits of studies according to Bacon?
A: According to Bacon, studies serve for delight, ornament, and ability.
Q: What does Bacon suggest about spending too much time in studies?
A: Bacon suggests that spending too much time in studies is sloth.
Q: How does Bacon categorize books?
A: Bacon categorizes books into those to be tasted, swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “studies perfect nature”?
A: Bacon means that studies can help improve our natural abilities.
Q: What is the balance that Bacon emphasizes in the essay?
A: Bacon emphasizes the balance between studies and experience.
Q: What does Bacon suggest about reading?
A: Bacon suggests that we should read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, but to weigh and consider.
Q: What does Bacon say about crafty men, simple men, and wise men in relation to studies?
A: Bacon says that crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large”?
A: Bacon means that studies can provide broad guidance that needs to be bounded by experience.
Q: What does Bacon suggest about using studies for ornament?
A: Bacon suggests that using studies too much for ornament is affectation.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “studies pass into and influence manners”?
A: Bacon means that what we study influences our behavior and character.
Q: What does Bacon suggest about reading little?
A: Bacon suggests that if a person reads little, they need to be cunning to appear knowledgeable.
Q: What does Bacon suggest about writing little?
A: Bacon suggests that if a person writes little, they need to have a great memory.
Q: What does Bacon suggest about conferring little?
A: Bacon suggests that if a person confers little, they need to have a present wit.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “Histories make men wise”?
A: Bacon means that reading histories can make a person wise.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “poets witty”?
A: Bacon means that reading poetry can make a person witty.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “the mathematics subtle”?
A: Bacon means that studying mathematics can make a person subtle.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “natural philosophy deep”?
A: Bacon means that studying natural philosophy can make a person deep.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “moral grave”?
A: Bacon means that studying morality can make a person serious.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “logic and rhetoric able to contend”?
A: Bacon means that studying logic and rhetoric can make a person argumentative.
Q: What does Bacon suggest about a man’s wit being wandering?
A: Bacon suggests that if a man’s wit is wandering, he should study mathematics.
Q: What does Bacon suggest about a man’s wit not being apt to distinguish or find differences?
A: Bacon suggests that if a man’s wit is not apt to distinguish or find differences, he should study the Schoolmen.
Q: What does Bacon suggest about a man not being apt to beat over matters? A: Bacon suggests that if a man is not apt to beat over matters, he should study the lawyers’ cases.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “every defect of the mind may have a special receipt”?
A: Bacon means that every defect of the mind can be remedied by appropriate studies.
Q: What is the main message of the essay “Of Studies”?
A: The main message of the essay is that studies are essential for personal and professional development, but they should be balanced with experience.
Short Answer Questions
Q: What are the three main purposes of studies according to Francis Bacon in his essay “Of Studies”?
A: According to Bacon, studies serve for delight, ornament, and ability. They provide personal enjoyment, enhance our conversations, and improve our ability to make judgments in professional matters.
Q: How does Bacon in his essay “Of Studies” suggest we should approach reading?
A: Bacon suggests that we should read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, but to weigh and consider. This means we should approach reading with an open and critical mind.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large” in his essay “Of Studies”?
A: Bacon means that studies can provide broad guidance that needs to be bounded by experience. In other words, while studies can give us a lot of information, this information needs to be tempered and guided by practical experience.
Q: What does Bacon suggest about the misuse of studies in his essay “Of Studies”?
A: Bacon warns against the misuse of studies. He suggests that spending too much time in studies can lead to laziness, using them excessively for show can lead to pretentiousness, and relying solely on their rules for judgment can lead to pedantry.
Q: What balance does Bacon emphasize in his essay “Of Studies”?
A: Bacon emphasizes the balance between studies and experience. While studies can perfect natural abilities, they are themselves perfected by experience. This suggests that both theoretical knowledge and practical experience are important for personal and professional development.
Q: How does Bacon categorize books in his essay “Of Studies”?
A: Bacon categorizes books into those to be tasted, swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. This means that different books require different levels of engagement. Some books are to be sampled, others are to be read in their entirety but not in detail, and a few are to be read thoroughly and thoughtfully.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “studies pass into and influence manners” in his essay “Of Studies”?
A: Bacon means that what we study influences our behavior and character. The knowledge and skills we gain from our studies can shape our attitudes, values, and actions.
Q: What does Bacon suggest about a man’s wit being wandering in his essay “Of Studies”?
A: Bacon suggests that if a man’s wit is wandering, he should study mathematics. This is because mathematics requires focused attention and logical thinking, which can help train the mind to be more disciplined and focused.
Q: What does Bacon mean by “every defect of the mind may have a special receipt” in his essay “Of Studies”?
A: Bacon means that every defect of the mind can be remedied by appropriate studies. Just as different diseases require different treatments, different mental shortcomings can be addressed by studying different subjects.
Q: What is the main message of the essay “Of Studies” by Francis Bacon?
A: The main message of the essay is that studies are essential for personal and professional development. They provide delight in solitude, serve as an ornament in conversation, and enhance one’s ability to make judgments in professional matters. However, studies should be balanced with experience, and their use should be practical rather than ostentatious.
