Frankly SpeakingFrankly Speaking……Exploring Exploring

Benjamin Franklin’s Benjamin Franklin’s AphorismsAphorisms

Who was Benjamin Franklin, The Who was Benjamin Franklin, The Man?Man?

He was a printer, journalist, author, He was a printer, journalist, author, scientist, diplomat, educator, and scientist, diplomat, educator, and philosopher…all with no formal educationphilosopher…all with no formal education

Born in Boston in 1706; one of seventeen Born in Boston in 1706; one of seventeen childrenchildren

Left Boston at seventeen years old to open Left Boston at seventeen years old to open his own print shophis own print shop

After establishing himself as a printer, he After establishing himself as a printer, he began publishing a newspaper and an began publishing a newspaper and an annual publication called annual publication called Poor Richard’s Poor Richard’s AlmanackAlmanack

Who is Benjamin Franklin, The Who is Benjamin Franklin, The Scientist?Scientist?

When he was forty-two, Franklin When he was forty-two, Franklin retired from printing and became a retired from printing and became a successful scientistsuccessful scientist

He was responsible for inventing: the He was responsible for inventing: the lightening rod, bifocal glasses, new lightening rod, bifocal glasses, new type of stove; confirming the laws of type of stove; confirming the laws of electricity; scientific understanding of electricity; scientific understanding of earthquakes and ocean currentsearthquakes and ocean currents

Who is Benjamin Franklin, The Who is Benjamin Franklin, The Diplomat?Diplomat?

He played an important role in He played an important role in drafting the Declaration of drafting the Declaration of Independence, enlisting French Independence, enlisting French support during the Revolutionary support during the Revolutionary War, negotiating a peace treaty with War, negotiating a peace treaty with Britain, and drafting the United Britain, and drafting the United States ConstitutionStates Constitution

In later years, he was ambassador In later years, he was ambassador first to England and then to Francefirst to England and then to France

What is What is Poor Richard’s Poor Richard’s AlmanackAlmanack??

Franklin created a fictitious Franklin created a fictitious author called “Richard author called “Richard Saunders”Saunders”

Contained practical information Contained practical information about the calendar, the sun and about the calendar, the sun and moon, and the weathermoon, and the weather

Also, featured homespun Also, featured homespun sayings and observations…sayings and observations…many of which are still quoted many of which are still quoted todaytoday

These aphorisms* made the These aphorisms* made the AlmanackAlmanack a bestseller! Franklin a bestseller! Franklin put an aphorism at the top or put an aphorism at the top or bottom of most pages. bottom of most pages.

What’s an aphorism?What’s an aphorism?

A short, concise A short, concise statement statement expressing a wise expressing a wise or clever or clever observation or a observation or a general truthgeneral truth

A variety of devices A variety of devices make aphorisms easy make aphorisms easy to remember to remember ryhmes; repeated ryhmes; repeated words or sounds; words or sounds; paralell structure to paralell structure to present contrasting present contrasting ideasideas““No Pain, No Gain” No Pain, No Gain”

uses rhyme, repetition anduses rhyme, repetition and

parallel structureparallel structure

Aphorisms TodayAphorisms Today ““No pain, No gain” ~UnknownNo pain, No gain” ~Unknown ““Garbage In, Garbage Out” ~UnknownGarbage In, Garbage Out” ~Unknown ““We are all in the gutter, but some of use We are all in the gutter, but some of use

are looking at the stars” ~Oscar Wildeare looking at the stars” ~Oscar Wilde ““Nothing great was ever achieved without Nothing great was ever achieved without

enthusiasm” ~Ralph Waldo Emersonenthusiasm” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson ““Believe nothing what you hear and only Believe nothing what you hear and only

half of what you see” ~Mark Twainhalf of what you see” ~Mark Twain ““Those who cannot remember the past, are Those who cannot remember the past, are

condemned to repeat it” ~ George condemned to repeat it” ~ George SantayanaSantayana

What aphorisms do you What aphorisms do you know?know?

Can you think of an example of a contemporary aphorism? What does it say about our culture? You see sayings

like the ones on the previous slide on bumper stickers, T-shirts, and billboards.

Franklin’s AphorismsFranklin’s Aphorisms

Read Benjamin Franklin’s aphorisms Read Benjamin Franklin’s aphorisms fromfrom Poor Richard’s Almanack Poor Richard’s Almanack on pg. on pg. 188 – 189 in the texbook188 – 189 in the texbook

As you read, ask yourself how the As you read, ask yourself how the meaning of each aphorism applies to meaning of each aphorism applies to experiences you’ve had. experiences you’ve had.

DiscussionDiscussion Which aphorisms did you Which aphorisms did you

recognize?recognize? Which of Franklin’s aphorisms Which of Franklin’s aphorisms

express values that are still express values that are still widely held in America?widely held in America?

What are recurring themes in What are recurring themes in Franklin’s aphorisms?Franklin’s aphorisms?

If you had to select one If you had to select one aphorism from aphorism from Poor Richard’s Poor Richard’s AlmanackAlmanack as a motto for your as a motto for your life, which would you choose life, which would you choose and why?and why?

With a partner…With a partner…

Choose one of the aphorisms from Choose one of the aphorisms from Poor Poor Richard’s AlmanackRichard’s Almanack

Create a poster illustrating the concept of Create a poster illustrating the concept of the aphorism, include the aphorism the aphorism, include the aphorism somewhere on the postersomewhere on the poster

At the bottom of the image, include a At the bottom of the image, include a paraphrase/explanation of the aphorismparaphrase/explanation of the aphorism

Make sure both of your names and class Make sure both of your names and class period are on the back!period are on the back!

Creativity and effort are key!!Creativity and effort are key!!

ExampleExample

“Don’t put the cart before the horse”

This aphorism is saying to be sure to do things in the correct order to be successful.