Hi! Well, you should be about through with The Autobiography of Franklin at this point.
In order to transition to your last reading assignment, I am going to ask you to post two things on MY blog.
(1) I want you to think about what you have learned about Franklin from reading his autobiography. Most historians agree that Franklin was the epitome of what it means to be an American. Do you think he represents what it means to be an American? (Yes or no, and why or why not.) Write at least one well-developed paragraph WITH SPECIFIC EXAMPLES from the text explaining your point of view. Please don't cop out with "well, maybe then, but not now...if not now, then explain WHY not now..." ;)
(2) Then, in a separate post, I want you to explain which contemporary novel you are going to read...start it, and decide which of our three essential questions you plan to address. Does your novel explore an aspect of the American dream? Does your novel contain a character who is an example of a quintessential American? Does your novel explain what it means to be an American today?
Only respond your classmates' Franklin posts....
Summer is winding down!
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I think that Benjamin Franklin represents what it means to be a quintessential American, because the American dream is the idea that anyone can have a happy and successful life, and that people who live in poverty can rise above it to achieve that dream. Franklin represents the American dream because he grew up in a poor family, with his father pressuring him to follow in his footsteps and take part in the family business. However, as Franklin puts it, "I disliked the trade, and had a strong inclination for the sea..." Franklin took charge of his own destiny and refused to let society decide what he was going to do with his life. He rose above his social standing--he came from a family of workmen to become an academic, one who was respected and revered by his peers. Franklin never had an official education and was mostly self-taught; however, he became one of the most influential figures in American history through his social, political, and scientific achievements. Franklin's ambition and determination to not let anyone stand in his way allowed him to overcome social norms and achieve what he really wanted, which are key aspects of what it means to be a quintessential American.
The contemporary novel that I am reading is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and I'll be addressing the question of how it explains what it means to be an American today.
Yay! =]
bI haven't gotten to my Ben post yet but I will! If only there were more hours in a day... Alright so my contemporary novel is The Voice at 3am and I am hoping that it will answer our question about what it means to be an American today.
Ben Franklin represents what it means to be an American because he rose to respect, fame, and importance, not through money or by birth, but because of hard work, intelligence and determination. As a young boy he worked hard at learning, and would read anything possible. He was always striving for more knowledge, and kept the desire for more through out his whole life. He met with many struggles while trying to establish his printing business including a mayor who promised him help and sent him to England, but failed in all his promises. However, Franklin still succeeded. Franklin always spoke his mind, and enjoyed arguing for the learning experience. All the reading and the arguing, listening, learning, and work that Franklin did made him the successful printer, persuader and one of the fathers of our country. He was not born into his achievements, but was able to be recognized for them anyway through hard work which is why he represents what it means to be an American.
I'm going to read a book of poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay, and I will be looking to see how it touches on an aspect of the American Dream. =)
I think that Benjamin Franklin represented what it means to be an American. I think this because he was an ideal person, that was respected, and well known in his community. He was dedicated to his work, country and his inventions. He went through many struggles through out his life, but he always managed to come out of it, with a high head.
I plan reading "The Kite Runner", by Kahled Hossieni. I think it adresses the American Dream aspect, theres a young boy, who lives in Afghanistan, and along with his father, heads to America for a new life.
Reading Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography you can see that he had a hand in many aspects of the American development. He made many scientific discoveries and tools, he was a printer and a writer. He showed that a person could raise up from nothing to become an important and successful citizen in society. Benjamin Franklin represents what it means to be an American.
My interpretation of the American dream is to be able to become successful in society and economically no matter what your background/beginnings, Franklin gives many examples of this in his autobiography. In the start of his novel, he states that he was one of seventeen children in his family and the youngest son. He was an apprentice of many jobs, one being his brother, a printer. Benjamin wanted to break away from his brother and was forced to leave the town at seventeen. He moves to New York where he was not be able to find employment. He continues on to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and finds work as an assistant printer. Franklin started his life with little support from his family and had to fend for himself in Philadelphia.
Franklin starts the next part of his life as an assistant for Keimer a printer. He then meets the governor who strands him in Europe with nothing. Franklin goes back to Philadelphia with a man to be a book keeper and store clerk and eventually goes back to work for Keimer as a manager of his printing shop. He joins a partnership with a man named Meredith whom had the money to start a printing business but needs Franklin’s skill. Franklin gains enough money and buys his partner out, he now owned the business. While Franklin is starting his own business, he is also meeting the political figures of the country and he starts to print his opinion of the political issues. Franklin's printing business is successful and through his business he meets many political figures becoming more invoved with polotics and the development of America.
Through Franklin's autobiography we see that he is what it means to be an American. He represents the American dream, to be successful in society. Franklin grew up with nothing and showed that it did not matter what class you were from, you could always raise up and be a successful person in society, whether it was being president or just a writer that tells everyone his story. Franklin still represents what it is to be an American today. People still move to this country looking to raise up and become successful in the American society. Franklin is truly what it means to be an American.
The Novel I am going to read (have already read) is A Midwifes Tale. I will address, does your novel contain a character who is an example of a quintessential American.
I am making two responses in one. Abby I love your definition of an American, I also think you did a nice job pulling quotes from the book and supporting what you said. I think you pick strong key aspects of what it means to be an American.
Emily I also like your definition of American. I like that you supported your answer in a different way, you did not pull direct quotes but you could tell that you knew what you were talking about and read the book. You did a very nice job in my opinion.
