Franklin v. Paine Final Copy

7/30/2019 Franklin v. Paine Final Copy

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Bennett, Bond, McGettrick 1

Emma Bennett

Isabella Bond

Elizabeth McGettrick

Ms. Hutton

PIB English 2: 1st

Hour

17 October, 2012

Benjamin Franklin was an author who usually wrote satire. His works were typically

written to better himself or reader. Thomas Paine was an author whose works were motivational,

typically to gain support of a cause that others had assumed to be a waste of time or a battle that

had been presumed to be already lost. Although both authors wrote about different subjects, they

both wished to persuade others to undergo a change; be it a change of heart or a change of

attitude. These authors use sentence structure, rhetorical devices and tone in different ways to

achieve the same purpose; change.

While both authors use a fast pace, Franklin uses more precise sentences and Paine uses a

more flowing style, which helps to achieve personal and societal change . Franklins precise style

shows discipline in only saying what is necessary. In his autobiography, Franklin opens the

section Leaving Boston by saying that [a]t length, a fresh difference arising between my

brother and me, I took upon me to assert my freedom, presuming that he would not venture to

produce the new indentures. (Franklin 74) Although this sentence is relatively long, when it is

looked at closely, no part of it is unnecessaryhe sticks to describing what happened. This

contributes to his personal change because discipline is required to [arrive] at moral perfection


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with traits like cleanliness, order, temperance, and industry (Franklin 78). He practices discipline

in writing precisely and can use that discipline to simulate personal perfection. Paine, on the

other hand, opens The Crisis, No. 1 by saying [these] are the times that try mens souls.

(Paine 94) This sentence is not a fact and it is not necessarily vital to have, but far from being

drivel, it adds an emotional aspect which lets it transcend more to a broad range, societal change,

which Paine is going for. Although they use different sentence structures, both Franklin and

Paine have a similar rhythm; they both write with a fast pace. Franklin does this by adding lots of

detail so that there is no repetition. (Franklin 74-79) Paine achieves this by using emotional

sentences so that when reading it feels very energetic and fast. (Paine 94-99) Both of these uses

cause the reader to have to pay closer attention and therefore add resonance. This helps achieve

change because for change, an internal belief and feeling about the cause must be held.

Franklins use of rhetorical devices is more modern and easy to understand while Paines

is more ornate and intricate, which helps to achieve societal change . Since Franklins use of

rhetorical devices is more modern, the change he wishes the reader, the settlers, to undergo is

easier to follow. In Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America,Franklin states that

the sellers call the Native Americans savages because their manners differ from [the settlers],

which [the settlers] think the perfection of civility; [the Native Americans] think the same of

theirs. (Franklin, 84) This expresses to the settles that their view of the Native Americans as

savages is one of inferiority, and should be changed to a view of equality. Paine, on the other

hand, uses rhetorical devices in a more ornate way to rally citizens or have them give their

approbation to a certain cause or movement. In The Crisis, No.1,Paine elicits troops from the

colonies by stating that he who stands [the war] now deserves all the love and thanks from

every man and woman. (Paine, 88) By saying this, Paine achieves change by hinting that those


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who fight this war will become meritorious. Franklin achieves change of the settlers view of the

Native Americans with his modern use of rhetorical devices. Paine achieves change of the

settlers motivation to fight for their freedom with his use of intricate and ornate rhetorical

devices. Both authors achieve the same desired purpose, to motivate readers to change, yet they

use different forms of rhetorical devices to do so.

Paines tone is very motivational while Franklins is witty, making change possible. In Thomas

Paines work, he is motivational, which implies the change he wishes to occur. The Crisis, No. 1 ends

with a sentence meant for rallying the troops, for if they go into battle with perseverance and fortitude,

[they] have the prospect of a glorious issue. (Paine 99) By doing this, Paine creates the image of a better

solution if the troops become more motivated. Alternately, Franklins witty tone expresses how he wishes

to ameliorate himself. In his autobiography, he attempts to begin the bold and arduous project of arriving

at moral perfection. (Franklin 78) Because of how Franklin is able to acknowledge the hardship of his

desired change, he makes it seem worthwhile and possible to achieve. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas

Paine both use tone in order to point towards change in their writing, though they use it differently.

Franklins autobiography talks about how he wishes to live without fault (Franklin 78), but Paine writes

in his work The Crisis No. 1 how cowardice leads to a lurid future, inveighing on anyone who does not

fight (Paine 99). The more realistic look on life is encouraging in Franklins autobiography, while Paine

is able to use fear to motivate. Even though the authors use two different types of tone, each is successful

to gain their purpose in their writing.

Both Franklin and Paine had the same purpose of change. Franklin focused mostly on

personal change; achieving moral perfection. (Franklin 78) Paines focus, alternatively, was on

the change of an entire societyspecifically, rallying troops. These reasons are different but

inherently the samethey are aimed at the bettering of an individual; the whole is made up by

many ones. Though the authors had different subjects to improve, they still achieved the same


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thing through similar rhythm, and using different rhetorical devices; sentence structure; and tone.

These styles contribute to the change by emphasizing the authors desire to have the change in

place.


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Works Cited

Franklin, Benjamin. From The Autobiography. Elements of Literature, fifth course

Eds. Robert Anderson et. al. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. 1989. 81-83. Print.

Franklin, Benjamin. Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America.Elements of

Literature, fifth course. Eds. Robert Anderson et. al. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

1989. 84. Print.

Paine, Thomas. The Crisis, No. 1.Elements of Literature, fifth course. Eds. Robert Anderson

et. al. Austin: Hold, Rinehart, and Winston. 1989. 88-90. Print.

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Franklin v. Paine Final Copy