Beginning to 1820: Short Answer Quiz

Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography


  1. “[H]aving gone so far thro’ Life with a considerable Share of Felicity, the conducting Means I made use of, which, with the Blessing of God, so well succeeded, my Posterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own Situations, and therefore fit to be imitated. That Felicity, when I reflected on it, has induc’d me sometimes to say, that were it offer’d to my choice, I should have no Objection to a Repetition of the same Life, from its Beginning, only asking the Advantage Authors have in a second Edition to correct some Faults of the first” (473 [full ed.] 231 [shorter ed.]). This passage comes from the letter Franklin places at the beginning of part one of his Autobiography, but he also publishes it so that his audience is far greater than just his son. What would the rest of his readers find useful to know about Franklin’s life? To what extent has Franklin created himself for these strangers through the writing of this memoir?

  1. Early in his Autobiography, Franklin praises some of his father’s qualities: “He had a mechanical Genius too, and on occasion was very handy in the Use of other Tradesmen’s Tools. But his great Excellence lay in a sound Understanding, and solid Judgment in prudential Matters, both in private and public Affairs…I remember well his being frequently visited by leading People, who consulted him for his Opinion on Affairs of the Town or of the Church he belong’d to and show’d a good deal of Respect for his Judgment and Advice” (477-78 [full ed.] 235-36 [shorter ed.]). What did he value most about his father’s example? From what you remember of the rest of the Autobiography, how did Franklin emulate his father?

  1. Here is Franklin’s advice on being heard and on hearing others: “If you would inform, a positive dogmatical Manner in advancing your Sentiments, may provoke Contradiction and prevent a candid Attention. If you wish Information and Improvement from the Knowledge of others and yet at the same time express yourself as firmly fix’d in your present Opinions, modest sensible Men, who do not love Disputation, will probably leave you undisturb’d in the Possession of your Error; and by such a Manner, you can seldom hope to recommend yourself in pleasing your Hearers, or to persuade those whose Concurrence you desire” (483 [full ed.] 241 [shorter ed.]). According to Franklin, how best should one go about persuading one’s peers? How does Franklin’s choice of a memoir (like the Autobiography) instead of an advice manual (like Poor Richard’s Almanac) consistent with the attitude toward persuasion he sets forth in this passage?

  1. Although Franklin had foresworn meat and become a vegetarian, one day while sailing off Block Island, his resolve weakens: “Hitherto I had stuck to my Resolution of not eating animal Food; and on this occasion, I consider’d with my master Tryon, the taking every Fish as a kind of unprovok’d Murder, since none of them had or ever could do us any Injury that might justify the Slaughter. All this seem’d very reasonable. But I had formerly been a great Lover of Fish, and when this came hot out of the Frying Pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanc’d some time between Principle and Inclination: till I recollected, that when the Fish were opened, I saw smaller Fish taken out of their stomachs: Then, thought I, if you eat one another, I don’t see why we mayn’t eat you” (495 [full ed.] 252-53 [shorter ed.]). What seemed reasonable about vegetarianism? What seemed reasonable about eating the fish? Why do you think Franklin has no problem revealing his contradictions between “Principle” and “Inclination”? What is his motive for telling us this anecdote?



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