美国文学论文 弗朗西斯培根

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Class: 09级2班Number: 20095061206 Name: 王肖娜

I Main characters in the Autobiography：

①Benjamin Franklin---The author and protagonist of the Autobiography; The Autobiography tells of the major events of his life and many of his important scientific and political ideas, but the work does not discuss the American Revolution, in which Franklin was a major participant.

②William Franklin---Benjamin's son and royal governor of New Jersey in 1771 when Ben begins writing the work. Ben begins the Autobiography as a letter to William with the intent of telling him about his life.

③James Franklin---Franklin older brother who owns a printing house in Boston. Ben is apprenticed to James when Ben is 12, and while they do not always get along very well, Ben learns much from James and proves to be quite helpful. When James is arrested for holding subversive political ideas, Ben takes over the paper until James' release. When Ben breaks his contract and leaves for Philadelphia, James grows angry and spiteful.

○4Deborah Rea---The daughter of John Read, she eventually marries Franklin even though their courtship is interrupted by his 18-month trip to England, during which time she marries another man who disappears thus allowing her marriage to Franklin.

II “Firsts" associated with the Autobiography

1.It is considered the first popular self-help book ever published.

2. It was the first and only work written in American before the 19th century that has retained bestseller popularity since its release.

3. It was the first major secular American autobiography.

4. It is also the first real account of the American Dream in action as told from a man who experienced it firsthand.

III Part One, first two section

The Autobiograph y opens with a salutation to Ben Franklin?s son, William Franklin who at the time was the royal governor of New Jersey. Franklin is writing in the summer of 1771 on vacation in a small town about 50 miles south of London. Franklin says that because his son may wish to know about his life, he is taking his one week vacation in the English countryside to record his past. Franklin says that he has enjoyed his life and would like to repeat it, although he would like to correct some small errors if the opportunity arose. But since Franklin cannot repeat life, he can instead recollect it. He thanks God for allowing him to live a good life. Ben, at the age of 12, signed a contract to work for James for the next eight years.

IV Commentary

The opening part of the Autobiography addresses some themes that will come up later on in the book, namely, self-betterment and religion. Franklin…s tone at the beginning of the book is humble. He claims to write only so that his own life may be an example for his son of how one can live well and how one can get through hardships. Franklin's book, a story of self-betterment, is written so as to be a model for the betterment of others. This general motive for writing, as well as Franklin's mention of correcting some errors were he to relive his life, both indicate Franklin's constant interest in self-improvement. This is perhaps the largest theme in the Autobiography; it dominates Part Two and recurs often in Part One. Also notice that Franklin thanks God for helping him to lead a good life. Franklin does not often show a religious side, and he will explain in greater depth later on that he is a Deist without ascribing to any particular religious denomination. Franklin is often seen as the prototypical American and the first real example of the classic American Dream in action. Notice how Franklin carefully draws out throughout the book how he rose up with help primarily from hard work and skills. This part of the Autobiography is interesting from a literary standpoint because Ben Franklin is essentially creating the legend of the American Dream.

V About Autobiography

A story that a person writes about his or her own life is called an autobiography. Autobiographies are written in first-person point of view, and biographies in third-person point of view.

Autobiography——the greatest autobiography produced in Colonial America The work portrays a fascinating picture of life in Philadelphia, Franklin wrote the first five chapters of his autobiography in England in 1771, resumed again thirteen years later (1784-85) in Paris and later in 1788 when he returned to the United States. Franklin ends the account of his life in 1757 when he was 51 years old.

It is regarded as one of the most important works of American literature produced during the 18th century. It is a record of a man rising to wealth and fame from a state of poverty and obscurity, an account of the colorful career of America's first self-made man.

It is perhaps the first real post-revolutionary American writing as well as the first real autobiography in English. First of all, it is a puritan document. The most famous section describes his scientific scheme of self-examination and self-improvement. The style: it is the pattern of Puritan simplicity, directness, and concision. The narrative is lucid, the structure is simple, the imagery is homely. an exemplary illustration of the American style of writing.

Autobiography “To help myself live without fault, I made a list of what I considered the 13 virtues. These virtues are: 1. Temperance 2. Self-control 3. Silence 4. Order 5. Firmness 6. Savings 7.Industry 8.Honesty 9. Justice 10. Cleanliness 11. Calmness 12. Morality 13. Humbleness”