Does Benjamin Franklin Have Any Influence in Contemporary American Writing Style?
The Little Book of Transcreation, a book dealing with the intricacies of translating from one language to another, describes American Writing Style as “Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, tell them what you just told them”. This may be the way contemporary English is expected to be written, but when did redundancy become a subject of criticism in the academic world? At the time, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin was written, run-on sentences and never-ending paragraphs were not main indicators of poor writing skills. However, Benjamin Franklin was the exception to that trend. As a man who preferred to save instead of waste resources, including words, Franklin had a simple sentence and paragraph structure mirroring today’s writing conventions. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin shows how Franklin modest background and zeal for self-improvement lead him to develop an economic and straightforward writing style that may be the origins of contemporary American writing style. Franklin’s writing style is similar to contemporary American Writing style because the average reader may not find the text as difficult to read considering it was written more than 200 years ago. American writing style focuses a lot on having a conversational tone rather than an impersonal lecture (Langosch 2). To maintain the conversation, redundant words and sentences are frowned upon because
Learning the background behind a written work can change the way you look at it. William H. Shurr makes that the basis of his argument in the article “‘Now, Gods, Stand up for Bastards’ reinterpreting Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography”. In this article he states a thesis of “But a close study of the text itself, its discontinuous composition process and, and its publication history reveal a significantly different “book” and a very different Franklin from the revered figure and legend (435)”. He argues the point that Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography was written with many years between the different parts of the Autobiography. This makes it an un-unified piece of literature. Shurr states, “Part 1 was written in 1771, before the revolutionary war, when Americas future and Franklins own where anything but certain, when Franklin, was in fact, in the process of deciding to support and illegal rebellion which most observers felt had little chance of success; part 2 was written thirteen momentous and revolutionary years later when the war was finished and Franklins party was the clear winner (437)”. This shows all the things that have happened in Franklin’s life since the first part of the Autobiography was written. Shurr also argues that through these many years the publication made changes to the documents. He says the first part seems to be a
“Though I am still of opinion that it, was a practicable scheme, and might have been useful, by forming a good number of citizens: and I was not discouraged by the seeming magnitude of the undertaking as I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes and accomplish great affairs among mankind (pg. 106).” Benjamin Franklin is an archetypal American because everybody wants to be just like him. He wrote this book to show the right way to become the perfect American. Also, he wrote this autobiography to explain to his son and to other people about how to be the ideal American. Benjamin Franklin became a deism because it helped him become more open-minded. A deism is a person that believes that god created the
Within their writings these authors reveal their options and feelings about the America that they lived in. I feel that Franklin’s opinions of American identity and sense of community are far more relatable than Winthrop’s opinions because of the time period in which Franklin grew up in.
It was a night like no other, the whole world asleep, and at peace. Little did Gabriel know, this was his last moments to see the world. For tomorrow, he would lose something he always held dear. As Gabriel lies in his bed, not knowing what tomorrow brings, he closes his eyes, and falls fast asleep. In the middle of the night, he hears a sound like no other, a strange ringing. The noise grows louder and louder, and a whisper saying, “Open your eyes.” When Gabriel tried to open his eyes, either his eyes were not cooperating, or its was just too dark; because all he saw was darkness.
Benjamin Franklin was one of the most successful founding fathers of our nation and helped establish American independence from Great Britain. He was a key member in the development of the political backbone that has shaped this country into what it is today. Benjamin Franklin was one of the most humble and inspirational figures of that time. He was a major factor in the outcome of the war of Independence and in his selfless actions of leaving his family, won the help from the French to assist America in the fight against England. Although Benjamin Franklin never made it to be president he was a leader among his peers. He invented many things that we still use today such as the library, bifocals, and the postal service. He helped
This leads to a less stylish autobiography, without much of the personal life information that is common. Instead, it’s more of a history book of all the great deeds that Franklin had accomplished: from his work on electricity to establishing the first fire company in Philadelphia. Since the content within his writing rivals the figurative imagery in other works such as Tuesday’s with Morrie and other notable memoirs, it’s pretty reasonable to say that the style was efficient in communicating the content of the autobiography to the
In The Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin recounts the many paramount experiences throughout his life that shaped him into great American figure he was known to be. On the opening page, Franklin reveals the book’s epistolary format by writing, “Dear Son,” going on to admit that he’s made some mistakes in the past and to recollect that past is a way to relive it. By divulging his desire to “change some sinister Accidents & Events” (Franklin 3) the author indicates how important it is for his son to observe as he amends his mistakes. Pride, virtue and vanity play a pivotal role in Benjamin Franklin’s life and the way he portrays himself to others. Instances occur where the author is shown gloating about his great accomplishments and he puts
Population health emphasizes on the on health issues of total populations at community level, state level or at country level and public health programs attempt to maximize preventive care at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Traditionally, physician practices are involved in treatment procedures of acute problems and left with little time to address on preventive care and chronic care needs. To contain the costs in healthcare, Affordable care act promoted the importance of preventive medicine and made a provision which makes preventive care affordable and accessible by requiring certain private health plans to cover certain recommended preventive services
The essay will cover Benjamin Franklins reputation in modern society, his relationship with Catherine Ray Greene, his two families, and the importance of cleaning up Franklin’s reputation for posterity. Benjamin Franklin had quite a few women in his life. He had his wife, daughter, and women he would pick up when traveling. He was intrigued by the stereotypes that were portrayed on the role of women in society. His women ranged in age, but he advised those to choose older because older women are grateful. He was a supporter of equal education, but his reputation of sleeping with multiple of them would be hard to clean up.