I think Benjamin Franklin does represent what it means to be a quintessential American. He is a man who came from humble beginnings and he worked hard to achieve his dreams. He never had formal education, or lots of money to make his life easy, he worked hard and was dedicated. This allowed him to achieve many great things and become an influence of our country today. By never backing down and fighting for what he believed in this makes him a quintessential American.
I am going to read Sula Plume. This book addresses the question, does your novel explore an aspect of the American dream.
Well, to respond to my peers...
Heidi: I think that you did a very nice job. You explained in depth Franklin and his life, and used that to back up your definition of him as an American very well.
Abby: First of all, you were the first one to do this so, nice job. Secondly, you pulled quotes which is very good for making a point. Lastly, your paragraph was very proffesional sounding all around. Nice job.
Benjamin Franklin grew up in poverty. He didn't have the best life and it's difficult to find someone that can rise above hardships and become an important figure such as himself. If someone didn't know about him they would just assume that he had a normal rich boy life like most others who attain very high and important standings in America. To overcome a childhood of poverty and pain and to be happy and successful like he became is rare. People respect him for who he became, people looked up to him and still do. Family was very important to him. He spent a lot of time away from his wife and three kids but he loved them a lot. While away however he would stay with other families and become very close to them as well. He gave a lot of love and care to many people to as it seems make up for what he didn't have. When he decided that it was time to return home and spend time with his real family he learned that his wife was dead and that his only son was in England and one of his daughters was left with six children. He became a very good father to them however and gave them the love they deserved. I think that this is why people saw Franklin as a true American because he made the most out of his life. He loved his family and did his work. He overcame his childhood and the society he lived in and died a happy and successful man.
My novel is The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. The essential question that I am choosing is does your novel contain a character who is an example of a quintessential American.
Benjamin Franklin always had one thing in mind: the betterment of the world. He was always looking for ways to advance and make this world a better place to live. This is one of the reasons that I think Franklin represents a true American. Franklin was not raised with money and he did not have it easy. Signing an eight year contract at age 12, he was all business. At age 17 venturing out on his own with no support from home he struggled to find work and develop his love for writing. After getting help declined by his father he pushed on and did not let it stop him. Despite his upbringing he became a very influential person in American history and indeed improved the world we live in. That is why I think Benjamin Franklin represents a true American.
Laura- I like the point you made about if people didn't know Franklin they would think he was raised rich....very true.
Heidi- You did a very good job showing what he overcame. He deffinetally didn't have an easy life.
Depending on who you ask, the concept of the American Dream may be defined in a variety of ways. Do I believe that Benjamin Franklin lived the life of the American Dream? Yes, I do, because of this reason: Benjamin did not live his life according to the plans of others, he did not live in the norm; he was an adventurer, and loved the unknown. Franklin essentially lived his life on his own whim - because that is what he wanted. This freedom of his is what I believe was a big part of the American Dream for him personally, because this was what he desired for himself. However, this may not be the typical current day American Dream, it is based off one of the founding principals: freedom. Franklin learned of industry (at a young age) mostly I believe, from his brother, who was one of the first printers of a newspaper around the year 1720. Although persuasion played against him, he followed through and began to employ his younger brother Benjamin when he was around twelve years old. Being so young, he sought out to express his own thoughts without direct criticism, so he sneakily slipped letters to his own brother James by the name of Silence Dogood. From the point on when his brother was censured by the Assembly for printing something unwanted, Ben must have felt some sense of indignity, and want of freedom. Ben started his own newspaper the New England Courant in expression of independence. After a while of this, he became impatient, and eventually ended up traveling by himself (on what little money he possessed) to Philadelphia. Amazingly enough, he found his way to several printing presses (raggedy old equipment or not). These few things are examples of how Ben sought freedom, and the chance to live his own life the way he wanted and with at least the illusion of freedom.
Hmmm... I'm wondering why my post on my American Novel has been deleted?
The book I read was "Digging To America" by Anne Tyler. It addresses the question "Does your novel explain what it means to be an American today?"
The contemporary novel that I chose to read was the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This book represents the aspect of the American dream in two ways; one is Jim the slave and the other is Huck’s escape from ‘sivilization’ and finding his true passion in life. Jim is my favorite character in this book, because he is taken completely for granted and believed to be a dirty rotten negro, while really he is a sweet hearted lonely man. He has been separated from his family, which clearly takes a large toll on him, and only wishes to run to freedom, or at least enjoy his life with the people he loves. This relates to the aspect of freedom in America; being one of the founding principals. Huck is in search of freedom as well - it is not the life of civilities and a warm bed that Huck enjoys, its the freedom of adventure and choosing how he lives. He enjoys being a ‘rapscallion’ rather than a gentleman. Both characters Jim and Huck thrive off similar dreams, which is what ultimately propels them toward their goal.
Benjamin Franklin is the model of what it means to be an American. When people think about the true Americans they think of Franklin. Franklin always did what he wanted to do. This was not a bad thing since his mind was clear and he was good hearted. He was a great success in everything he did. Either it was an inventor, writer, or politician. He could sway the minds of the people with not just his written words but his voice also. People now have a clouded representation of what it means to be a true american. People are not a true American by what they said, but what they did. Anybody could say that they were going to change the country but it takes a man or woman like Benjamin Franklin to actually do it.
I am reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. I will be adressing, does your novel contain a character who is an example of a quintessential American.
http://www.kidsfront.com/ awesome site for students to study
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