Before saying goodbye to Colonial LiteratureMeet Benjamin Franklin

TAKE NOTESHow do you get credit for class

today?Take some notes!

Colonial PeriodFrom about 1607 – 1775 Captivity Narratives

(Mary Rowlandson and others)

Religious writingsJohn Winthrop’s “City upon a Hill”Cotton Mather’s Magnalia Christi Americana

But wait! There’s more!

Benjamin Franklin

1706 – 1790Scientist, inventor, socialitePrinterPublished The Pennsylvania

Gazette

Inventor

…Bi-focals

Odometer…and a version of the

He explored electricity, figured out how it worked and invented the lightning rod. Additionally, he made swim fins…

The Legend

In his later yearshe was a diplomat Represented Pennsylvania to

BritainTried to bring about resolution

during disputes between the colonies and England—to avoid the revolution.

Negotiated treaty that brought France into the American Revolution on our side.

Didactic writing

Means writing that is intended to teach a lesson.

TOPICS of his writing:Self-improvementImprovement of society

….and more

The master of aphorismaph· o· rism   [af-uh-riz-uhm]

noun a terse (short) saying embodying a general truth, or astute (insightful) observation,: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” - Lord Acton

Aphorisms a la Ben

“Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation” (89)

“Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation” (91)

At age 22 he wrote his epitaph

The Body of B. Franklin,

Printer Like the Cover of an Old Book,

Its Contents torn Out And Stript of its Lettering and

Gilding Lies Here, Food for Worms.

But the Work shall not be Lost; For it will (as he Believ'd) Appear

once More In a New and More Elegant Edition

Corrected and amended By the Author.

Extended MetaphorBen Franklin compares his body to

_____?

Write down the qualities of an old book:1.2.3.4.

Who is the author he is talking about?

Option 1: Your EpitaphWrite your own epitaphMust be 5-10 lines long(here lies…)

Option II: Write your rules

Write 5-10 rules to live by.Refer to page 95 and 96 for

ideas!

Now Read

Page 92-95Starting at “Arriving at Moral

Perfection” completing “Sayings of Poor Richard”

Written Response1. What does Franklin’s project for moral

perfection reveal about his views of human nature and his attitudes toward education? Do you agree or disagree with his view?

2. Franklin ends his list of virtues with “humility.” Did you find evidence of pride in his history? Where?

3. Which virtue on Franklin’s list do you think is most important? Why?