Memoir vs autobiography vs biography are three literary genres that have characteristics while remaining unique. They both narrate stories about people’s lives, but they have different scopes, perspectives, and goals. Knowing the differences between these genres is critical for readers, writers, and researchers alike.
So, how do they differ from one another? In this post, we’ll compare memoir vs autobiography vs biography, learn about their definitions, and look at the best examples of each genre.
But, before we go into the details and learn about these three book genres, let’s take a brief look at what an autobiography, biography, and memoir are. You can also read the key differences between Memoir vs Biography: Spotting the Genre Differences
What is a Memoir?
Memoir derives from the French word mémoire, which means remembrance or reminiscence. A memoir, like an autobiography, is a self-written account of a person’s life. These life stories are frequently based on diary entries, either from a first-person perspective or from a close family member or friend who has access to personal journals.
What is a Biography?
A biography, like an autobiography, tells the story of one person’s life. However, in this case, it is written by someone else, not the person.
Biographies are typically written about renowned or notable people who have lived intriguing lives. They typically include factual information such as their birthplace, schooling, partners and relationships, and career highlights.
However, a good biography will also discuss how significant events affected a person’s life. Biography authors will gather information from a variety of sources, including interviews with the person in question and their friends, coworkers, and family. They may also gather material from letters, diaries, previous interviews, and newspapers.
Check out some biographies on our site
Yolande knell Biography: A Respected Middle East Correspondent
Hugo Bachega Biography: Nationality, Age, BBC News Career
Desmond Cussen Biography: A Cruel Love Story
Stella Tsankekidou Biography: A Journey Through Policy, and Influence
What is an Autobiography?
An autobiography is an account of a person’s life written by that person. Because the author is also the primary character in the story, memoirs are written in the first person. An autobiography is usually written by the book’s subject; however, it can also be written by someone else.
Because an autobiography is usually the author’s life story, the theme might range from religion to a personal account to be passed down to children.
The objective of an autobiography is to portray the author’s life experiences and accomplishments. As a result, the majority of autobiographies are written late in the subject’s life. It is written from the author’s point of view; hence, it usually uses first-person accounts to depict the story.
An autobiography often begins in early childhood and chronologically describes major events in the author’s life. Autobiographies often include information about a person’s birthplace and upbringing, education, work, life events, problems, and major accomplishments.
In rare cases, an autobiography is compiled from a person’s diaries or memoirs. When diaries are used, the author must organize them to provide a chronological and cohesive account. The story may include flashbacks or flashforwards to depict a specific event, but the primary plot should proceed chronologically from the author’s early life to contemporary events.
One of the primary contrasts between an autobiography and a biography is that autobiographies are more subjective. This is because they are written by the subject and give facts based on their memories of a certain scenario, which may be prejudiced.
The novella explores the author’s perspectives on key topics and provides an account of their emotions as they traverse various scenarios. These stories are also incredibly intimate because they represent a firsthand account of the author’s life, as opposed to a biography, which is written by a third party.
Examples of an autobiography include:
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
memoir vs autobiography vs biography: Key Differences
When it comes to writing about someone’s life, there are three primary options: autobiography, biography, and memoir. While they all have commonalities, there are also significant distinctions among them.
| Autobiography | An autobiography is a true and historical narrative of one’s complete life written by the individual. It is frequently written in the first person and follows the author’s life from start to finish. Although celebrities frequently write memoirs, anyone may write one. |
| Biography | A biography is an account of someone’s life written by someone else. It is typically written in the third person and follows the subject’s life from birth to death. |
| Memoir | A memoir is a nonfiction story in which the author relates memories from a certain period or reflects on a series of related events throughout their life. Memoirs typically focus on one area of the author’s life rather than their complete life experience. |
Conclusion
memoir vs autobiography vs biography all have the same purpose: to tell a person’s true life story. However, as you can see, each is distinctive in its way. Have you got a favorite autobiography, biography, or memoir?
