Unit 3 The Truth and The Glass Castle

Memoir vs. Autobiography: Whats the Difference?

Writer Gore Vidal said: "A memoir is how one remembers one's own life, while an autobiography is history, requiring research, dates, facts
double-checked."

Memoir
1.

less formal

2.

A memoir provides a much more specific timeline and a much more

intimate relationship to the writer's own memories, feelings and
emotions.

3.

More concerned with emotional truth toward a particular section of

ones life and how it makes you feel now. Less focused on facts, more
on emotion.

4.

written by the subject

Autobiography
1.

written by the main character or at least drafted with a

collaborative writer

2.

made up of detailed chronology, events, places, reactions,

movements and any other relevant information that inhabited the
life of the subject

3.

focused on facts - fact, above all else, is its foundation

4.

a chronological telling of one's experience, which should include

phases such as childhood, adolescence, adulthood

Using the above notes, what are some influences that impact Jeannette Walls telling of what she perceives as the truth about her
childhood? Be sure to cite key words from the notes to enhance your response.

I think that the influences that impact Jeannette Walls telling of what she perceives as the truth about her childhood are the
following:
She is more concerned with emotional truth toward a particular section of her life and her emotions toward it now. 3
Because the writing is more focused on emotions and not facts, is created with the reader, making it easy for them to
connect with Jeannette.
Another influence is that is written by the subject of the story4, and so this makes the reader believe that it is the truth.

Think about the most potent memories in your life so fardo you remember every detail, or just impressions and feelings?
If you were to transform those memories into a written story, how would you do it?
How would you make your story true to who you are, while at the same time engaging to readers?

I am thinking to the most potent memories in my life so far and I remember some details and feelings that help me to
reconstruct the memory.
If I was to transform those memories into a written story I would describe the environment, the people that were with me and
their vibes, what I was thinking and how I was feeling, what I would like to act and how I acted and how this made me feel.
To make my story true to who I am, while at the same time engaging to readers, I would write it in first person, I would
describe how I was feeling and with which people I was, citing real people and people that could be with me for real.