Difference between revisions of "Autobiography"
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==Origin== | ==Origin== | ||
From the [[Greek]], αὐτός-''autos'' [[self]] + βίος-''bios'' [[life]] + γράφειν-''graphein'' to [[write]]) | From the [[Greek]], αὐτός-''autos'' [[self]] + βίος-''bios'' [[life]] + γράφειν-''graphein'' to [[write]]) | ||
| − | The [[word]] ''autobiography'' was first used deprecatingly by [ | + | The [[word]] ''autobiography'' was first used deprecatingly by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Taylor_(scholar) William Taylor] in 1797 in the English periodical the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monthly_Review_(London) ''Monthly Review''], when he suggested the word as a [[hybrid]] but [[condemned]] it as 'pedantic'; but its next recorded use was in its present sense by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Southey Robert Southey] in 1809. The form of autobiography however goes back to [[antiquity]]. Biographers generally rely on a wide variety of documents and viewpoints; an autobiography, however, may be based entirely on the [[writer]]'s [[memory]]. Closely associated with autobiography (and sometimes difficult to precisely distinguish from it) is the form of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memoir memoir]. |
| − | *[ | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 1771] |
==Definitions== | ==Definitions== | ||
*1: the [[biography]] of a person narrated by himself or herself | *1: the [[biography]] of a person narrated by himself or herself | ||
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Autobiographical works are by nature [[subjective]]. The inability—or unwillingness—of the [[author]] to accurately recall [[memories]] has in certain cases resulted in misleading or incorrect [[information]]. Some [[sociologists]] and [[psychologists]] have noted that autobiography offers the author the [[ability]] to recreate [[history]]. | Autobiographical works are by nature [[subjective]]. The inability—or unwillingness—of the [[author]] to accurately recall [[memories]] has in certain cases resulted in misleading or incorrect [[information]]. Some [[sociologists]] and [[psychologists]] have noted that autobiography offers the author the [[ability]] to recreate [[history]]. | ||
| − | [[Spiritual]] '''autobiography''' is an account of an [[author]]'s struggle or [[journey]] towards [[God]], followed by [[conversion]] a religious conversion, often interrupted by moments of [[regression]]. The author re-frames his or her life as a [[demonstration]] of divine [[intention]] through encounters with the [[Divine]]. The earliest example of a spiritual autobiography is Augustine's "[ | + | [[Spiritual]] '''autobiography''' is an account of an [[author]]'s struggle or [[journey]] towards [[God]], followed by [[conversion]] a religious conversion, often interrupted by moments of [[regression]]. The author re-frames his or her life as a [[demonstration]] of divine [[intention]] through encounters with the [[Divine]]. The earliest example of a spiritual autobiography is Augustine's "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions Confessions]" though the [[tradition]] has expanded to include other religious [[traditions]] in works such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohandas_Gandhi Mohandas Gandhi]'s "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Autobiography An Autobiography]" and "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Elk_Speaks Black Elk Speaks]". The spiritual autobiography works as an endorsement of his or her [[religion]]. |
| − | The term "fictional autobiography" signifies [[novels]] about a fictional character written as though the character were [[writing]] their own autobiography, meaning that the character is the first-person narrator and that the novel addresses both internal and external [[experiences]] of the character. [ | + | The term "fictional autobiography" signifies [[novels]] about a fictional character written as though the character were [[writing]] their own autobiography, meaning that the character is the first-person narrator and that the novel addresses both internal and external [[experiences]] of the character. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Defoe Daniel Defoe]'s ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moll_Flanders Moll Flanders]'' is an early example. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens Charles Dickens]' ''https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Copperfield_(novel) David Copperfield]'' is another such classic, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.D._Salinger J.D. Salinger]'s ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye The Catcher in the Rye]'' is a well-known modern example of fictional autobiography. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Bront%C3%AB Charlotte Brontë]'s ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre Jane Eyre]'' is yet another example of fictional autobiography, as noted on the front page of the original version. The term may also apply to works of [[fiction]] purporting to be autobiographies of real characters, e.g., [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Nye Robert Nye]'s Memoirs of ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Byron Lord Byron]''.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobiography] |
[[Category: Languages and Literature]] | [[Category: Languages and Literature]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:43, 12 December 2020
Origin
From the Greek, αὐτός-autos self + βίος-bios life + γράφειν-graphein to write) The word autobiography was first used deprecatingly by William Taylor in 1797 in the English periodical the Monthly Review, when he suggested the word as a hybrid but condemned it as 'pedantic'; but its next recorded use was in its present sense by Robert Southey in 1809. The form of autobiography however goes back to antiquity. Biographers generally rely on a wide variety of documents and viewpoints; an autobiography, however, may be based entirely on the writer's memory. Closely associated with autobiography (and sometimes difficult to precisely distinguish from it) is the form of memoir.
Definitions
- 1: the biography of a person narrated by himself or herself
Description
Autobiographical works are by nature subjective. The inability—or unwillingness—of the author to accurately recall memories has in certain cases resulted in misleading or incorrect information. Some sociologists and psychologists have noted that autobiography offers the author the ability to recreate history.
Spiritual autobiography is an account of an author's struggle or journey towards God, followed by conversion a religious conversion, often interrupted by moments of regression. The author re-frames his or her life as a demonstration of divine intention through encounters with the Divine. The earliest example of a spiritual autobiography is Augustine's "Confessions" though the tradition has expanded to include other religious traditions in works such as Mohandas Gandhi's "An Autobiography" and "Black Elk Speaks". The spiritual autobiography works as an endorsement of his or her religion.
The term "fictional autobiography" signifies novels about a fictional character written as though the character were writing their own autobiography, meaning that the character is the first-person narrator and that the novel addresses both internal and external experiences of the character. Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders is an early example. Charles Dickens' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Copperfield_(novel) David Copperfield] is another such classic, and J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is a well-known modern example of fictional autobiography. Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre is yet another example of fictional autobiography, as noted on the front page of the original version. The term may also apply to works of fiction purporting to be autobiographies of real characters, e.g., Robert Nye's Memoirs of Lord Byron.[1]
