Origin and Development
of the Essay
in English Literature
Introduction
The essay is an important form of English prose. The word
“essay” comes from the French word “essai”, which means “attempt” or
“trial.” An essay is a short piece of prose in which a writer expresses ideas,
opinions, observations, or feelings on a particular subject. The essay may be
serious, humorous, personal, critical, or descriptive.
Origin of the Essay
The essay as a literary form began in France. The French
writer Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) is generally regarded as the father of
the modern essay. His famous book ‘Essais’ was published in 1580.
Montaigne wrote about ordinary subjects such as friendship, education, fear,
death, customs, and human behaviour. He did not always give fixed answers.
Instead, he explored his own thoughts and experiences.
The Beginning of the English Essay
The English essay developed soon after Montaigne. Francis
Bacon (1561–1626) is considered the father of the English essay. His Essays was
first published in 1597 and later enlarged in 1612 and 1625.
Bacon's essays are different from Montaigne's. They are
generally short, serious, practical, and full of wisdom. He writes about
subjects such as truth, studies, friendship, marriage, parents and children,
ambition, and revenge.
Some famous essays by Bacon are:
“Of Studies”
“Of Truth”
“Of Friendship”
“Of Revenge”
“Of Marriage and Single Life”
For example, in “Of Studies,” Bacon explains the value of
reading and learning. His famous statement, “Studies serve for delight, for
ornament, and for ability,” shows his simple but powerful way of presenting
ideas.
Development in the 18th Century
The essay became very popular in the 18th century, especially
through newspapers and periodicals. Joseph Addison and Richard Steele played a
major role in this development. They started The Tatler in 1709 and The
Spectator in 1711.
Their essays discussed everyday life, manners, education,
fashion, morality, and society. Their language was simple and easy to
understand. The famous character Sir Roger de Coverley, created mainly by
Addison, became an important example of character writing in the period.
The Essay in the 19th Century
During the 19th century, the essay became more personal,
literary, and imaginative. Writers such as Charles Lamb, William Hazlitt,
Thomas De Quincey, John Ruskin, and Thomas Carlyle made important
contributions.
Charles Lamb is especially famous for his personal essays.
His Essays of Elia contains essays such as “Dream Children” and “A Dissertation
upon Roast Pig.” Lamb writes about ordinary experiences in a warm, humorous,
and personal manner.
William Hazlitt wrote critical and personal essays. His
essays often deal with literature, art, politics, and human life.
The Modern Essay
In the 20th century, the essay became even more varied.
Writers such as G. K. Chesterton, George Orwell, Virginia Woolf, E. M. Forster,
and Aldous Huxley used the essay to discuss literature, politics, society,
culture, and personal experiences.
For example, George Orwell's “Politics and the English
Language” discusses how unclear language can affect political thinking.
Virginia Woolf's “The Death of the Moth” uses a small incident to reflect on
life and death.
Conclusion
Thus, the essay has developed from Montaigne's personal
experiments in thought to Bacon's serious and practical essays, Addison and
Steele's periodical essays, the personal essays of Lamb and Hazlitt, and the
wide-ranging modern essays of writers like Orwell and Woolf. The essay remains
popular because it allows writers to discuss almost any subject in a simple and
flexible form.
No comments:
Post a Comment