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 b
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.
Biography: Key characteristics
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:
- Chronological account: Biographies typically present a chronological narrative of the subject’s life, organising events and experiences in the order in which they occurred.
- Factual information:
Autobiography vs Biography: Differences and Similarities
So you want to learn more about your favorite influential figure. Should you read an autobiography or a biography about them?
It depends on what you’re looking for!
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In this guide, we’ll explain autobiography vs biography and help you choose which one you want to read. We’ll also touch on where memoirs fit in with these genres. Let’s dive in!
The similarities between biographies and autobiographies
Both biographies and autobiographies are written accounts of a person’s life. They typically recount the person’s life experiences, challenges, and accomplishments.
Usually, each of these genres is written in a narrative style. In other words, it uses storytelling techniques to convey information about its subject.
Autobiographies and biographies both feature context about the subject’s life by discussing the time in which the subject lived (or is living), the culture and location in which they live(d), and more.
Like any good story, the best biographies and autobiographies often
Difference between Biography and Autobiography
The two traditional forms of literature that describe the character sketch and course of the life of a person are biography and autobiography. Biography is the life history of an individual, written by someone else, whereas the autobiography is an expression of a person&#;s life, written by self.
Both of these two presents the view of, what happened in the past where the author lived. These are non-fiction books, written in chronological order, tells a story about the person who made a significant contribution in a specific field. Many think that the two writing forms are one and the same thing, but there are noticeable difference between the two, that are presented in the given article.
Content: Biography Vs Autobiography
- Comparison Chart
- Definition
- Key Differences
- Video
- Conclusion
Comparison Chart
Basis for Comparison Biography Autobiography Meaning Biography refers to an account that tells someone else's life story. Autobiography means an account that tells your life story. Authorization Can be written, with or without the authorization of the subject. Not required Written in Third person First
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