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Part II: The Literature of Reason and Revolution

Part II: The Literature of Reason and Revolution. Background Study. -- “the Revolution” -- Calvinism Vs. Deism ; -- Puritanism Vs. Secularism -- Jonathan Vs. Benjamin Franklin The great puritan theologian : a secular figure looking to the past Vs. Pointing to the future.

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Part II: The Literature of Reason and Revolution

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  1. Part II: The Literature of Reason and Revolution

  2. Background Study -- “the Revolution” -- Calvinism Vs. Deism ; -- Puritanism Vs. Secularism -- Jonathan Vs. Benjamin Franklin • The great puritan theologian : a secular figure • looking to the past Vs. Pointing to the future

  3. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)– A Self-made Man; the First American Story Teller, One of the Giants in American History • Printer • Scientist • Diplomat • Moralist • Representative of American Dream • A Writer who wrotePoor Richard’s Almanac – a book of fold wisdomAutobiography –the first American story; a great American model of selfhood “The Way to Wealth”

  4. A Self-made Man — What did he make? • 1932 – wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac in 25 years, the first American best seller, even today • 1736- organized the Union Fire Co. • 1737- became Philadelphia’s Postmaster • 1741- invented the Franklin fireplace(stove) • 1743 – proposed the idea for the American Philosophical Society • 1747- organized the Pennsylvania Militia • 1749- the Philadelphia Academy, later became the university of Pennsylvania

  5. 1951- founded Philadelphia Hospital • 1952- conducted the famous kite experiment proving that lightning is electricity • … Working in several fields at the same time, he was virtual a prodigy, inventing things and making contributions socially, scientifically and politically. But how do we measure him in culture and literature?

  6. The American Prometheus • The making of the Yankee, the prudent secular wisdom • Preaching the American values (the 13 virtues, the weekly scorecard) • Telling the first American successful story, himself being the very original embodiment of the American dream, rising from no one to some one • His subtle humor and irony representing the character of American people and American life: easy-going but critical , leading the way later taken by great humorists like Mark Twain

  7. “Science was Franklin’s great passion, the only thing about which Franklin was not ironic.” — Charles Beard (American Historian)

  8. From The Autobiography • I believe I have omitted mentioning that, in my first voyage from Boston, being becalm'd off Block Island, our people set about catching cod, and hauled up a great many. Hitherto I had stuck to my resolution of not eating animal food, and on this occasion consider'd, with my master Tryon, the taking every fish as a kind of unprovoked murder, since none of them had, or ever could do us any injury that might justify the slaughter. All this seemed very reasonable. But I had formerly been a great lover of fish, and, when this came hot out of the frying-pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanced some time between principle and inclination, till I recollected that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their stomachs; then thought I, "If you eat one another, I don't see why we mayn't eat you." So I din'd upon cod very heartily, and continued to eat with other people, returning only now and then occasionally to a vegetable diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.

  9. From Poor Richard's Almanack • God helps them that help themselves. • Love your Neighbor; yet don't pull down your Hedge. • To err is human, to repent divine; to persist, devilish. • You may be too cunning for One, but not for All. • The Cat in Gloves catches no Mice. • He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals. • For want of a Nail the Shoe is lost; for want of a Shoe the Horse is lost; for want of a Horse the Rider is lost.

  10. Philip Freneau (1752-1832) --the First American-born poet • In 1752, born in a household frequently visited by well-known writers and painters • Became fast friends with James Madison and Brackenridge • Began to work for Jefferson and then as a journalist, writing political pamphlets; developed special grudge against Hamilton • In 1832, Lived in poverty and died unknown

  11. Literary Career Famous Works:a. “The British Prisoner Ship” (1781)b. “To the Memory of the Brave Americans ” (1781)c. “The Wild Honey Suckle” (1788)d. “The Indian Burying Ground” (1788) Style: • genuine lyric gifts Vs. political pamphleteering • creative; satirical; pre-romantic --Born in a time not ripe for poetry, obsessed with the beautiful, transient things of nature, he played a transitional role in the coming of American Romanticism and paved the way for writers like Cooper and Irving.

  12. Extending Question: • Identified as the “Poet of American Revolution" in the 1790s, Philip Freneau was later called “the father of American poetry” by his readers who were anxious for a spokesman for a national literary consciousness. Do you agree with his readers?

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