2. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Known as:
• Printer
• Statesman
• Primary writer of the Declaration of Independence
• Inventor
• Diplomat
• Scientist
• Businessman
• Writer
3. Franklin’s “TheWay toWealth”
Franklin was an example of the successful American Dream. In “TheWay to
Wealth,” the preface to the 25th anniversary of Poor Richard’s Almanac, he
documents some of his ideas for achieving success, such as
■ God helps them who help themselves
■ Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise
Franklin concludes that hard work is the only way to achieve wealth. This
leads to the idea that anyone can achieve success with hard work. This is
the hallmark of the American Dream.
Points to Ponder:
■ How does hard work lead to the acquisition of wealth?
■ What is the “self-made man,” and is that idea still valid today?
4. Washington Irving (1783-1859)
• Named for George Washington
• First American writer to achieve
international success
• Wrote about “historical transformation and
personal dislocation” (Levine et al, 2017, p.
511).
5. Irving’s “RipVanWinkle”
RipVan Winkle sleeps through the Revolutionary War.
When he wakes up, he is part of the newly formed
America.
Because he has “missed” the war, he is in the position of
being able to view the new society through the mindset
of the old society.
Points to Ponder:
• What are some of the differences Rip observes
between himself and the “new” American citizens?
• How does Irving describe American identity?
6. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)
Known for:
• The Scarlet Letter
• “Young Goodman Brown”
• House of the Seven Gables
Famous friendships:
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• Franklin Pierce
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Henry David Thoreau
• Herman Melville, who dedicated his
famous novel Moby-Dick to
Hawthorne
Did you know???
Hawthorne is a descendent of
John Hathorne, one of the three
judges of the Salem WitchTrials.
Hawthorne added the “w” to
distance himself from his
ancestors.
7. “Young Goodman Brown”
The story is set in 17th century Puritan New England. Brown goes on a late-night
journey and discovers new aspects to his society that challenge his beliefs. The story
challenges strict moral codes and addresses hypocrisy.
Points to ponder:
• How is the American Dream linked to religion, and how is the idea of religion
different from the ideas in the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of
Independence?
• How can one live “by the grace of God” or rely on the “protection of divine
Providence”?
8. Wilella “Willa” Cather (1872-1947)
• Born inVirginia and moved to Nebraska when
she was nine years old.
• A regionalist writer who is best known for her
novel My Ántonia.
Regionalism: literature that focuses on a certain
region and incorporates customs, dialect, history,
and tradition.
9. “Neighbour Rosicky”
Anton Rosicky is a Czech immigrant who lives in
Nebraska, and the story focuses on the meaning of
Rosicky’s life.
Points to Ponder:
• How are land ownership and the freedom that
goes with it preferable to city living?
• How are the American Dream and the
protagonist’s identity associated with land
ownership?
