NCERT Book Class 11 English (Woven Words) Essay 1 My Watch

144 Woven Words

ESSAYS

INTRODUCTION

An essay is a short composition in prose that undertakes
to discuss a matter, express a point of view, or persuade
us to accept an idea on any subject. It is addressed to a
general rather than a specialised audience; as a
consequence, the essay discusses its subject in a non-
technical fashion and often with a liberal use of anecdote,
illustration and humour.
A useful distinction is that between the formal and informal
essay. The formal essay is relatively impersonal, logically
organised and filled with serious purpose. The informal
essay is personal, written in a relaxed, often whimsical
fashion, and tends to deal with everyday things.
Essays have been written since ancient times. The French
writer, Montaigne, wrote short literary pieces which he
called Essaies, meaning ‘attempts’. Francis Bacon
inaugurated the English use of the term in his own essays.
The founding of literary periodicals and magazines gave
great impetus to the writing of essays (earlier essays were
published in books).
The essays in this unit provide a wide thematic range. My
Watch is a humorous re-look at an instrument that most of
us take for granted. My Three Passions focuses on the
eternal concepts of love and pity. Tribal Verse makes one
sensitively aware of the rich oral literatures of India.
Bridges, an autobiographical excerpt, gives us a glimpse
into the life of a kathak dancer and choreographer while
Patterns of Creativity throws light on the creativity of poetry
and creativity of science.