In this paper I will be discussing the Constitution and Civil Rights. Both are vital to our nation’s strong beliefs that we, as Americans, deserve equal rights and a strong government. In the United States, we all want to have a nation that we can trust and will give us our unalienable rights, no matter the skin tone or gender. So why, in 2016, do women and people of color still fight for equal treatment?
It was the year 1706 in Boston, MA when Benjamin Franklin entered the world. Birthed after fourteen other siblings, Franklin's family structure is only one deciding factor in the way that this legendary tale pans out. A hero of American Revolution, this novel depicts 18th century realism accurately while logging Franklin's personal conception on human nature and social community. Many look at Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography as your typical rags to riches tale yet, the truth and falsehood throughout the pages is unknown, raising many questions and concerns. As this book was written in segments over a stretched period of time, we must analyze this account of his life, the struggles and successes which took place, and the outcome of such
This selection gives interesting insight into the world of Franklin, relating both to his everyday habits, and his reactions to the Enlightenment. There was one very interesting, but small segment, towards the end of the selection. It read, ‘It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection; I wished to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into .. . . But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more difficulty than I had imagined.’ This particular section of the source was very revealing of Franklin’s character. Throughout the entire paper, Franklin had discussed different aspects of his upbringing, and current lifestyle, however this quote reveals more about the man behind the paper than anything else. Yet, he spent most of the text comparing his life to religious teachings, and the paths that the Enlightenment opened.
In spite of the fact that Franklin was hardly a puritan, he was nevertheless very much a child of the Puritans. This is not displayed merely in his promotion of the virtues, but in his abstaining from excessiveness in eating, drinking, conversation, or whatever. Franklin is strongly influenced with self-governance In numerous ways, this is, to someone coming to it for the first time, a very amazing book. Franklin is, of course, one of the most celebrated Americans who ever lived, and his credentials in a wide arrangement of endeavors are a part of American knowledge and popular history. A great deal of this knowledge and numerous of his accomplishments are missing from this account of his life. He never finished the autobiography, earlier in his life on account of the fact that he was too engaged with what he terms public employment’s, and later in life by virtue of the opium he was taking for kidney stones left him incapable to concentrate adequately. Had Franklin been able to write about every period of his life and all of his achievements, his autobiography would have been one of the most exceptional and outstanding documents every produced. It is astonishingly imperious. However, his record as an office-holder is stained by the use he made of his position to advance his relatives. He was one of the most important statesmen in the new America and was a historical figure who shaped our nations history. He was a very
It is easy to see Benjamin Franklin was no doubt an archetypal American. No one since him has ever had the same amount of success as him. He was a private businessman who made enough money to retire early and to spend the rest of his life in politics. Around this time period only the rich were able to retire early. He was industrious. Franklin continually put forth the idea of the industrious American. He had support from the middle-class who did not care if he was rich but he was a man who was self-made and worked hard. This American attitude was formed early and most of it by him. Franklin was also not judgmental came to decisions and conclusions as a businessman and politician. However, his attitude was non-judgmental with respect to a
Benjamin Franklin was one of the first and most famous scientists in America. He was a man of many talents and interests. Franklin was always curios about they way things work, and he always tried to find ways to make them work better. Even though he started out as a published, he was always interested in science. However this interest soon became a passion to Franklin. He even retired from his publishing business to work in a laboratory with his mostly homemade equipment. Throughout his life Benjamin Franklin made many important discoveries and theories which greatly influenced future scientists and inventors.