Part II.

The Literature of Reason and Revolution

Historical Introduction
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Paine
Thomas Jefferson
Philip Freneau
 Part II. Historical
Introduction(1)
Industrial Revolution: spurred the economy in
American colonies.
Independence War: the industrial growth led to
intense strain with Britain. The British
government tried to suppress their growth
economically, and ruled them from abroad
politically and levied heavy tax on them. These
aroused bitter resentment in colonies. Constant
conflicts resulted in American revolutionary war.
Part II. Historical Introduction
(2)
Spiritual life of the coloniesEnlightenment.
Philosophical and intellectual movement.
Advocated reason or rationality, the scientific
method, equality and human beingsability to
perfect themselves and their society.
Agreed on faith in human rationality and existence
of discoverable and universally valid principles
governing human beings, nature and society.
Opposed intolerance, restraint, spiritual authority
and revealed religion
 Benjamin Franklin (1)
The only good writer of
the colonial period.
Printer, enlightener,
inventor, scientist,
statesman, diplomat
Aid Jefferson in writing
The Declaration of
Independence.
Seeking help from France
in American Independent
War.
 Benjamin Franklin (2)
Main Works: Poor Style: he developed an
Richards Almanac utilitarian and didactic
It contains many style.
proverbs His style is
Autobiography characterized by
With it he set the form
simplicity, frankness,
for autobiography as a wit, clarity, logic and
genre. order.
 Benjamin Franklin (3)
Autobiography: inspiring account of a poor boys rise to a
high position. It is a how-to-do-it book, one on the art of
self-improvement.
Contents: It covered Franklins life only until 1757 when
he was 51 years old. It described his life as a shrewd and
industrious businessman and narrates how he owned the
constant felicity of his life, his long-continued health and
acquisition of fortune.
Significance: It presents a prototype of American success
which inspired generations of Americans. It is an
embodiment of Puritanism and enlightening spirits.
 Benjamin Franklin (4)
Analysis of Selected Parts
A. 3 paras a. He was interested in reading as a child.
b. Being an apprentice to his brother, he began writing.
c. How he improved his argumentation.
Summary: Franklin was thirsty for knowledge and improved his
writing with practical methods. How he gained success through ones
consistent effort and hard work. (self-improvement/education)
B. 5 paras a. The way of learning language.
b. Practice makes perfect - a piece of advice on how to teach
languages.
c/d. Relations with his relatives. Life experience.
e. Learning Club: devoted on the improvement of young man,
influence public opinion.
Summary: Franklin was a practical, diligent man. In learning
languages, he had a great power of endurance and clever mind. He
always tried his best to achieve his goal, no matter in life or study.
(self-reliance)
Why Franklin is admired and read widely?
He is a typical American, the model of the self-
made man, a cultural hero whose life exemplified
the American dream of the poor boy who made
good.
He stressed the importance of working hard to
make money, happiness depending in the first
place on economic success and optimistically
believed that every American could do so.
He was convinced that no man could be virtuous
or happy unless he did his best to improve the life
of his society and his own life.
 Why say Franklin is the representative of
American Enlightenment?
1.He believed in reason or rationality, the
scientific method, equality and human beings
ability to perfect themselves and their society.
2. He opposed intolerance, restraint, spiritual
authority and revealed religion.
3. He favored the education. Self-education,
educating and disseminating knowledge among
people by his newspaper and Autobiography,
establishing learning club, college and library.
4. He favored freedom of thoughts. He set up the
ideas of democracy in the USA.
 Thomas Paine (1)
Propagandist, pamphleteer,
a master of persuasion
who understands the
power of language to
move a man to action.
Main works:
The American Crisis
Common Sense
The rights of man
The Age of Reason
 Thomas Jefferson (1)
Enlightener, planter, aristocrat, lawyer, a
symbol of American democracy.
Man of many talents: scientist, inventor,
musician, linguist, architect, diplomat and
writer.
 Thomas Jefferson (2)
Political Career: He served his country as Minister to
France(1784-1789), Secretary of State(1789-1793), Vice
President(1791-1801) and third President(1801-1809).
Thoughts: Jeffersonian Democracy, which includes faith in
the individual and common man, dislike an overly strong
government, and emphasis on the importance of education
and on agrarianism and land ownership as they brought
responsibility and true judgment. Politically, he is
considered the father of the democratic spirit in his country.
The society he thought of as ideal was one where
landowning farmers could live under as little government
as possible.
Style: dignity, flexibility, clarity, command of
generalization
 Thomas Jefferson (3)
The Declaration of Independence: The essay, adopted July
4, 1776, not only announced the birth of a new nation, but
also set forth a philosophy of human freedom which served
as unimportant force in the western world.
It is a statement of American principles and a review of the
Causes of the quarrel with Britain, presented the American
view to the world with classic dignity.
It instilled among the common people a sense of their own
importance and inspired struggle for personal freedom, self
government and a dignified place in society.
 Philip Freneau (1)
Father of American Main Works:
Poetry The Rising Glory of
Teacher, political America (1772)
journalist, seaman, The British Prison
humanitarian, polemist, Ship (1781)
propagandist, satirist, The Wild Honey
loyal follower of Suckle (1786)
Jefferson The Indian Burying
Ground (1788)
 The Wild Honey Suckle
It is a deistic celebration of nature, romantic use of simple
nature imagery, inspired by themes of death and transience.
Much of the beauty of the poem lies in the sounds of the
words and the effects created through changes in rhythm.
Flower vs Human Being, Duration vs Life
Show us how to live an useful life.
In a revolution, one should not do nothing for his country
for fear of being hurt, harmed and destroyed.