Exploring vivid childhood accounts
I can explore what makes a memoir particularly vivid and emulate this craft in my own writing.
Exploring vivid childhood accounts
I can explore what makes a memoir particularly vivid and emulate this craft in my own writing.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Memoirs are historical accounts or biographies written from personal experience or knowledge.
- Helen Keller's memoir describes an idyllic childhood juxtaposed with description of the illness that changed her life.
- Keller uses sensory language and juxtaposition to make her childhood account more vivid.
- Sensory language can be made more vivid if we add adjectives and embedded clauses.
- Contrasting sets of words and phrases highlight the differing feelings attached to memories.
Common misconception
Students might be used to writing their memories as a stream of consciousness, without stopping to consider craft.
Writing memories as a stream of consciousness is a good place to start. However, once one thinks about publishing work, editing and conscious crafting is necessary.
Keywords
Memoir - a written account of one's own life and experiences
Formative - having a profound influence on someone's development
Vivid - producing a powerful feeling or strong, clear images in one’s mind
Idyllic - extremely happy, peaceful or picturesque
Equipment
You will need the extract from Helen Keller's 'The Story of My Life'. It's available in the additional materials.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
The sturdy vines tangled over the brick.
The bright days of summer soon melted into cruel, harsh November days.
The scarlet roses unleashed a honeyed fragrance.