美国文学Unit1B.Franklin.pptVIP

Selected Readings in American Literature Unit 1 Banjanmin Franklin (1706-1790) the Autobiography (excerpt) The literature of  Reason and Revolution Results of the conflicts 1775, Lexington, beginning of the Independence War 1776, Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence 1778, alliance with France, turning point for American army 1778, English army surrendered 1783, formal recognition from Britain government The American War of Independence lasted 8 years from 1775-1783 十八世纪的两种思维模式： 1. 牛顿提出运动定律和万有引力学说，宇宙受一定的自然法则约束，而不受上帝控制，由此产生了自然神论。 自然神论者认为上帝确实创造了宇宙万物，但上帝使万物遵循自然法则而存在。因此， 崇敬上帝的最好方法就是研究上帝的作品—人类和自然界，并为人类做善事。富兰克林是这一思想的代言人。 2. 加尔文教的观点：万能的上帝会救赎人类，人类所作的就是崇敬上帝。爱德华是美国呼吁加尔文教的最后一人。 The spiritual life in the colonies during the period was to a great degree molded by the bourgeois Enlightenment. For: Freedom, Democracy and Reason Against: Tyranny, Intolerance不容异说 and Superstition Leading writers and their works Thomas Jefferson(1743-1826): The Declaration of Independence (1776) Thomas Paine(1737-1809): Common Sense (1776) Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography Philip Freneau: “The Wild Honey Suckle” 1. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) 他对科学的贡献不仅在静电学方面，他研究范围极广。在数学上，他创造了8次和16次幻方，这两个幻方性质特殊，变化复杂，至今仍为学者称道。 热学方面，他改良了取暖的炉子，能够节省四分之三的燃料。光学方面，他发明了老年人用的双焦距眼镜，即能看清楚近处又能看清楚远处的事物。 他先后掌握了法文，意大利文，西班牙文及拉丁文。他是美国第一位学者，第一位哲学家，第一位驻外大使。 他发明了口琴，摇椅，路灯，避雷针。发现了墨西哥湾的海流。四次当选宾夕法尼亚州州长。制定了新闻传播法。最先绘制暴风雨推移图。发现人们呼出气体的有害性。最先解释清楚北极光。 被称为近代牙科医术之父。最先组织了消防厅。创立了近代的邮信制度。创立了议员的近代选举法。发现了感冒的原因。发明了颗粒肥料。设计出夏天穿的白色亚麻服装，设计了最早的游泳眼镜和蛙蹼。 此外，他对气象、地质、声学及海洋航行等方面都有研究，并取得了不少成就。 Benjamin Franklin came from a Calvinist background. He was born into a poor candle-maker’s family. He had very little education. He learned in school only for two years, but he was a voracious reader. At 12, he was apprenticed to his elder half-brother, a printer. At 16, he began to publish essays under the pseudonym “Silence Do good” . At 17, he ran away to Philadelphia to make his own