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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Memoir and Biography?

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The main differences between memoir and biography are:

  1. Authorship: A memoir is written by the person whose life story is being told, while a biography is written by someone else about the life of another person.
  2. Perspective: Memoirs focus on the author's personal experiences, emotions, and reflections, often exploring a particular period or theme in their life. Biographies, on the other hand, provide an objective account of a person's life, including factual information about key events, birthplace, education, work, and relationships.
  3. Emotional Connection: Memoirs usually focus on establishing an emotional connection with the reader, while biographies are more concerned with presenting facts about the subject's life.
  4. Coverage: Biographies typically cover the subject's entire life up to the present, while memoirs often focus on a specific period or experience.

In summary, a memoir is a personal account of the author's life, focusing on emotions and reflections, while a biography is an objective, comprehensive account of another person's life, written by someone else.

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  • What is the Difference Between Memoir and Biography?
  • Comparative Table: Memoir vs Biography

    • Comparative Table: Memoir vs Biography

    Here is a table comparing the differences between memoir and biography:

    Feature Memoir Biography
    Definition A memoir is a collection of memories written by the person themselves, focusing on reflection and establishing an emotional connection. A biography is an account of a person's life written by someone other than the subject, based on facts from different sources.
    Perspective First-person, as the author is the main character. Third-person, as the author is writing about someone else.
    Focus Emotions, thoughts, and personal experiences. Full contextual information, which reads like a novel but is non-fiction.
    Examples "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank. "The Life of Benjamin Franklin" by J. A. Leo Lemay.

    In summary, a memoir is a personal narrative written by the subject, focusing on emotions, thoughts, and personal experiences. On the other hand, a biography is an account of a person's life written by someone else, based on facts and full contextual information.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.