Survey of American Literature I

Benjamin Franklin

· 1706-1790

· born in Boston, Massachusetts

· scientist, journalist, printer, diplomat, Founding Father

“The Way to Wealth”:

· written for the 25th anniversary of Poor Richard’s Almanac, in 1758

· persona: Richard Saunders, “Father Abraham”

· a summary of Franklin’s best, pithy aphorisms (industriousness, frugality, sensibility, discipline, self-reliance, self-sufficiency)

“The Speech of Miss Polly Baker”:

· feminist; demanding equal responsibility on the part of women AND men in the case of having children out of wedlock (243)

· Franklin’s own son William was illegitimate, but welcomed into the household.

· separation of church and state; anti-abortion (243)

“Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America”:

· pointing out the term “savages”; CULTURAL RELATIVISM

· the hypocrisy of the Swedish minister (creation myths)

· hospitality vs. cheating white traders (“to hear and learn good things”)