Bacon

Fried Literature Literature is not all of the same quality. The true worth of a work can be determined by the impact it leaves upon the reader and the bearing it has on the reader’s life patterns. Sir Francis Bacon in his essay “Of Studies” once stated that “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” This statement can be applied widely and holds true in the face of almost any literary work. Books can indeed be divided into those that should be “tasted,” those that should be “swallowed,” and those that should be “chewed and digested.” Though by no means objective, Bacon’s classification system is a means by which works can be divided by the seriousness and thought that should be applied when reading them. Works that should merely be “tasted” should not be taken very seriously. Such works are generally light-hearted, simple to read, unrealistic, and even superficial. In these “tasted” books the main and primary message that is expressed is really the only one that should remain with the reader. There is general meaning, but for the most part these works are intended for entertainment purposes and do not influence one’s life skills. One enjoys such a work as he or she reads it, but eventually discards it for something else without so much as another thought of the work. One form of publication that should just be “tasted” is the comic books. The Family Circus series is an example. These comics possess basic plots, which describe a family with four young children and how they interact with one another. While it may try to convey a basic message, Family Circus does not truly attempt to instruct the reader. It has very little, if any, deeper meaning. This series of works is meant primarily for enjoyment and leisure, and should not be taken as anything more than that. It leaves no mark upon the reader once the reader has read it. The reader reads it, laughs at it, disposes of it, forgets it, and looks immediately for something else new and exciting; it is a never-ending cycle typical of tasted works. Magazines and Periodicals are also forms of writing that should only be “tasted” and do not possess any real depth. Works of this sort really have no purpose other than to provide enjoyment tailored for various interests. One example of such a periodical is Cosmopolitan. It presents life in a very superficial and often unrealistic manner and for the most part it lacks any sublime meaning. Women of unrealistically small dress-size reveal to the reader fashion secrets, makeup tips, and opinions on sex and love. After reading Cosmopolitan from cover to cover, the reader would probably not remember much of what he or she just read but would likely remember and even reflect on the central underlying message of human nature he or she received from reading it. Reading or even just skimming through the Cosmopolitan would give the reader the overall flavor, the general taste, of the increasing vainness of mankind Works of fantasy are also literary works that should just be “tasted” because they lack a firm grip upon reality. The reader should not delve too deeply into fantasy novels because many times their basis is unreal. An example includes the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. In Harry Potter a boy called Harry just entering his teenaged years of life experiences many of the problems characteristic to those of real-life young people. Harry’s life, however, quickly changes from realistic to idealistic. Witches, wizards, and magic enter the once normal life of an ordinary boy and reality is altered. This story, told in a series, is quite entertaining and acts as an excellent form of escapism, but it has little application to everyday life. Fantasy stories such as this one are intended to only be tasted; it is simply not healthy to do anything more with something that cannot possibly exist or happen. If one reads Harry Potter too often and too deeply, one might become confused between what is real and what is not real. An untruth should not be taken as a truth, and similarly, a fantasy novel should not be taken as a reality. The second category in Bacon’s statement, those books “to be swallowed,” includes literary works where the reader, for the most part, views the whole work and ideas within it from a semi-serious point of view. Works that should be swallowed are usually lengthier and contain more purpose and depth than “tasted” works. “Swallowed” implies that the reader takes something from the work. Such works often provide the reader with a basis of temporary knowledge, contain some educational value, and can offer insight to humanity. They are not usually for entertainment purposes and frequently affect one’s life pattern, but only for a short period of time. Fictional literature is often made to be “swallowed.” Though the circumstances within fictional works are almost always untrue, they are never unreal. Fiction allows the author to fabricate, from untrue circumstances, stories than can tell a story that can be related to either history or everyday life. This genre often leaves the reader with an impression or a message. An example includes The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. This novel should be swallowed because the circumstances that it conveys are true and couldn’t possibly be expressed better by any other means. In this novel, a poor Midwest family is forced off their land and travels to California suffering the hardships of the destitute in the Great Depression. It is a lengthy book which can even be just skimmed through and the central meaning would still be understood. After swallowing The Grapes of Wrath, the reader is left with a message of the potential cruelty of both nature and society. Textbooks, as