| Author |
Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731 |
| Title |
The True-Born Englishman: A Satire
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 60.1 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
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| Note |
Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_True-Born_Englishman
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| Credits |
Produced by Steven Gibbs, Linda Cantoni, and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
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| Summary |
"The True-Born Englishman: A Satire" by Daniel Defoe is a satirical poem written in the early 18th century, reflecting on the complexities of English national identity. This work critiques the concept of "true-birth" and nobility, highlighting that the English are a mixed race with origins from various foreign cultures. Through humor and biting commentary, Defoe asserts that pride in ancestry is misplaced, as the English are descended from a diverse array of nations and peoples. In this satirical piece, Defoe systematically dismantles the notion of a pure English lineage, detailing the historical invasions and migrations that have shaped the nation. He presents a cast of characters and national traits, illustrating how traits from different cultures contributed to the English identity. Importantly, he uses humor and exaggeration to criticize the English people's snobbery and ingratitude toward foreigners who have significantly influenced their society. The poem calls for a recognition of shared humanity rather than a fixation on pedigree, ultimately arguing that moral virtues, rather than noble blood, should define one's worth. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
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| Subject |
National characteristics, English
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| Subject |
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1689-1702
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
30159 |
| Release Date |
Oct 2, 2009 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
247 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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