ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Michel de Montaigne, in full Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, (born February 28, 1533, Château de Montaigne, near Bordeaux, France-died September 23, 1592, Château de Montaigne), French writer whose Essais (Essays) established a new literary form.

Detailed explanation-2: -Michel Eyquem, Sieur de Montaigne (/mɒnˈteɪn/ mon-TAYN; French: [miʃɛl ekɛm də mɔ̃tɛɲ]; 28 February 1533 – 13 September 1592), also known as the Lord of Montaigne, was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance. He is known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre.

Detailed explanation-3: -Montaigne’s only principal philosophical work is Essais, or “Essays, ” in English. In fact, he is known as the creator of the essay style of writing. In Essays, Montaigne discusses a plethora of topics; cannibalism, education, his relationship with his father, smells, books, cruelty, experience and many others.

Detailed explanation-4: -Montaigne invented the essay genre after deciding he wanted to write a literary self-portrait of himself. This turned out to be an impossible task. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) is one of France’s most celebrated literary giants.

Detailed explanation-5: -Content. Montaigne’s stated goal in his book is to describe himself with utter frankness and honesty ("bonne foi"). The insight into human nature provided by his essays, for which they are so widely read, is merely a by-product of his introspection.