by flit .
Member since:
August 11, 2006

Ben Franklin

September 24, 2007 10:15 AM EDT
views: 89 | rating: 10/10 (14 votes) | comments: 49

I'm curious - taking American Literature this semester .... and I think that of the available essay topics, I am leaning towards the one re: Ben Franklin, and how he controls his image .... i.e. what he reveals, hides, stresses in his autobiography (Can't find the sheet with the actual essay questions on it right at the moment; argh! I need to smarten up and start a binder for all this paper; I hate all this paper - SO much easier if they'd put it all online for me!)

Anyway ..... I'd be very interested in knowing what you American types learned about Benjamin Franklin when you were in school. Have you read his autobiography - and if so, because it was required, or because you wanted to?

 

And - if you haven't yet - please vote for my short story! (contest is almost over; can no longer see how many votes anyone has but I know I'm way behind the one in the lead)

Hubby says to tell all your friends to vote too :)

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Comments: 49

Lydia O. Sep 24, 2007, 10:26am EDT
I've never read his autobiography--I came up at a very touchy-feely time in literature teaching, don't get me started. But there are a lot of possibilities there--Franklin was, as far as I've heard, very much aware that people would make what they wanted out of history and the people who played roles in it--he understood the need for heroes, among other things. He was kind of the Charles Barkley of American History, lol..."yes, you need a hero...go find one...not me..."

Are you familiar with the play/film 1776? there was a lot of research involved in the creation of it, and it's possible, to my mind, that for all the singing that's a very accurate representation of Franklin.
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 10:29am EDT
never heard of that, Lydia! Thanks for that....I will see if I can find it... might be an interesting resource to use for the paper
Heather W. Sep 24, 2007, 10:30am EDT
I don't know much about Ben Franklin, but good luck on your essay.
Lori F. Sep 24, 2007, 10:32am EDT
Flit Ben Franklin was a very interesting man.
lynn a. Sep 24, 2007, 10:53am EDT
Flit, My brother read about Benjamin Franklin. I remember him telling us facts about him that really held our interest. He was a very interesting man. In school we did what you tend to do in school, learn the facts and move on.

I saw the film 1776. It was rather long. I was impressed with the film because it was pumped with a lot of information. Showed how our country came about, the meetings and what not. Showed some of the men's personal lives and thoughts. Very unusual.
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 10:57am EDT
It sounds like it would be well worth watching for background to the whole course
Donna Hammett-Tooker Sep 24, 2007, 11:23am EDT
Franklin was a very interesting person according to all reports. A man not good-looking but very captivating and intelligent. He was a man of humor as exposed in his much quoted view of older women, he said they make better objects of love as they are more grateful. He was something of an elitist but he was also a humanitarian in that he wanted people to have access to books and helped organize the first public library. He was something of a Revolutionary nerd in that he was always doing something that was totally unlike others with whom he conversed every day - who flies kites with keys weighing them down? He was unique and had a different lifestyle - the first hippie, existentialist, new-ager, etc. I avoided reading his biography because I prefer the "Entertainment Tonight" version of his life that the history texts have presented. He was a national treasure and we shared him with the world so they too could profit from knowing him.
Miz Lynn aka/BooBoo Sep 24, 2007, 11:27am EDT
About the only thing I know about Franklin, besides the obvious, was that he was an "air bather", meaning he liked to run around naked in a cold room. THAT might be an interesting research paper? LOL!
Janet "Jax" B. Sep 24, 2007, 11:37am EDT
The kids and I have both read biographies on Ben Franklin. Pher could tell you the most I think Flit....Ben Franklin was probably the most influential man in colonial America...he's the one that went to France and convinced them to help in the American Revolution. He was the first postmaster general after setting up America's first independent (from England) postal system. He was an author and also published a paper (Philiadelpia something). He was against slavery and hired a 'free man' to help in his printing business. He was also an inventor...invented a few different things...one had to do with music but...I can't remember...
Janet "Jax" B. Sep 24, 2007, 11:38am EDT
BTW: You can borrow my kids anytime....lol
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 11:47am EDT
pher's going to come and live with me when I win the lottery, jax :)

thanks for the input..... I'm finding out that there is a lot more to Ben than I learned in school
Larry H. Sep 24, 2007, 1:16pm EDT
thanks for sharing good luck on Your essay
Jo C. Sep 24, 2007, 2:08pm EDT
We were never required to read about Ben Franklin in school. While I'm not a huge fan of Wikipedia and many universities won't allow you to use it as a cited source, you can get some great links to other material (see the related links section at the end of articles on Wikipedia) which are able to be cited or used in footnotes. I find that people who are passionate about topics often contribute to Wikipedia. You do have to separate truth from myth and do your research but it can be a good starting point.

