Characteristics of Memoir Memoir Unit Essential Questions: What are the characteristics that define a memoir? What are the qualities of a “good” memoir? How is memoir an important literary genre?

Memoir = Memory The word memoir comes from the French memoire and the Latin memoria meaning “memory” It is a description or explanation of a past event in the author’s life It is based on what the author recalls about the event

Memoir Point of View Author’s thoughts Author’s feelings First person Told from one person’s, the author’s, point of view Reflects only the author’s thoughts and feelings on the topic

Non-fiction Genre Non-fiction Based on real events, from memory Some authors may change specific details of the setting or names to protect people

Plot Problems or conflicts Instigating event Result of event Focused on one particular point/event in author’s life There may be many smaller events, but the focus is on one major issue, problem, conflict

Plot Memoir Events Reflection Destination Journey Event Experience Events are centered more around author’s experience than the event Plot is more about the journey than the destination

Mood and Tone Tone Mood Tone = author’s attitude toward a subject Mood= how the reader feels when reading the writing; emotion evoked by the author

Mood and Tone Is emotional Includes writer’s feelings about the event They may directly or indirectly conveyed ; the author may choose to “show” you or “tell you how he/she feels

Theme The theme is meaningful to both the author and reader Demonstrates a lesson the author learned or some realization he/ she made about his/her own life