in school material, are very “swallowable”. As books that deal primarily with facts and information, textbooks provide almost everybody’s basis of knowledge. This material is usually rather meaningful and affects the life skills of the reader temporarily. Information from textbooks is often memorized for recitation purposes. Introductory Chemistry written by Steven Zumdahl, for example, explains many important ideas and concepts in regards to chemistry. Chemistry students spend time pouring over their chemistry textbooks memorizing equations and facts they need to know to pass tests. After tests, however, students do not usually retain the knowledge. The chemistry book affects the student for the duration of the chemistry course, but once the course is over it has little bearing on the student’s life. Textbooks, such as Introductory Chemistry, are very important and must be swallowed for the continuation of education. Newspapers are definitely something that can be “swallowed.” This genre can vary drastically in length from paper to paper, but the makeup is always similar. News, facts, statistics, advertising, and stories concerning humanity primarily make up newspapers. As a means of mass education for the general public, newspapers contain purpose, are usually serious, and attempt to instruct its consumers. The Journal Star is an example of this genre. The Journal Star offers a multitude of information, including information on issues of local and national importance and general interest. The information and advertising in this particular example leaves the public with something to take with them after they have finished reading; biased opinions and ideas, if nothing else. A great deal of the information presented is significant, but its relevance is short-lived, so as with most swallowed works the information is only temporarily retained. Some books are meant to just be “tasted,” some are meant to be “swallowed,” a select few, however, are meant to be “chewed and digested.” Tasted works come and go not leaving a mark on the world. Swallowed works stick around for awhile and place their mark, but soon they go away and their mark is erased. Chewed and Digested works place their mark on the world and it stays there permanently. This elite group of literature is the beginning and the end, the consumption and the excretion. Such works can alter a person’s life or simply change one’s outlook upon how the world works. Of Bacon’s three categories, this group usually contains the most purpose, is the most stimulating to the intellect, and most affects the reader’s lifestyle. Religious books, probably above all other literature, are meant to be “chewed and digested.” Written for the very purpose of bringing about life-altering change, religious texts target purpose. Every person wants to know what his or her purpose is in life and why he or she was placed on this earth. Purpose is the most important thing there is to a person; it’s the justifiable reason for life. The Bible is an example of a religious book. It attempts to impart to the reader moral values and an entire new way of living life for Jesus Christ. The Bible is very applicable to the modern-day reader. Problems humanity had two thousand years ago continue to challenge mankind in the present. Loaded with meaning, the teachings and stories of this chewed and digested material are very rousing to one’s intellect. Non-fiction, stories composed of absolute truth, are good examples of things that can be safely chewed before digestion. Firmly anchored in reality, non-fiction narrates to the reader a story of veracity. The story is built on a factual and realistic basis rather than dreamed up in an author’s head, and can therefore be applied to the reader. Since non-fiction works are based off of something that really happened such works are almost always meaningful, to the point, and affect the reader in some way. Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah is a sad example of true happenings being recorded in a literary work. In the novel, Yen Mah recounts the story of her miserable childhood in which she grew up unloved and abused. The heart-wrenching story is digested by the reader and leaves him or her with a new sense of awareness and feeling of compassion for mistreated children. Among the “chewed and digested” works dwell the documents of law. Laws are imposed upon all peoples so obviously they are pertinent to the reader. Terrifically precise and to the point, laws are very specific as is characteristic of chewed and digested works. The bearing such works have on the reader’s life is tremendous; everyone must follow the laws. The United States Constitution, written in 1787 by the country’s founding fathers, is an example of this genre. The Constitution is the handbook of America. It says precisely what an individual can and cannot do and clearly states what rights an individual does or does not have. This document affects every person for the full duration of his or her life. Literature is definitely divisible in terms of how the reader should act towards it. Some publications are just meant to be “tasted,” or not taken seriously, such as comic books, magazines, and fantasies. Others, like fiction, textbooks, and newspapers, are meant to be “swallowed,” or read but not taken completely seriously. The elite class of books that should be “chewed and digested,” which means they should be read wholly and seriously, includes religious texts, non-fiction, and documents of law. “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” This statement carries immutable truth; it is a logical means by which works can be divided by the seriousness and thought that should be applied when reading them.