Friday, February 14, 2014

memoir versus personal essay

I found this clarification useful, from Purdue University's writing page:

Difference Between the Personal Essay and the Memoir
While the personal essay can be about almost anything, the memoir tends to discuss past events. Memoir is similar to the personal essay, except that the memoir tends to focus more on striking or life-changing events. The personal essay can be a relatively light reflection about what’s going on in your life right now.
Where the personal essay explores, free from any need to interpret, the memoir interprets, analyzes, and seeks the deeper meaning beneath the surface experience of particular events. The memoir continually asks the following questions:
  • Why was this event of particular significance?
  • What did it mean?
  • Why is it important?