4美国文学选读 课件Benjamin_Franklin.ppt

Lecture 4The Representatives of American Enlightenment: Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) If you would not be forgotten , as soon as you are dead rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing. --B. Franklin America has never forgotten Benjamin Franklin because he did both. Today, we honor Franklin as one of the Founding Fathers and as one of America’s greatest citizens. Life and works: p.18 Poor Richard’s Almanac kept publishing for many years; includes many classical sayings: Autobiography Autobiography 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 into which he was born, an account of the colorful career of Americas first self-made man. Autobiography Autobiography It is an elucidation (阐述)of the fact that Franklin was spokesman for enlightenment: he represents American idea man is basically good and free by nature, endowed by God with certain inalienable(不可剥夺的) rights of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Autobiography The style: it is the pattern of Puritan simplicity, directness, and concision(言简意赅). The narrative is lucid(易懂的), the structure is simple, the imagery is homely(朴素的). ★ He appears on the American 100 dollar bill. printer, editor, inventor, scientist, opened his own print shop for 20 years lightning rod, Franklin stove, bifocal glasses made experiment with a kite, proving that lightning was electricity published the Pennsylvania Gazette (newspaper) He was the only American to sign the four documents that created the United States: The Declaration of Independence, The Treaty of Alliance with France, The Treaty of Peace with England, The Constitution founded the first public library, organized the first fire department and the first paid police force, founded a school and a hospita