Benjamin Franklin from Autobiography and from Poor Richard’s Almanac
1. Describe Franklin’s appearance as he arrives in Philadelphia.
2. Why does Franklin suggest he gave the boatman his only shilling?
3. What does his purchase of bread reveal about the colonies at this time?
4. What does the act of giving away the rolls reveal about Franklin?
5. What personal quality does Franklin seem to be eager to portray about himself in The
Autobiography?
6. How does Franklin believe moral perfection can be attained?
7. What method does Franklin use to rank the virtues that he wishes to attain?
8. The method that Franklin develops for examining virtues reveals that he has what kind
of mid?
9. Interpret “good fences make good neighbors.”
10. Interpret “ He that composed himself is wiser than he that composes books.”
11. Interpret ‘If a man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles.”
12. What virtue does Franklin first on his list for achieving moral perfection?
13. Franklin ends his list of virtues “ humility”. Did you find evidence of “humility or the
opposite- evidence of pride? Give an example to support your findings.
14. What does Franklin’s plan for moral development tell us about the man himself?
15. What metaphor does Franklin use to describe the process of eliminating the black dots
on his virtue chart?
16. Who was Poor Richard?
17. What is an aphorism?
18. What was the Almanac?
19. Why was it so popular?