1. Robinson Crusoe
Daniel Defoe

2. Daniel Defoe
1660 – 1731
Defoe’s father was a Dissenter – a Protestant who refused to follow the Anglican Church
As a child, Daniel survived the Plague in 1665, and the Great Fire of London in 1666
Because of his family’s religious stand, Daniel was denied entry to the major universities

3. His life
Defoe was expected to be a minister, but he preferred business and politics
He was successful, until he became a part of the rebellion against King James II in 1685
Defoe was exiled because of his part in the failed attack
The King was removed in 1688, and Defoe returned to England

4. Defoe turned to writing to earn a living
He became a journalist and publicist; he even acted as a spy, using false names and various disguises
Defoe spent most of his career satirizing the most corrupt institutions of his time
Sometimes, his work earned him public punishment
His quality of satire eventually even earned the respect of the government
He wrote more than 500 books and pamphlets
Defoe is considered one of the originators of the novel as a genre and Robinson Crusoe is the first novel written in English
Defoe’s work was intended for the middle-class reader, and his simple style revolutionized literature

5. About the Selection The novel is written in the first person
It is inspired by the life of a sailor, Andrew Selkirk, who was marooned on a deserted island and lived to tell his story
Written as a "mock travelogue" imitating a popular literary form of the time
The satire of the piece is aimed at humanity in general
The people in the selection in the text are criticized for being "shortsighted and impractical intellectuals" experimenting with society and science

6. Literary Terminology
First Person Point-of-View - First person singular point of view uses the “I” pronoun to refer to the narrator. This narrator is usually the protagonist of the story, and this point of view allows the reader access to the character’s inner thoughts and reactions to the events occurring. All of the action is processed through the narrator’s perspective, and therefore this type of narrator may be unreliable.
Satire – A literary work that mocks or ridicules the stupidity or vices of individuals, groups, institutions, or society in general
Novel - A long, fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot

7. Class Work Read the selection, page 289, and discuss as necessary
Literary Critique, page 296, #s 1-5
Writing Workshop, page 296