The+Autobiography

Literapedia Book Notes for
=//The Autobiography// by Benjamin Franklin= (page numbers refer to the Norton Critical Edition)

Section One (1771):

 * introduction to bastard son (1)
 * list of known ancestors (2–5)
 * minnow wharf (7)
 * indentured to brother (10)
 * method of argumentation (13–14)
 * letters from Silence Dogood (15)
 * brakes indentures with brother (17)
 * entrance into Philadelphia with rolls (20)
 * avoids the two strumpets (26)
 * “fish eat fish, so why can’t I?” (28)
 * poetry contest (30)
 * left Philadelphia for England (31)
 * forgets Deborah (34)
 * “attempted familiarities” with Mrs. T (36)
 * not drinking on the job (36–37)
 * return to Philadelphia (40)
 * early moral reasoning (45–46)
 * begins in business for himself (47)
 * Junto (47–48)
 * Franklin becomes the sole owner of his business (53)
 * the importance of appearing industrious (54)
 * Franklin marries Deborah
 * starts subscription library (57)

Section Two (1784):

 * second telling of the library (63)
 * silver spoon and china bowl (65)
 * religious views (66)
 * List of Virtues (67)
 * method of argument that allows for the appearance of humility (75)

Section Three (1788):

 * first published Poor Richard’s Almanac (79)
 * first elected office—1736 (84)
 * “having a kindness done” (85)
 * becomes deputy postmaster (85)
 * starts fire department (86)
 * Reverend Whitefield (87–90)
 * University of Pennsylvania (91)
 * starts militia (92)
 * dealing with the Quaker aversion to war (94–96)
 * Franklin stove (97)
 * more University of Pennsylvania (100)
 * Indians and fire water (101)
 * procures matching funds for a public hospital (102–104)
 * advertisement for wagons (115)
 * “when men are employ’d, they are best contented”—scour the anchor (126)
 * chaplain dealing out rum (126)
 * Franklin’s experiments with electricity (130–134)
 * promises to build a lighthouse (142)

Section Four (1789):

 * in response to the statement, “...the King is the legislator of he colonies!” Franklin responds, “...this was new doctrine to me” (143)
 * Franklin is accused of rudeness to the English (145)