2. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790 )

3. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790 ) Benjamin Franklin was not only one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a leading writer, publisher, inventor, diplomat, scientist, and philosopher. He is well-known for his experiments with electricity and lightning, and for publishing "Poor Richard's Almanac" and the Pennsylvania Gazette. He served as Postmaster General under the Continental Congress, and later became a prominent abolitionist. He is credited with inventing the lightning rod, the Franklin Stove, and bifocals.

4. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790 ) Life: Jack of all trades Literary works Benjamin Franklin and The Autobiography

5. Life: Jack of all trades Born in a poor candle maker’s family in Boston No regular education Became a apprentice of a printer when he was 12 A editor of a newspaper and published lots of essays when he was 16 Went to Philadelphia when he was 17 A successful printer and publisher Retired when he was 42 A scientist with lots of inventions and a famous experiment (kite, electricity, thunderstorm) A famous statesman (the only America who once signed all the four documents that created the new country) An example who made American Dream come true

6. Benjamin Franklin(1706—1790) printer, editor, inventor, scientist, opened his own print shop for 20 years of the lightning rod made experiment with a kite, proving that lightning was electricity published the Pennsylvania Gazette (newspaper)

7. Benjamin Franklin （ 1706—1790 ） a member of the group that wrote the Declaration of Independence founded the first public library, organized the first fire department and the first paid police force, founded a school and a hospital. the great man of letters Autobiography 《自传》 Poor Richard ’ s Almanac 《穷理查 德历书》 politician, public-spirited citizen, prose writer

8. Poor Richard’s Almanac was kept being published for a quarter of a century includes poems and essays, a good many adages( 格言 ) and witticisms ( 妙语连珠 ) "Lost time is never found again, " "A penny saved is a penny earned, " "God helps those that help themselves," "Fish and visitors stink in three days" "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise" a book that is published every year giving information for that year

9. Autobiography A story that a person writes about his or her own life is called an autobiography. Autobiographies are written in first-person point of view, and biographies in third-person point of view.

10. The Autobiography It is regarded as one of the most important works of American literature produced during the 18th century. It is a record of a man rising to wealth and fame from a state of poverty and obscurity into which he was born, an account of the colorful career of America's first self-made man.

11. The Autobiography It is a Puritan document --it is a record of self-examination and self-improvement ： he believes that God helps those who help themselves and that every calling is a service to God, in order to get on in the world, one has to be industrious, frugal, and prudent.

12. The Autobiography It is an elucidation ( 阐述 )of the fact that Franklin was spokesman for enlightenment: he represents American idea--- man is basically good and free by nature, endowed by God with certain inalienable( 不可剥夺的 ) rights of liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

13. The Autobiography The style: it is the pattern of Puritan simplicity, directness, and concision( 言简意赅 ). The narrative is lucid( 易懂的 ), the structure is simple, the imagery is homely( 朴素的 ). an exemplary illustration of the American style of writing.

14. The Autobiography “To help myself live without fault, I made a list of what I considered the 13 virtues. These virtues are: 1. Temperance 节制饮食 2. Self- control 自我克制 3. Silence 沉默寡言 4. Order 有 条不紊 5. Firmness 坚定信念 6. Savings 勤俭节约 7.Industry 工作勤奋 8.Honesty 忠诚老实 9. Justice 办事公正 10. Cleanliness 衣履整洁 11. Calmness 平心静气 12. Morality 品行高尚 13. Humbleness 谦虚恭顺

15. The End