During his own lifetime, and often since then, Benjamin Franklin has been described as “the first American,” as someone who through his life and works epitomizes some attitude, spirit, action–or something else that distinguishes the United States. One wonders if anything that Franklin represented lives in popular American thought, today.
I challenge you to identify some contemporary piece of art, music, literature, or any other cultural artifact that you believe reflects the same (or similar) theme as you find in Franklin’s autobiography.
Support your idea with accurate, precise evidence. For both works, point out (with careful cited paraphrase and/or accurate and cited quote) the sentences(s) where in the text you see evidence of the theme you have identified and, to the extent necessary, explain why you believe those sentences illustrate the theme you claim.
EBook pdf link : mega.nz/#F!fgdhDCIT!eznQ5ILEkTxalrKSgaTsaA
The Norton Anthology of American Literature Pre-1865, Ninth Edition,
read Parts One and Two of Benjamin Franklin’s “The Autobiography” in the Norton, pages 467 – 531
Essay : Then Write an essay of about 350-500 words that develops a single idea that you have conceived in response to from the discussions and readings.
For full credit, the essay should include the following: