PROSE 1

ESSAY

S

CONTENTS

Breakup of the Module:A) Introduction to EssaysB) Essays & Essayists:

ESSAYS: DEFINITION

Essays are brief, non-fiction compositions that describe, clarify, argue, or analyze a subject.

INTRODUCTION TO ESSAYS

Frederick Crews, professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley, defines an essay as "a fairly brief piece of nonfiction that tries to make a point in an interesting way." 

INTRODUCTION TO ESSAYS

An essay is not just a bunch of words, or even a bunch of paragraphs.  An essay all fits together; it all points in one direction.  An essay leads to one conclusion.

INTRODUCTION TO ESSAYS

The Modes of Discourse—Exposition, Description, Narration, Argumentation (EDNA) are also known as types of essays.

EXPOSITORY ESSAYS

Expository essays investigate ideas, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. This can be accomplished through comparison and contrast, definition, example, the analysis of cause and effect, etc.

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAYS

Descriptive essays are a genre of essay that describes something—object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc. This genre encourages written accounts of a particular experience and allows for a great deal of artistic freedom (the goal of which is to paint an image that is vivid and moving in the mind of the reader).

NARRATIVE ESSAYS

Narrative essays tell a story and are often anecdotal, experiential, and personal—allowing the writer to express in a creative and, quite often, moving way.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS

Argumentative essays are a genre of writing that requires investigating a topic; collecting, generating, and evaluating evidence; and establishing a position on the topic in a concise manner.

ESSAYS & ESSAYISTS: FRANCIS BACON

a) OF TRUTH

b) OF MARRIAGE AND SINGLE LIFE

c) OF STUDIES

d) OF DISCOURSE

e) OF FRIENDSHIP

f) OF SIMULATION AND DISSIMULATION

g) OF GREAT PLACE

THE SPECTATOR

Founded on 1 March 1711, and continued until 6 December 1712. The Spectator was a daily publication of which each "paper", or "number", was approximately 2,500 words long, and the original run consisted of 555 numbers, beginning on 1 March 1711.

THE SPECTATOR

• The Spectator was issued daily and achieved great popularity, exercising a great deal of influence over the reading public of the time. Addison as the leading partner contributed 274 essays out a total of 555; Steele wrote 236 for this periodical.

JOSEPH ADDISON

Joseph Addison – statesman, courtier , essayist, poet and playwright

i) Excelled in the classics, particularly for his command of Latin verse

ii)Asked to write a poem celebrating the victory of the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim, over France , in the War of the Spanish Succession.

RICHARD STEELE

• Richard Steele - met Addison at Charterhouse. Beginning of a lifelong partnership in writing.

• Excited at the thought of King William's campaigns against the French.

• Left his studies incomplete to join the army.

• Commissioned in the army, but left due to lack of money and the connections needed for advancement

RICHARD STEELE

• Wrote a tract - when he wounded a friend in a duel - that was not received positively in spite of the fact that ten editions of it were published in his lifetime.

• Wrote in The Spectator on various issues, in collaboration with Addison

ESSAYS & ESSAYISTS

2) Charles Lamba) DREAM-CHILDREN: A REVERY

b) POOR RELATIONS

c) THE PRAISE OF CHIMNEY-SWEEPERS

d) THAT YOU MUST LOVE ME, AND LOVE MY DOG

e) POPULAR FALLACIES

f) THE OLD AND THE NEW SCHOOLMASTER

g) THE TWO RACES OF MEN

h) A CHAPTER ON EARS