Read Letters 1-3 And Letter Summary
1. How is the story of James Franklin's newspaper The New England Courant informed by the readings we did on Cotton Mather on Wednesday?
Similar to Mather, Ben’s profession was chosen by his parents. He did what was expected of him without question. They were both knowledgeable and became adults at a young age. The taught themselves a great amount and overcome struggles.
2. How does Benjamin Franklin's education, apprenticeship, and early writing contribute to his eventual legendary status in American history?
Ben’s education contributed because he became an amazing writer through his long hours of reading and writing. During his apprenticeship, he learned even more about writing and how to print his work. He would keep writing until he felt his work was “good” enough. He knew his brother wouldn’t publish him, so he became Silence Dogood. His entire struggle to become an amazing writer paid off.
3. Read Letters 1-3 and Letter 7 of the Silence Dogood Letters at this link. Silence Dogood is a pseudonym (pen name). Why was she invented and how does she both mirror and satirize the prejudices of the 1720s? Note the detail that Franklin puts into her "autobiography" and talk about similarities …show more content…
He would leave the letters under the print shop door at night, when his brother was away. Her autobiography mirrored and mocked the prejudices by showing her as a helpless woman whom was only there to be a wife and mother. It says, “I could be easily persuaded to marry”, and “As nothing is more common with us women, than to be grieving for nothing, when we have nothing else to grieve for”. Similar to Bradstreet, it’s sarcastic towards the views of how women should be, and what is expected. They both are struggling to get over the stereotypes. The letters also show how women were not appreciated for what they did. They could do everything right, but it would still be less than a
Similar to Mather, Ben’s profession was chosen by his parents. He did what was expected of him without question. They were both knowledgeable and became adults at a young age. The taught themselves a great amount and overcome struggles.
2. How does Benjamin Franklin's education, apprenticeship, and early writing contribute to his eventual legendary status in American history?
Ben’s education contributed because he became an amazing writer through his long hours of reading and writing. During his apprenticeship, he learned even more about writing and how to print his work. He would keep writing until he felt his work was “good” enough. He knew his brother wouldn’t publish him, so he became Silence Dogood. His entire struggle to become an amazing writer paid off.
3. Read Letters 1-3 and Letter 7 of the Silence Dogood Letters at this link. Silence Dogood is a pseudonym (pen name). Why was she invented and how does she both mirror and satirize the prejudices of the 1720s? Note the detail that Franklin puts into her "autobiography" and talk about similarities …show more content…
He would leave the letters under the print shop door at night, when his brother was away. Her autobiography mirrored and mocked the prejudices by showing her as a helpless woman whom was only there to be a wife and mother. It says, “I could be easily persuaded to marry”, and “As nothing is more common with us women, than to be grieving for nothing, when we have nothing else to grieve for”. Similar to Bradstreet, it’s sarcastic towards the views of how women should be, and what is expected. They both are struggling to get over the stereotypes. The letters also show how women were not appreciated for what they did. They could do everything right, but it would still be less than a