Unit 1: The Essay

The term Essay has been defined by many critics. The best among them are as
follows:
A brief composition in Prose that undertakes to discuss a matter, express a
point of view, or persuade us to accept a thesis on any subject whatever.
M.H.Abrahams
Loose sally of mind Dr.Johnson
Dispersed Meditation Francis Bacon

The Essayist is in his particular fashion, an interpreter of life, and a critic of

life. He does not see life as the historian, or as the philosopher, or as the poet,
as the novelist, and yet he has a touch of these. A.C.Benson
Types: There are two types of essays, Formal and Informal. Depending on the
Subject and Style they have been categorized in this two groups.
Formal Essay: A formal essay is a dignified composition with a serious purpose and
logical organization. Eg: Thomas Carlyles Heroes and Hero Worship
Informal Essay: It is a composition marked by humour, graceful style, a personal
element, a novel theme and freedom of affectation. Eg: Francis Bacons Essays,
Joseph Addison and Richard Steeles Spectator and Coverley Papers, and Charles
Lambs Personal Essays.
History of the Essay: Technically speaking Montaigne is the first writer associated
with this term.
Montaignes The Advancement of Learning and Essays are landmarks in the
history of English Prose.
Abraham Cowley gave the modern conversational tone.
During 17th Century Locke and Dryden were main contributors.
Along with them Addison and Steele were there and are considered as pioneers of
the periodical essay.
In the 18th Century Johnson and Oliver Goldsmith were the major essayists.
Johnsons Lives of Poets and Preface to Shakespeare are considered as
landmark works.
Oliver Goldsmiths The Citizen of the World has been appreciated as a great
collection of essays.
Charles Lamb dealt with personal life, memories of his youth and places associated
with his life. His The Essays of Elia is a collection of great essays.
William Hazlitt and Thomas De Quencey were two contemporary eminent writers of
this period.
The Victorian Age was graced by the essays written by Thomas Macaulay, Mathew
Arnold and Robert Stevenson.
Some of the prominent 20th Century essayists were Belloc, Chesterton, E.V.Lucas,
Max Beerbhom, Robert Lynd, George Bernard Shaw, Virginia Woolf, Adolous Huxley
and George Orwell

Department of English
Sem:1 / Allied 1: Literary Forms and Terms
Title: The Essay
Faculty In-charge: A.Vinodh

S.K.VELAYUTHAM WOMENS ARTS AND SCIENCE COLLEGE

Kurinjipadi

Page 1