Characteristics of a Memoir

“Memoir is a window into a life.” “The memoir writer takes us back to some corner of our past that was unusually intense - childhood, for instance.” ~ William Zinsser

Characteristics of a Memoir A memory; a description of an event from the past examples: dying of cancer, trapped for 127 hours, facing challenges growing up on the streets, divorce, military trauma, growing up in a revolution, being a child soldier, surviving war, killing someone in an accident

Characteristics of a Memoir A memoir is a story about something that happened to the writer. Memoirs make the reader feel an emotion that the writer is recalling (fear, anger, happiness, sadness, etc.} Memoirs are often stories about events that are important to the writer. The author doesn’t tell how he or she felt about the event, but shows you through the actions and conversations of the characters and through sensory details.

Characteristics of a Memoir Written in the first person; told from one person’s point of view Examples: “Half my life ago, I killed a girl.” “”I trusted grownups in those days with all my heart.” “Overall, I’m a guy who likes to control.” “”I never expected to live past 28.”

Characteristics of a Memoir The writer is the main character; someone readers can be within the story. The writer’s thoughts and feelings, reactions and reflections, are revealed. Examples: “I gritted my teeth as I remembered some recent racial slight.” “Saying farewell is also a bold and powerful beginning.”

Characteristics of a Memoir A reader can envision the action - can see and feel what is happening.”A large pool of blood was pooling at my feet. I was doing two things-trying to control the bleeding and making my uniform visible so they would know I was a cop.” A reader can imaging the setting - where and when the memoir is unfolding. “The first bite of a shark would have been gentle , as the predator mouthed its prey, testing to see if it contained nutritional value. The second and third bites were the ones that killed.” A reader can imagine the relationships between the characters. “We call ourselves The Three Doctors. We want to show the necessity for strong role models.”

Characteristics of a Memoir Has meaning; shows what the author learned from the experience examples: “In the end it was the acceptance of reality that changed our lives.” “But I am grown now. I can say no to the blistery hurt. I can say to myself it is all right to smile at the faces you love.” “Our hearts may have a hole from the sadness of her passing,but soon they will overflow with her loving memories. She was my hero.” “Rather than regret my mistakes, I wil learn from them.” “Saying farewell is also a bold and powerful beginning.” “I though of it as a trunk or a Pandora’s box.”

Characteristics of a Memoir About the author’s experience more than about the event itself

Characteristics of a Memoir Memoir uses figurative language to put us in the scene. • “It was as if my life changed with every second.” • “The dugout glistened in the sun.” • “I though of it as a trunk or a Pandora’s box.” • “Shiny, black, unidentifiable faces bobbing in the water.” • “The minute stretched to eternity.” • “Days passed like a dream.”

“Early childhood memories don’t always remain in the right order or come back the moment they’re called, preferring to remain stubbornly locked in secret compartments deep in the filing cabinets of my mind.” “The Little Prisoner” by Jane Elliott