For the next eight or so pages, I will be writing some words about the importance of written word. We see the importance of written word emphasized in Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass’ respective autobiographies, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself. Although the works are written from very distinct Early-American perspectives, there are homogenous key themes that can be drawn from the seemingly disparate viewpoints. Social standing, privilege, and all other circumstances aside; the power of written word is universal. It serves as an intellectual and moral compass that we can and should use as a source of guidance in our own lives, as Franklin and
…show more content…
In the beginning of his Autobiography, Franklin says, “My early Readiness in learning to read (which must have been very early, as I do not remember when I could not read) and the Opinion of all [my father's] Friends that I should certainly make a good Scholar, encourag'd him in this Purpose of his [of sending Franklin to school].” (1.9) It was clear that Franklin was very talented with written word, so his father decided to send him to a grammar school at the age of eight. He was there for only a couple years before dropping out for financial reasons. Still, throughout his childhood and adolescence, Franklin read whatever he could get his hands on. He said, “Often I sat up in my Room reading the greatest Part of the Night, when the Book was borrow'd in the Evening and to be return'd early in the Morning lest it should be miss'd or wanted” (1.16). This excerpt shows us how his love for reading and determination to learn with the resources available to him took high priority, even above rest. Some of these books included: Burton’s Historical Collections, Plutarch’s Lives, Defoe’s An Essay on Projects, and his favorite, Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s …show more content…
Finally, his passionate love of written word inspired his father to decide to encourage him in following in the footsteps of his older brother James, and training to become a printer. Franklin’s participation in the Early-American print culture, as both a printer’s apprentice and printer, and as an author, further fosters his love and praise of written word. Franklin contracts himself to work for his brother as a printer’s apprentice until he is twenty-one. As a printer’s apprentice, an abundance of books is made accessible to Franklin. He takes advantages of this, accumulating knowledge of all different subjects, including: arithmetic, navigation, philosophy, rhetoric and logic, and religious doctrine. Franklin worked on his reading and writing skills by taking part in intellectual debates with his friend John Collins. He says, “I fell far short in elegance of Expression, in Method and in Perspicuity, of which he [Collins] convinc'd me by several Instances. I saw the Justice of his Remarks, and thence grew more attentive to the Manner in Writing, and determin'd to endeavor at Improvement” (1.17). Although he presents the details of his hard work humbly, we can see the benefits it reaped through the quality of the Autobiography
In the beginning of his Autobiography, Franklin says, “My early Readiness in learning to read (which must have been very early, as I do not remember when I could not read) and the Opinion of all [my father's] Friends that I should certainly make a good Scholar, encourag'd him in this Purpose of his [of sending Franklin to school].” (1.9) It was clear that Franklin was very talented with written word, so his father decided to send him to a grammar school at the age of eight. He was there for only a couple years before dropping out for financial reasons. Still, throughout his childhood and adolescence, Franklin read whatever he could get his hands on. He said, “Often I sat up in my Room reading the greatest Part of the Night, when the Book was borrow'd in the Evening and to be return'd early in the Morning lest it should be miss'd or wanted” (1.16). This excerpt shows us how his love for reading and determination to learn with the resources available to him took high priority, even above rest. Some of these books included: Burton’s Historical Collections, Plutarch’s Lives, Defoe’s An Essay on Projects, and his favorite, Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s …show more content…
Finally, his passionate love of written word inspired his father to decide to encourage him in following in the footsteps of his older brother James, and training to become a printer. Franklin’s participation in the Early-American print culture, as both a printer’s apprentice and printer, and as an author, further fosters his love and praise of written word. Franklin contracts himself to work for his brother as a printer’s apprentice until he is twenty-one. As a printer’s apprentice, an abundance of books is made accessible to Franklin. He takes advantages of this, accumulating knowledge of all different subjects, including: arithmetic, navigation, philosophy, rhetoric and logic, and religious doctrine. Franklin worked on his reading and writing skills by taking part in intellectual debates with his friend John Collins. He says, “I fell far short in elegance of Expression, in Method and in Perspicuity, of which he [Collins] convinc'd me by several Instances. I saw the Justice of his Remarks, and thence grew more attentive to the Manner in Writing, and determin'd to endeavor at Improvement” (1.17). Although he presents the details of his hard work humbly, we can see the benefits it reaped through the quality of the Autobiography