¶ … Larger Purpose: Autobigraphy
Autobiography: Not Simply the Telling of One's Own Story
The writing or even ghost writing of one's personal experience can simply be an attempt by one person to retell a story or stories of their own personal experience. Yet, to a large degree the work of autobiography serves greater purposes. Autobiography develops the idea of the value of the individual through personal expression, growth and demonstration of knowledge. Within autobiography an individual, either writer or reader may find their own place in their universe, through both differences and similarities.
An autobiography is a strange beast. While it offers unique access to the inner life of an individual from the perspective of the only person capable of assessing it, it is problematic precisely because the self-knowledge of first-person narrators is problematic. Autobiography also posits a coherent, defined self which occupies a position from which to look back and evaluate the life.
Powers 21)
Powers goes on to say that the trick of memory can often limit the development of truth in storytelling.
Yet, if we think about it at all, we are aware, being strangers in the cosmos, that every lived moment is simultaneously slipping into past time and rendering the notion of a stable self questionable.
(Powers 21)
Regardless of the questions that may be associated with the actual facts of the story, some would has us believe that there is only limited truth with regards to the development of a first person narrative (Couser), there is nearly always future value associated with the development and study of self description and narrative. Despite the limitations of self-view and even personal memory, autobiography serves as a window into the way others view themselves and the lives they have led, be they obscure or infamous.
An individual may wish to simply inform another of experiences of their own life, history and culture, for...
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin's autobiography is widely considered to be one of the most important early examples of American literature, because his recollections not only offer important insights into the historical and social context of their writing, but also because Franklin himself attempted to imbue his autobiography with a distinct authorial voice and a number of important themes. Paramount among these is the theme of self-improvement, and at every
Autobiographies A memoir or autobiography can take on a myriad of different literary forms; for both Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway self-reflection is best achieved through the eyes of other people. The impact of Hemingway's A Moveable Feast and Stein's The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas is remarkable: the creation of autobiographical material that is neither narcissistic nor self-centered. The authors achieve their literary feats in part by writing in a
Autobiography X Malcolm X's autobiography provides poignant insight into the life of the man, but also offers insight into the historical and cultural context in which he wrote. Malcolm X delves into issues of race, class, gender, and power in the book, showing how these issues are interrelated in his personal life as well as in American society. As such, Malcolm X is very much a quintessential American, whose identity is
Autobiography I have heard it said that life beings at 40, and considering that I am near 40 and embarking on a new stage in my life, I can see how people have come to that conclusion, since 40 seems to be the age where people have that combination of wisdom, experience, and energy that makes embarking on new adventures exciting, rather than intimidating. For me, however, my current life began
Autobiography Alice Toklas successful? The success of The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas According to Time Magazine's review of the 100 Best Books of All Time: "Writing her lover's 'autobiography' proved a witty way for American author Gertrude Stein to detail her own life as Parisian writer, salon host and arts patron. Ostensibly, readers can take in the book, published in 1933, as Stein writing about Alice B. Toklas (which is what
Autobiography My name is Asia Octavia Raheem. I have two daughters, Amanee and Amanda, ages fifteen years and thirteen years. I was born on October 10, 1971 in Monroe, Louisiana. When I was four years old, my family, which included three brothers and one sister, moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where I still live today, as well as the majority of my immediate family. Most of my friends are now are in
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now