LITERARY FOCUS

Autobiography and Biography

How do writers choose which details to include

when they write about a real person?

Autobiography
An autobiography is the story of a person’s life
written by that person. Usually it is written in the
first-person point of view. Most autobiographies
are organized chronologically and reveal the events
and ideas that shaped the writer’s life.
Birth Childhood School years
Young adulthood Adulthood
In this excerpt from her autobiography The Story
of My Life, Helen Keller tells how she, a blind and
deaf child, began to realize what words mean.
Because Helen did not understand the difference
between “mug” and “water,” her teacher created
an experience to help Helen understand the
word water.
Someone was drawing water and my teacher
placed my hand under the spout. As the cool
stream gushed over one hand she spelled into
the other the word water, first slowly, then rapidly.
I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the
motions of her fingers. Suddenly I felt a misty
consciousness as of something forgotten—a thrill
of returning thought; and somehow the mystery
of language was revealed to me. I knew then that
“w-a-t-e-r” meant the wonderful cool something
that was flowing over my hand. That living
word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope,
joy, set it free!
—Helen Keller, from The Story of My Life

30 8 UNIT 2 NONFICTION
Memoir Like an autobiography, a memoir is a
first-person account of a person’s life written
by that person. The chief difference between the
two is that an autobiography is a more complete
summation of a person’s life. A memoir focuses
on one period or significant episode in a per-
son’s life. For example, James Herriot has
written a series of memoirs describing his life
as a veterinarian.
The silvery haired old gentleman with the pleasant
face didn’t look the type to be easily upset, but
his eyes glared at me angrily, and his lips quivered
with indignation.
“Mr. Herriot,” he said. I have come to make a
complaint. I strongly object to your callousness in
subjecting my dog to unnecessary suffering.”
“Suffering?” What suffering?” I was mystified.
“I think you know, Mr. Herriot. I brought my dog
in a few days ago. He was very lame, and I am
referring to your treatment on that occasion.”
— James Herriot, from “A Case of Cruelty”
The Seaside, 1895–1905. Francois Flameng.
OB J EC TIVES
•Understand characteristics of autobiography, biography,
and memoir.
•Recognize author’s purpose.
Biography
A biography is the account of a person’s life
written by someone other than that person.
Unlike an autobiographer—who can write mostly
from memory—biographers consult a variety
of sources when gathering information about the
subject. Most biographies are organized chrono-
logically, and many reflect the attitude the author
has toward his or her subject. Biographies can
vary in length, from brief encyclopedia entries
to works that span several volumes.
In his book Good Brother, Bad Brother, James
Cross Giblin presents a biography about Edwin
Booth, the brother of the man who assassinated
Abraham Lincoln. In order to gather information
for the biography, Giblin read documents such
as newspaper articles and personal letters to and
from Edwin Booth.
That night Edwin, who was staying at a friend’s
house in Boston, had trouble getting to sleep. But
he still had no intimation of the shock that was in
store for him the next morning. Without knocking
first, his valet burst into his bedroom shortly after
seven. Thrusting a newspaper in front of a dazed
Edwin, the man exclaimed, “Mr. Booth, President
Lincoln has been shot!” Before Edwin could absorb
that terrible fact, the valet went on: “And—oh, Mr.
Booth—they say your brother John has done it!”
—James Cross Giblin, from “A Brother’s Crime”
Quickwrite
Writing a Title Think of a famous person you find
interesting. If you were to write a biography about
the person, what title would you use? Write your title
and then explain your choice.
• Describe and evaluate personal preferences regarding
nonfiction.
LITERARY FOCUS 309
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