1. Memoir Autobiography Biography Personal Narrative
Understanding Memoir
Memoir
Autobiography
Biography
Personal Narrative

2. Biography History of a lifetime – usually covers entire life
Most important facts and events of someone’s life
Contains anecdotes, memories, journeys, and cherished moments
Is about another person- events and experiences seen through different “lenses”

3. Autobiography
Reveals who you are in life – Based on facts and research
Explores what life means to you – Your feelings, both past and present
May uncover your outlook on the future
Written by same person being revealed

4. Personal Narrative
Focus is on a particular event in a person/writer’s life
1st person
Uses diction and sensory details to express emotions that place the reader in the personal experience

5. Memoir Autobiographical writing
Captures certain highlights or meaningful moments in one’s past
Contemplation of the meaning of that event at the time of the writing of the memoir
Often connects the writer to someone or something that had an impact on their life

6. Characteristics of the Memoir Form
Focus on a brief period of time or series of related events
Narrative structure (storytelling elements like setting, plot, imagery, characterization, foreshadowing/flashback, and irony and symbolism)
Retrospective
Fictional quality—rich description and detail
Higher emotional level/more personal reconstruction of the events and their impact

7. Memoirs – Another perspective
Explores an event or series of related events that remain lodged in memory
Describes the events and then shows, either directly or indirectly why they are significant
WHY do you STILL remember them?
Focused in time (not long)
Focuses on problem/conflict and its resolution and why the resolution is significant in your life

8. Good Readers Make connections Question Visualize Infer Synthesize
To what they know and have read
To what they have experienced
Question
Visualize
Infer
Synthesize