2. 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 Much more emotional and connects the writer to someone or something that had and impact on their life

3. A memoir does not simply TELL about something that happened in the past. It REVEALS something about the person it happened to.

4.  What happened in the MEMOIR is the truth.  Names may be changed to protect certain identities.  Some details may be imagined because of the writer’s vague or imprecise memory.  Dialogue may be invented in order to create effect.  Events may be exaggerated in order to dramatize a scene or reveal personalities.

5. 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 – author takes a look back into the past. Fictional quality- sounds like a story Higher emotional level/more personal reconstruction of the events and their impact

6. A memoir is a story about something meaningful that happened in the author’s past.