Revolutionary Literature English 3

Essential Question How do the needs of a society reflect the type of literature written and language used in said society?

Goals Describe salutary neglect. Identify why and how spokesman of the period used rhetorical devices. Apply your knowledge of Puritan ideals to the development of our nation’s documents. Compare several documents from the time period for content.

Colonial (1750 – 1800) – “The Age of Reason”/ “The Enlightenment” Characteristics of Colonial Culture: Also known as the Age of Reason or the Enlightenment People believed that the universe was an orderly place that could be understood by using reason. Believed that reason could result in advances in science, a better government, and an ideal society.

Salutary Neglect During the more than a century that the colonies were here, this is the term for how Britain governed us.

Natural Aristocracy Thomas Jefferson used this phrase to describe the good people in America. The term was meant to contradict the type of aristocracy in Europe. Being a member of the natural aristocracy came from three things….

Natural Aristocracy Hard Work—This is a Puritan value. If you work hard enough, things can always get better. Education—The Puritans valued education because of the importance of Bible study and self-improvement. Harvard was established in 1636. Opportunity—There was plenty of opportunity in the colonies for those willing to work.

Ben Franklin The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Voice– What word choices and anecdotes does Franklin include that reveal personality?

Ben Franklin Poor Richard’s Almanack Aphorism– a short statement that expresses a wise or clever observation about human experience.

Author’s Purpose “Having emerg’d from the Poverty & Obscurity in which I was born & bred, to a State of Affluence & some Degree of Reputation in the World, and having gone thro’ Life with a considerable Share of Felicity, my Posterity may like to know [the means I used], as they may find some of them suitable to their own Situations…”

Author’s Purpose What is Ben Franklin’s purpose in sharing his experiences?

The Declaration of Independence Author– Thomas Jefferson Date– July 3rd (or 4th) 1776 Purpose: To explain to the world WHY they have to be independent from England. Structure: Problem/ Solution

Rhetorical Devices (p. 112-113) Parallelism– Rhetorical Question– Connotative Language Hyperbole--

Abigail’s letter Date of letter? Contents? “Remember the ladies”--

John’s letter Date? Content? “The 2nd day of July 1776, will be the most memorably”--

Thomas Paine Came to America when he was 37. Common Sense sold half a million copies and was the most successful persuasive pamphlet for revolution. The Crisis was read to Washington’s troops at Trenton.

The Crisis List one example of each of the rhetorical devices from The Crisis. Rhetorical question Parallelism Hyperbole Connotative language

Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Second Virginia Convention Patrick Henry has heard what the other men say, now what does he want to do? Henry feels like if he doesn’t say what is on his mind now, he is guilty of ____________ & ______________. Henry says he uses ____________ to guide his decisions for the future.

Henry thinks that England is trying to ________________ the colonies. Henry uses rhetorical questions in this paragraph to make his fellow congressmen think about….