1、Lecture 1,Colonial Period tothe Revolution (16071800) Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790),Main contents,Historical background American Puritanism Benjamin Franklin,1. Historical background,Original inhabitants: American Indians. 1492, 12 Oct. - Christopher Columbus discovered the America. In the early 16t
2、h C., the other colonists arrived :Spanish, French ,Dutch, Swedes, Germans, Italians, and Portuguese. in 1607 - The first permanent English settlement :Jamestown, Virginia, by Capt. John Smith.,In 1620 - Puritans came to the New England area, by Mayflower and found Plymouth Colony (普利茅斯殖民地). ship of
3、 Mayflower roast turkey The origin of Thanksgiving Day,New England,2. American Puritanism,What is Puritan?The Puritans were originally devout members of Church of England who advocated highly religious and moral principle. They wished to “purify” their religious belief-to clean up the remains of the
4、 Catholicism in Church of England by breaking free from it.,Why did Puritans come to America?- to reform the Church of England and establish an entirely new church.- Charles I (1603)-to escape religious and political oppression and persecution.- to get greater economy opportunity for land and for ad
5、venture.,What is American Puritanism?,Puritanism is the practices and religious beliefs of puritans in America. puritan ideas:piety(虔诚), humility (谦虚), serious（严肃）, honest, diligence/hardworking （勤奋）, thrift/frugality（节俭,朴素), sobriety (节制)and ascetic (禁欲的). oppose pleasure and joy, favored a discipl
6、ined harsh life。,What are the features of Puritanism?1. Predestination(宿命论): God decided everything before things occurred. 2. Original sin（原罪）: Human beings were born to be evil . “In Adams fall, we all sin”3. Total depravity（彻底堕落）:Humanitys absolute corruption since the Fall of Man.4. Limited aton
7、ement（有限救赎）or the salvation of a selected few: Only the “elect” can be saved.,What are the influences of Puritanism on American thought and literature? 1. Root of American Spirit: piety, hard work, thrift, confidence, courage to face difficulties, individualism, forge ahead(进取) ,optimistic. “Every t
8、ub must stand on its own bottom.”“Every one is the architect of his own future.”“God helps those who help themselves.”,2. Source of American Dream: To achieve freedom , prosperity and success through honest hard work.The ability to rise from rags to riches through hard work.“life should be better an
9、d richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement“- James Truslow Adams,Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790),-The prototype of the American Dream - Americas first self- made man. -The first American,If you would not be forgotten , as soon as you are dead & rott
10、en, 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 Ben Franklin as one of the Founding Fathers and as one of Americas greatest citizens., He appears on the American 100 dollar bill.,writer,
11、statesman,business man,scientist,The prototype of the American dream,Jack of All Trades,diplomat,philanthropist 慈善家,printer,publisher,Life,Born in a poor candle makers family of 17 children in Boston. No regular education Age12, became an apprentice(学徒)of a printer to his half-brother . Age 16, an e
12、ditor of a newspaper and published lots of essays . Age 17, went to Philadelphia to make his own fortune.,Life,Age 42, became financially independent and retired to do what he liked: science literature, diplomacy etc. (read, make scientific experiments and do good to his fellow men),Death,Franklin d
13、ied on April 17, 1790, at age 84.Approximately 20,000 people attended his funeral.,The grave of Benjamin FranklinPhiladelphia, Pennyslvania,Memorial marble statue In Benjamin Franklin National Memorial,A marble statue of Benjamin Franklin stands in Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans,1. Fra
14、nklin stove, 2. effective street lighting, 3. bifocal glasses双焦点眼镜 , 4. a miniature printing press, 5. efficient heating devices 6. A musical instrument: an “armonica”玻璃琴 .,Success as an inventor and scientist,7. lightning-rod,避雷针 - “the new Prometheus who had stolen fire from heaven.” 8. The theori
15、es of electricity; first applied the terms “positive”(正极)and “negative”（负极） to electrical charges.,Success as an inventor and scientist,Success as a diplomat and statesmanAid Jefferson in writing The Declaration of Independence; Seeking help from France in American Independent War.,Success as a writ
16、er,The Autobiography 自传 Poor Richards Almanack 格言历书,Proverbs from Poor Richards Almanac,“A penny saved is a penny earned.”省一文赚一文 “Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” God helps those who help themselves. Beware of little expenses: a small leak will leak a great s
17、hip. Eat to live, and not live to eat. Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing. Lost time is never found again. Lifes tragedy is that we grow old too soon, and wise too late.,2. Autobiography,Franklin wrote this book when he was 65 years old.Its a record of his rising to wealth and fame fro
18、m a state of poverty and obscurity（身份低微）,Writing of the book,In 1771, at the age of 65, Benjamin Franklin sat down to write his autobiography. The work takes about 20 years, from 1771 to 1790. The account is written in four parts, written at four different times, reflecting his life in the different
19、 periods.,Contents,Part One was written in 1771 in England, a letter to his son; covering his life before the age of 25 : his short schoolinghis apprenticeshipthe development of his printing business and his marriage etc.,Contents,Part Two was written in 1784 at Passy, a suburb of Paris, giving a mo
20、re detailed account of his activities in public affairs. He listed his 13 virtues he wishes to perfect in himself.,Contents,Part Three (1788), Part Four ( 1789-1790 ) finished in Philadelphia, describing his life from the age of 25 to 51. It is an incomplete autobiography.,Franklins 13 virtues in Th
21、e Autobiography,1.Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation. 节制。食不过饱；饮酒不醉。 2. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. 缄默。言则于人于己有益，不作无益闲聊。,3. Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. 秩序。各
22、样东西放在一定地方；各项日常事务应有一定的处理时间。4. Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. 决断。事情当做必做；既做则坚持到底。,5. Frugality . Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing. 节俭。花钱须于人于己有益，即不浪费。6. Industry. Lose no time; be always employd in something
23、useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.勤勉。不浪费时间；每时每刻做有用之事，戒除一切不必要的行动。,7. Sincerity . Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly. 诚恳。不欺骗人；思想纯洁公正；说话也应诚实。8. Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty. 正直。不做不利他人之事，切勿忘
24、记履行对人有益的义务而伤害他人。,9.Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. 中庸。勿走极端；受到应有的处罚，应当加以容忍。10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no non-cleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation. 整洁。身体、衣服和住所应力求清洁。,11.Tranquility.Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or un
25、avoidable. 平静。勿因琐事或普通而不可避免的事件而烦恼。12. Chastity. Rarely use venery 纵欲 but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or anothers peace or reputation. 节欲。切戒纵欲，勿伤害身体或有损自己或他人的安宁或名誉。13.Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates skrti:z . 谦逊。效法耶稣和苏格拉底。,Why did Franklin write
26、his biography?,to set an example for his son with his success story pass his free leisure time to relive his life by writing to gratify his own vanity,What features do you find in the style of the above selection?,Style: Simple, clear in order, direct and concise (“Nothing should be expressed in two
27、 words that can as well be expressed in one.”),Significance:,It presents a prototype（原型） of American success which inspired generations of Americans. It is an embodiment of Puritanism and Enlightening spirits.,Puritanism (self-examination and self-improvement)Enlightenment spirits (mans nature good,
28、 rights of liberty, virtues includes “order”),Significance:,Popular, still well-read today, his values and style influenced lots of AmericansWith it, he set the form for autobiography as a genre 体裁.,Several : “firsts” about The Autobiography.,It is considered the first popular self-help book ever published. It first set the form of autobiography as a literary tradition. It establishes in literary form the first example of the fulfillment of the American Dream told from a man who experienced it firsthand.,Thank You !,
