Autobiography definition and characteristics of paragraphs

Characteristics of an autobiography : Origin of the term The term was first used in English: autobiographyin early 19th century Englandin an article by the poet Robert Southey. Background Before the formal existence of the genre, however, there were already texts of a clear autobiographical nature, although they were not titled that way. Gender Within the literary arts, the autobiographical genre, as well as the biographical one, are among the written works of non-fictionat the opposite extreme to narrative fiction, with which it nevertheless shares prose.

Technique The author, the narrator and the protagonist usually coincide in the autobiographies in the same person. This does not mean that they must necessarily be written in the first person singular "I"since autobiography, being a literary genreallows the author all the freedom of expressive resources typical of creative writing. That means that exaggerationsubjective description, and eventually fictionalization of certain events, may well find their place in the autobiography.

Otherwise, the autobiography can be written as its author prefers. Objectivity From an autobiography, as we have said, a certain fidelity and authenticity of the events is expectedalthough not so much with respect to the meticulous historical fidelity, as to its very personal approach to the events narrated. Structure An autobiography can choose the events to narrate as it sees fit within those experienced by the author, starting where you like and ending at the time you consider appropriate within the arc of events chosen to tell.

It can start in childhood and progress chronologically into adulthood, it can jump from childhood to old age, or it can be limited to the events of adolescence. Extension As in contemporary literary works, there is no length requirement for autobiography. Differences with the biography The differences between biography and autobiography are determined by the prefix that heads the second.

Video about writing autobiography. Video Transcript Video Transcript. You can start at the beginning, your birth, and describe the journey from there. Etymology of autobiography. What is an autobiography? Autobiographies are written for a variety of reasons and there are a variety of types: A full autobiography, detailing someone's life from childhood through to old age.

An autobiography based around a theme and which details universal or life-changing experiences. A confessional autobiography revealing deep and personal life experiences. An account of overcoming adversity, illness, imprisonment, trauma, war or other challenges. A life story could: provide lessons for readers record important historical events form a personal viewpoint allow the reader to understand their own life experiences better entertain the reader.

Selecting moments from life. An autobiography details the events, people and places that make up the writer's journey through life. Key experiences and interactions that shaped life perspectives. Unique personal experiences that were challenging and resulted in personal autobiography definition and characteristics of paragraphs. This could include failures, falling in-love, loss, illness, rejections, conflict, friendship, loneliness, and success.

Details about training, hobbies and work, discussing what was learnt, gained, or lost. How to structure an autobiography. The middle The main part of the autobiography will be the important experiences, relationships and life choices the writer has made. He not only deals with his career, and growth as a person, he also uses emotions and facts related to family life, relationships, education, travels, sexuality, and any types of inner struggles.

In fact, it is the telling of a story or an event from his life; an account that does not tell the full record of a life. Autobiography is a significant genre in literature. Its significance or importance lies in authenticity, veracity, and personal testimonies. The reason is that people write about challenges they encounter in their life and the ways to tackle them.

Autobiographies are an important part of history. In journalism, reporters go to the source to get an accurate account of an event. The same is true when it comes to life stories. Reading the story from a second or third source will not be as reliable. Autobiographies are also important because they allow other people in similar circumstances realize that they are not alone.

They can be inspiring for those who are facing problems in their lives. For the author, writing the autobiography allows them to heal as they express their feelings and opinions. Autobiographies are also an important part of history. A popular autobiography that has lasted almost years is that of Helen Keller. Her life story has been made into numerous movies and plays.

Her teacher, Anne Sullivan, has also had her life story written and televised multiple times. Students today still read and learn about this young girl who went blind and deaf at 19 months of age, causing her to also lose her ability to learn to speak. She learned braille and soon became an activist for helping blind and deaf people across the nation.

She died inbut her autobiography is still helping others. Even in the days before my teacher came, I used to feel along the square stiff boxwood hedges, and, guided by the sense of smell, would find the first violets and lilies. There, too, after a fit of temper, I went to find comfort and to hide my hot face in the cool leaves and grass. What joy it was to lose myself in that garden of flowers, to wander happily from spot to spot, until, coming suddenly upon a beautiful vine, I recognized it by its leaves and blossoms, and knew it was the vine which covered the tumble-down summer-house at the farther end of the garden!

His story is also a memoir, covering his teen years as he and his family went from the comfort of their own home to being forced into a Jewish ghetto with other families, before ending up in a Nazi prison camp. Annihilate an entire people? Wipe out a population dispersed throughout so many nations? So many millions of people!