In his essay “Of Travaille” [that is, concerning travel],
Sir Francis Bacon uses a variety of persuasive techniques and some notable instances of
figurative language in order to support his argument. Among his persuasive techniques
are the following:
- In his opening sentence, he
mentions two potential audiences – young people and older people. Although later he
mainly focuses on the young, his essay might also profitably be read by their
parents. - His tone is that of an experienced person who
knows what he is talking about, probably from his own travels. After all, he cites no
learned authorities but gives his own advice. - He shows
the breadth of his experience and advice by frequently using lists, so that he seems to
know a lot and seems to be comprehensive in his
counsel. - He is willing to criticize common practice (such
as that involving the keeping of diaries), thus showing his independence of mind and his
confidence in his own advice. - He offers very practical
advice – advice that would truly be useful to an inexperienced traveller. He thereby
implies that he has that traveller’s best interests at heart. Consider, for instance,
the following quotation, in which Bacon, speaking of the young traveller, says
readability="8">Let him carry with him also, some card or book,
describing the country where he travelleth; which will be a good key to his
inquiry.
- He
focuses on the matter at hand rather than on himself; his advice seems rooted in
personal experience, but he does not make himself the true topic of the
essay.- His advice is efficiently presented (the essay is
brief; the lists make it highly economical).- He is
methodical, seeming to have thought of (and already answered) many potential questions,
and moving through his ideas in a very logical
manner.- His style is accessible; almost anyone can read
this essay, understand it, and profit from it.- Near the
end of the essay, Bacon shows a practical concern for how the young traveller should
present himself to his countrymen when he returns from abroad. Once again, Bacon seems
to have anticipated a question and seems to have the young traveller’s best interests
and reputation at heart in highly prudent
ways.Figurative language does not seem to be
especially strongly used in this essay, perhaps because the focus of the essay is so
plainly practical. Bacon here seems more interested in offering a “how-to” manual than
in exploring the riches of language and style. Nevertheless, a few figures of speech
are used. In particular, Bacon uses metaphors, as when he says
that if a traveller visits a foreign countryreadability="7">before he hath some entrance into the language,
[he] goeth to school, and not to
travel.Another metaphor
appears when Bacon says that if young men travel without knowing what to visit and
observe they “go hooded.” Other metaphors appear in the references to a “little room,”
an “entrance,” and, especially to a great “adamant,” or magnet. Finally, one last
memorable metaphor occurs when Bacon compares travel to “prick[ing] in some
flowers.”
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