Features of a biography and autobiography differences
Biographies and autobiographies
Watch: What are autobiographies and biographies?
Biographies and autobiographies are both types of non-fiction stories about someone’s life.
They are both based in fact but there are some key differences between them.
Watch this video in which teacher Mr McPartlin explains the differences. Listen carefully and join in with the activities.
Similarities and differences
Time for a recap on those similarities and differences!
Both biographies and autobiographies:
tell the story of someone’s life
are written in the past tense
follow chronological order (the order in which things actually happened)
are non-fiction
| Biography | Autobiography |
|---|---|
| Written by a person about someone else’s life. | Written by a person about their own life. |
| Written in third person (//) | Written in first person () |
To see some examples, watch the first minute of each of these clips.
The first clip is written as a biography of activist Rosa Parks and the second clip is written as if it were an autobiography. Can you spot the differences?
Watch: Rosa Parks biography example
We use buses every day to go to school or into town. It's not unusual, but this story is about a bus journey that changed millions of lives.
Let's go to America, in 1955, to Montgomery in the southern state of Alabama.
There, when a woman called Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, a bus journey became very important.
Rosa's refusal was a protest about racism against black people. Racism is when someone thinks you’re not as good as them because the colour of your skin or your race is different to theirs, so they treat you differently.
At that time, southern states in America, had something called ‘segregation’. This meant people of different skin colours had different schools, restaurants, even toilets.
Segregation happened on buses too.
One day, Rosa was in a seat for black Biography and autobiography are both forms of written accounts that depict the life and experiences of individuals. However, there are key differences between the two: Perspective: The most fundamental difference between biography and autobiography lies in the perspective from which the narrative is written. A biography is written by an author who is not the subject of the story, whereas an autobiography is written by the individual themselves, narrating their own life. Authorship: In a biography, the author conducts research, gathers information, and writes about the life of another person. The author may interview the subject, consult historical records, and collect other sources to compile a comprehensive account. On the other hand, in an autobiography, the author is the subject, writing about their own life experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Objectivity: Biographies are typically written with an objective viewpoint, aiming to provide a balanced and unbiased account of the subject's life. The author attempts to present a comprehensive and accurate portrayal based on research and multiple sources. In contrast, autobiographies offer a subjective viewpoint, as the author narrates their own experiences, memories, and emotions, which may be influenced by their personal perspective. Scope: Biographies often cover the entirety of a person's life, from birth to death, or from significant milestones to major achievements. They may also delve into the subject's background, upbringing, and the broader historical or social context. Autobiographies tend to focus on the author's own life, providing more in-depth insights into their personal experiences, relationships, and reflections. Narrative style: Biographies are typically written in the third person, using names or pronouns to refer to the subject. The author maintains a level of detachment and objectivity. In contrast, autobiographies are written in the first person, with the author directly Do you ever get confused when trying to differentiate between an autobiography, biography, and memoir? If so, you’re not alone—these three genres are often used interchangeably, but each one actually requires its own unique approach. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the differences of each type and provide some handy tips on how best to write them all! Three genres that often get jumbled together are autobiography, biography, and memoir. While they may seem similar at first glance, each genre has its own unique characteristics. An autobiography, for example, is a first-person account of someone’s life, typically written by the subject themselves. A biography, by contrast, is a third-person account of someone’s life, written by someone else. And a memoir is a focused, often thematic account of a particular period or experience in someone’s life. Knowing the distinctions between these genres can help you decide which approach is best for telling your own story or for crafting a compelling biography or memoir. Autobiography, biography, and memoir are often confused with each other. An autobiography is a book written by the author about their own life experiences. In contrast, a biography is a book written by someone else about another person’s life experiences. Finally, a memoir is a book written about a specific time or event in the author’s life. These three genres require different approaches to writing and reading. Autobiographies are generally more personal, while biographies generally intend to provide a more objective view of a person’s life. Memoirs allow for a deeper exploration of a specific period of time or event. Writing an autobiography can serve as a time capsule for one’s life exp Biography vs autobiography — two genres that share similarities yet have distinct differences in their approach to portraying the lives of individuals. A biography is a written account of a person’s life, highlighting key events, experiences and achievements. It typically provides a chronological narrative, offering insights into the individual’s character, contributions and the context of their life. In contrast, an autobiography is a written account of a person’s own life written by that individual. Unlike a biography, an autobiography is a first-hand narrative where the subject reflects on their own experiences, memories and perspectives. Overall, biographies aim to provide readers with an informative and engaging portrait of a person’s life, contributing to a better understanding of historical figures, influential personalities or individuals who have significantly impacted society. The key characteristics of a biography as a genre include:Introducing the different genres of writing—autobiography, biography, and memoir
Understanding the differences between autobiography, biography and memoir
Exploring the benefits of writing an autobiography
Biography: Key characteristics