Short story genre characteristics of an autobiography

Both autobiographies and memoirs are naturally subjective. They are written in first person and include the reactions and opinions of the writer. At times, autobiographies of notable figures are created through collaboration with a professional writer or through the sole efforts of a ghost writer. Ghost writers and collaborators generally interview a subject at length before writing, and thus attempt to convey the opinions and style of the subject as if he or she was actually writing the account.

Biographies have become quite common in the present day, but historically the genre developed slowly. Throughout the Renaissance a few educated citizens recorded their lives; notable among them was Benvenuto Cellini, a 16th century artist who believed that all great men should leave a record of their accomplishments in their own words. This model changed as time went on, and many began to see the autobiography as an agent for social change.

Table of content. What is an Autobiography? 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.

Short story genre characteristics of an autobiography: Learn the basic aspects and definition

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.

Short story genre characteristics of an autobiography: The autobiography falls into

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. Around this struggle, he recounts his life and his studies until reaching the age of sixteen. The events and the most important or relevant reflections for the author are exposed.

It generally begins when he begins an independent life from the family nucleus and develops his personal and professional life. In the example of Vargas Llosa, the autobiography contains two plots or developments: on the one hand, his struggle with his father for his desire to become a writer, and on the other, his candidacy and the electoral campaign, to be president of Peru.

An autobiography, like life itself, does not always have clear and definite endings or endings. Generally, the text can be concluded by stating the achievements and pointing out future objectives. Following the memoirs of George Sand and Mario Vargas Llosa: the former manages to balance and understand the love she felt for both her mother and her grandmother, and discovers her vocation as a writer; Mario Vargas Llosa is discovered and manages to impose as a writer, and ends up retiring from politics when he is defeated by Fujimori.

The fact that we are still in school does not mean that we cannot write an autobiography. We may think that we have little to tell, but it really is not so. The steps to write our autobiography are as follows:. Interview your parents and close relatives about family history and highlights. Make a draft with important dates and places: births, deaths, places where you lived, schools.

If possible, create a file with the help of your parents, with papers such as birth and baptism certificates, enrollment in educational centers, identity document, enrollment in sports teams, etc. Sort the information gathered and select the data you want to highlight. Consider relevant data and characters such as: date and place of birth, name and occupation of your parents and other characters that you consider important in your life grandparents, friends, fellow students, teachers.

You should also include the educational centers where you studied, the cities where you have lived if you have movedand events that are relevant. Make a selection of the facts and people you want to include in the autobiographyand choose the moment from which you want to start the story, which may well be at the beginning.

Short story genre characteristics of an autobiography: Autobiographical fiction refers to a

Here are two ways, one conventional and one informal:. Based on the chronology of your lifeprepare a first draft, with simple and entertaining language, that attracts the reader. Some writers say that when you write about yourself there are two temptations: blame yourself for everything, or blame everything on others. This shows the veracity and authenticity that is required of a piece of writing to make it eloquent, persuasive, and convincing.

In her autobiography, The Story of My LifeHelen Keller recounts her first twenty years, beginning with the events of the childhood illness that left her deaf and blind. In this book, Keller mentions prominent historical personalities, such as Alexander Graham Bell, whom she met at the age of six, and with whom she remained friends for several years.

Keller paid a visit to John Greenleaf Whittiera famous American poet, and shared correspondence with other eminent figures, including Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Mrs. Grover Cleveland.