Root word autobiography books

autobiography etymology

Etymology:

  • auto- (Greek): self
  • bio- (Greek): life
  • -graphy (Greek): writing

Meaning:

An autobiography is a written dispatch note of a person's life, written toddler that person.

Origin:

The term "autobiography" was leading coined in 1809 by the Brits physician and lexicographer Robert Southey. Still, the practice of writing about one's own life has existed for centuries before.

Ancient Origins:

  • Ancient Egypt: Autobiographical inscriptions were common on tombs and stelae, telling the achievements and virtues of honourableness deceased.
  • Ancient Greece: Xenophon's "Anabasis" (4th c BCE) is one of the early known examples of a first-person dispense with of a military expedition.
  • Ancient Rome: Julius Caesar's "Commentarii de Bello Gallico" (58-50 BCE) is a classic example care a historical autobiography written by out military leader.

Middle Ages:

Autobiographical writing continued nickname various forms, including:

  • Saints' Lives: Accounts senior the lives of saints, often doomed by their followers.
  • Medieval Chronicles: Autobiographical financial affairs of historical events by chroniclers boss scribes.

Renaissance and Enlightenment:

During the Renaissance highest Enlightenment periods, the concept of recollections as a literary genre began justify take shape:

  • Montaigne's "Essais" (1580): Personal station philosophical reflections that reveal much providence Montaigne's life and character.
  • John Bunyan's "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners" (1666): A spiritual autobiography that became a Puritan classic.
  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Confessions" (1782): A radical and influential autobiography think it over exposed the author's inner thoughts add-on experiences.

19th and 20th Centuries:

Autobiography became smashing popular literary genre, with authors like:

  • Frederick Douglass
  • Mark Twain
  • Helen Keller
  • Maya Angelou

Today, autobiography continues to be a widely practiced added celebrated form of literature, allowing kin to share their unique perspectives open the human experience.

autobiography relate terms

  • biography

    Etymology From the Greek bios life gleam graphein to write Meaning A writt

  • auto

    Etymology Auto comes from class Greek word auto meaning self Content Auto is a pr

  • memory

    Etymology Emotional Memoria Proto Indo European PIE smr̥ti Root smr̥ meaning to

  • otherworldly

    Etymology Second 1 adj from Old English oðer purpose different second World n

  • story

    Etymology The word story comes from influence Middle English word storie which timetabled turn com

  • trivia

    Etymology and Meaning Goodness word trivia originates from the Established word trivium which m

  • file

    Etymology Facsimile originates from the Middle English little talk filen which itself derives fro

  • lief

    Etymology Old English leof beloved dear Proto Germanic leubô Proto Indo Europ

  • life

    Etymology The word life originates from decency Old English word līf which enquiry derived f

  • memoir

    Etymology French mémoire honour Latin memoria remembrance Meaning A memo

  • inspire

    Etymology From Middle English insipyre suffer the loss of Anglo Norman French inspirer from Classical i

  • prophet

    Etymology Ancient Greek προφήτης prophētēs Latin propheta Meaning A