Good luck and thanks for commenting on my dilemna about how to help a child with learning challenges :)
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 24, 2007, 2:41pm EDT
Flit:

Okay, when I click on the link I see a story on French Fries. I am not kidding. What's up? Am I late?

tick tock tick tock.
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 24, 2007, 2:46pm EDT
Flit:

As far as Franklin is concerned I have read a lot about him, his inventions, but I was most impressed with his concerns about the Constitutional ratification and his abolitionists stance.

I guess, too, I am a little disappointed that he -- in my humble estimation -- being one of the prominent figures -- stood down from the issue of slavery just to get the Constitution ratified, rather than standing firm. Again, that may have held the whole nation hostage and caused a succession of the Southern states before there ever really was a true "United" states and perhaps now is not the time or place to "go there" but any way, where is your story?

I wanted to vote on it. Sort of biding my time . . .

tick tock tick tock . . .

Have you answered my first comment yet?
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 24, 2007, 2:47pm EDT
Flit:

Guess you're busy flitting around elsewhere. Email me with a response and I'll vote if it's not too late, okay?

tick tock
William M. Sep 24, 2007, 3:41pm EDT
You will get my vote, Flit. I hope it is not too late.
Jerri H. Sep 24, 2007, 4:34pm EDT
Nope...forgot all I may have known about him ;)
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 4:54pm EDT
sorry, lady nalita... French Fries is my story and if you scroll to the bottom you should see a button re: voting..... I'm in Sudbury today; 3 hour drive during which I am, of course, internetless
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 24, 2007, 5:07pm EDT
Flit:

Vote in! Please let us know WHEN (notice my confidence in your story) you win.
Thanks!
What's new flit?
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 5:59pm EDT
he brought the DVD player to class again

had a quiz ... no problem
so what are we watching tonite?
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 6:17pm EDT
he hasn't said yet

right now we are discussing art as imitation
hmm wonder how that fits with .... never mind!
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 6:22pm EDT
playing a piece of music that is as old as Aristotle
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 6:23pm EDT
maybe we won't ~get~ to watch TV at all ....I can always hope
Vivian P. Sep 24, 2007, 6:26pm EDT
learned about old Ben years ago I think he was one of our countrys oldest ambasadors, he was quite intellegent, well that bit with the kite was kinda stupid, but thats okay he invented bi-focals and I love mine Thanks Ben
what is the music?
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 6:41pm EDT
it was mongolian....something about horse racing

now he's about to play some operatic piece
and this relates to art as imitation how?
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 6:45pm EDT
beats me .... I'm still rather puzzled re: as to what any of this course has to do with Theory & Criticism

I am not fond of opera
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 6:49pm EDT
OK ....opera as moving, sad, painful → → catharsis

painful, I get
hmm ;not surre I get it either....
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 6:59pm EDT
now he's singing for us ...and talking about the 'sigh motif'

*SIGH*
sigh motif?
flit . Sep 24, 2007, 7:45pm EDT
musical term for depressing
Brenda (square peg in a round hole) H. Sep 24, 2007, 8:32pm EDT
Honestly, I don't know much about him. Good luck with your essay.
Carol Roach Sep 25, 2007, 6:32am EDT
I will ask my son if he has anything interesting on ben, he has a way of finding stuff most people don't know
flit . Sep 25, 2007, 7:07am EDT
I actually have lots of information and resources - and will focus on the actual text .... was interested more in knowing what people in the US actually learned about him, i.e. whether the autobiography is actually taught
William Dotani Sep 25, 2007, 12:27pm EDT
I've read quite a bit about this great man.
William Dotani Sep 25, 2007, 12:28pm EDT
This is one historical character I have told about to my children because stories about different times in his life are fascinating.
William Dotani Sep 25, 2007, 12:30pm EDT
I always joke with my son to put on a steel helmet and fly a kite to be like Benjamin Franklin during a lightening storm.
flit . Sep 25, 2007, 12:42pm EDT
I really enjoyed his autobiography
Trish A. Sep 25, 2007, 5:03pm EDT
I was fascinated by Benjamin Franklin, maybe because he ran his own press. He made sure his thougths got printed. If I remember right he ran some controversial pieces under the guise of irony!

I wish you the best.
elizabeth e. Sep 26, 2007, 8:28pm EDT
"1776" was great. You know Franklin had a grand old time in France...actually lived with a French broad while Poor Wifey was back in Philly doing all the hard work with all his businesses!
Carolion Grailbear Sep 28, 2007, 8:43pm EDT
Ben Franklin made a considerable study of the ways of the Haudenosay, the people of th way of the Peacemaker - the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. He was so impressed that he talked and talked about true freedom (we don't have it in the U.S. - parts of our Constitution are taken from the Peacemaker's Plan For Peace; but our founding FATHERS left out the vital role of the Women, the Clan MOTHERS, in the balanced government. Hmmm.)------anyway, he talked up Freedom in France and dadgum if they didn't go and have a revolution.....

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