Here's a breakdown:
* Autobiography: A comprehensive account of a person's entire life, covering all major events and influences. It aims to present a complete and objective picture of the author's life.
* Memoir: A more personal and selective account focusing on a specific period, theme, or event in the author's life. It emphasizes the author's subjective experience and emotional impact of those events.
Think of it like this:
* Autobiography: The whole story of your life, from birth to present day.
* Memoir: A chapter from your life that holds particular meaning or significance.
Example:
* Autobiography: "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" covers Franklin's entire life, from his humble beginnings to his accomplishments as a scientist, inventor, and politician.
* Memoir: "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt focuses specifically on McCourt's childhood in Ireland during the 1930s and 40s.
Key differences:
* Scope: Autobiographies are broader, memoirs are more focused.
* Objective vs. Subjective: Autobiographies aim for objectivity, memoirs embrace the author's subjective experiences.
* Length: Autobiographies tend to be longer, memoirs are often shorter.
In short, a memoir is a slice of life, while an autobiography is the whole pie.