Analyse Lamb’s prose style with reference to his essays that are on syllabus?

Analyse Lamb’s prose style with reference to his essays that are on syllabus?

In the opinion of J.C. Powys, “Elea’s style is the only thing in English prose that can be called absolutely perfect.” Style and content are the two main things that give weight and value to any literary work. The two great masters of English essay - Lamb who Bacon, differed in their style and content of writings, but the writings of both have tremendous value and weight undoubtedly. Lamb differed from Bacon greatly. Lamb too wrote on a variety of topic, even often on trivial subjects. A Dissertation upon a roasted pig and The Restoration Comedy both received equal attention from him and he wrote on all these varied topics so much effectively and with such an ease that they remain an ever source of joy for his readers. This was due to his style. The proverb, ‘Style makes the man” is more appropriate for Lamb more than any other else. The special charm, colour and light of his essays are essentially the product of his own style. Lamb is often regarded as “archaic, allusive and eclectic” so for as his style is concerned.  Lamb essays are replete with quaintness and archaic quality. Lamb had a love of quaint turn of phrase and obsolete words. This love he had developed from his study of the older English writers. He described his own style as a “self-pleasing quaintness.” He followed the ancient authors with great mannerism instead of blind affection.

All of Lamb's major trademarks as an essayist are to be found in ‘Dream Children’ and ‘The Superannuated Man’: overall, a relaxed and colloquial voice and a genteel sensibility incorporating elements of humour, whimsy, strong personal recollection and touches of pathos. All these mark him out as one of the great exponents of the familiar essay in English in the nineteenth century, along with Thomas de Quincey and William Hazlitt. This was a type of writing characterized by a strong personal element and an informal tone, on almost any subject of interest to the writer. Although he also tried his hand at many other literary forms, it is fair to say that Lamb really found his distinctive and most enduring voice in his essays, which he first contributed to the London Magazine under the pseudonym of 'Elia'...................................................................................................................................

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