Self biography define autobiography

Here are the seven steps to writing a perfect autobiography:. Writing an autobiography is a profound way to reflect on your life and share your unique story with others. If you take the step to start writing your life story, the process can be deeply rewarding. What is an Autobiography? Example of an Autobiography Types of Autobiographies 1. Traditional Autobiography 2.

Memoir 3. Autobiographical Novel 4. Charles Dickens ' David Copperfield is another such classic, and J. Salinger 's The Catcher in the Rye is a well-known modern example of fictional autobiography. The term may also apply to works of fiction purporting to be autobiographies of real characters, e. In antiquity such works were typically entitled apologiapurporting to be self-justification rather than self-documentation.

The historian Flavius Josephus introduces his autobiography Josephi Vita c. The rhetor Libanius c. Augustine of Hippo — applied the title Confessions to his autobiographical work, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau used the same title in the 18th century, initiating the chain of confessional and sometimes racy and highly self-critical autobiographies of the Romantic era and beyond.

Augustine's was arguably the first Western autobiography ever written, and became an influential model for Christian writers throughout the Middle Ages. It tells of the hedonistic lifestyle Augustine lived for a time within his youth, associating with young men who boasted of their sexual exploits; his following and leaving of the anti-sex and anti-marriage Manichaeism in attempts to seek sexual morality; and his subsequent return to Christianity due to his embracement of Skepticism and the New Academy movement developing the view that sex is good, and that virginity is better, comparing the former to silver and the latter to gold; Augustine's views subsequently strongly influenced Western theology [ 5 ].

Self biography define autobiography

Confessions is considered one of the great masterpieces of western literature. Peter Abelard 's 12th-century Historia Calamitatum is in the spirit of Augustine's Confessionsan self biography define autobiography autobiographical document of its period. One of the first great autobiographies of the Renaissance is that of the sculptor and goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini —written between andand entitled by him simply Vita Italian : Life.

He declares at the start: "No matter what sort he is, everyone who has to his credit what are or really seem great achievements, if he cares for truth and goodness, ought to write the story of his own life in his own hand; but no one should venture on such a splendid undertaking before he is over forty. Another autobiography of the period is De vita propriaby the Italian mathematician, physician and astrologer Gerolamo Cardano In his autobiography, he describes his transition from an unruly youth, to a religious realization by the time the work was composed.

The earliest known autobiography written in English is the Book of Margery Kempewritten in Extracts from the book were published in the early sixteenth century but the whole text was published for the first time only in Possibly the first publicly available autobiography written in English was Captain John Smith's autobiography published in [ 12 ] which was regarded by many as not much more than a collection of tall tales told by someone of doubtful veracity.

This changed with the publication of Philip Barbour's definitive biography in which, amongst other things, established independent factual bases for many of Smith's "tall tales", many of which could not have been known by Smith at the time of writing unless he was actually present at the events recounted. Jarena Lee — was the first African American woman to have a published biography in the United States.

Following the trend of Romanticismwhich greatly emphasized the role and the nature of the individual, and in the footsteps of Jean-Jacques Rousseau 's Confessionsa more intimate form of autobiography, exploring the subject's emotions, came into fashion. Stendhal 's autobiographical writings of the s, The Life of Henry Brulard and Memoirs of an Egotistare both avowedly influenced by Rousseau.

Discuss how autobiographies can incorporate elements of historical context and its significance in understanding the author's experiences. Autobiographies often weave in historical context that shapes the author's experiences, helping readers understand how societal events influenced their life decisions and outlook. For example, an author might describe how living through significant events like war or civil rights movements impacted their beliefs and choices.

Evaluate the impact autobiographies can have on readers' perceptions of identity and personal narrative within different cultural contexts. Autobiographies can profoundly affect readers by providing diverse perspectives on identity formation and personal narratives across various cultural backgrounds. They allow readers to empathize with experiences that may differ from their own and challenge preconceived notions about culture and identity.

By sharing personal stories rooted in specific historical or social contexts, autobiographies contribute to broader conversations about race, gender, class, and other factors shaping individual lives. This understanding encourages readers to reflect on their own narratives while appreciating the richness of others' lived experiences. In an autobiography, the author attempts to capture important elements of his life.

He not only deals with his career, and growth as a person, he also uses emotions and facts related to family life, relationships, education, travels, sexuality, and any types of inner struggles. In fact, it is the telling of a story or an event from his life; an account that does not tell the full record of a life. Autobiography is a significant genre in literature.

Its significance or importance lies in authenticity, veracity, and personal testimonies.