What is the Difference Between Autobiography and Biography?

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The main difference between an autobiography and a biography lies in the authorship and point of view. Here are the key distinctions between the two:

  • Authorship: An autobiography is written by the person whose life story is being told, while a biography is written by someone else about the subject's life.
  • Point of View: Autobiographies are usually written in the first person (I, me, my), as the author is recounting their own experiences. Biographies, on the other hand, are typically written in the third person (he, him, his; she, her, hers), as the author is narrating someone else's experiences.
  • Perspective: Autobiographies tend to be more subjective, as they are written by the subject themselves. Biographies, on the other hand, aim to provide an objective account of the person's life, drawing from various sources and research.
  • Authorized vs. Unauthorized: Biographies can be authorized (written with permission from the subject) or unauthorized (written without permission). Autobiographies do not require authorization, as they are self-written.

Both autobiographies and biographies are non-fiction works that provide an account of a person's life, often focusing on notable individuals such as celebrities, athletes, business leaders, and political leaders.

Comparative Table: Autobiography vs Biography

Here is a table highlighting the differences between autobiography and biography:

Feature Autobiography Biography
Authorship Written by the subject of the story Written by someone other than the subject of the story
Perspective First-person account Third-person account
Subjectivity More subjective, as it is written by the person who experienced the events More objective, as it is written by someone who has researched the subject's life
Focus Covers the overall story of the author's life, following a timeline through the person's formative years until the time the book is published Focuses on specific events or aspects of a person's life rather than telling the full story
Tone Formal, fact-based writing style More casual, emotive tone
Purpose To portray the life experiences and achievements of the author To give an account of a person's life

An autobiography is a story of a person's life written by that person, and it typically follows a timeline from the author's early life to their later years. In contrast, a biography is a story of a person's life written by someone other than the subject, and it tends to focus on specific events or aspects of the person's life rather than the entire life story. Autobiographies are usually more subjective and written in the first person, while biographies tend to be more objective and written in the third person.