Memoirs

1. Memoirs French for “memory”

2. Memoir characteristics 1) Nonfiction – true, significant events (positive or negative) 2) Told in 1st person – I, me, my, our, we Why? It’s autobiographical! 3) Focuses on a brief “snapshot” of memory (NOT someone’s whole entire life story)

3. Memoir characteristics cont’d… 4) Leaves the reader with a single, dominant/main impression HOW? • Using vivid imagery: Imagery – descriptive language appealing to the senses. bad ex= It was cold outside. good ex= The wind was a cold blade of ice against his cheek. • Shows, not tells, about the topic: bad ex = I was sad. good ex = A heavy weight sat on my chest and eye lids, weighing my heart and closing my flooded eyes.  makes the reader feel as if he/she is in the memory, too

4. Memoir characteristics cont’d… • OBJECTIVE details: • Concrete facts • Easily observed by anyone • Scientific, exact EX: Green and white lichen covers the cracked, irregular boulders. • SUBJECTIVE details: • Personal opinions • Reveal feelings • Similes, metaphors, and personification is often used • EX: Tall boulders, covered in lichen, stand like forgotten monuments, lonely and ancient.

5. Memoir characteristics cont’d… 5) Answers the question, “So what?” • Why is the memory important enough to tell? • The memory might NOT be so important in and of itself, but NOW you know (after reading – and gaining hindsight) why it was so important. Example: An author tells a story about eating ice cream with his grandfather… So what? We find out at the end that this was the last time the author saw his grandfather alive, or a time he gave the author sage advise.