Guiding Questions:

How have I become the person I am today?

How do life events shape us and make us who we are?

An Autobiography

What is an autobiography?• True story of a person's life

• Written by that same person

• Reveal the effects of certain events on their lives

• Elements:

well-developed characters Lots of details Chronological order of events (or

not) First-person point of view (intimate) Purpose/theme/message

AutobiographiesHave you read one?Who was it about?Why did you read it?What makes us so interested?

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

• Events from life of Albert Spirit (Junior)

• 14 year old boy who’s growing up

• Some elements from Sherman Alexie’s real life

• Semi-autobiographical

Bildungsroman

What the heck is that?

Bildungsroman:• Type of autobiography

• German word bildung: to shape, to form

• French word roman: novel

• Novel of formation, novel of education

• Coming-of-age story

Bildungsroman or Coming-of-age Stories

• Protagonist's journey from childhood or adolescence to adulthood

• Grows from boy to man or girl to woman

• Focuses on development of their mind and personality

• Tells us experiences/events that they go through which lead to this transition (growth)

More about Bildungsroman...• Reason that protagonist goes

on journey (loss, discontent)

• Shifts away from home or family setting

• Process of maturing is long, difficult, and slow

• Many conflicts arise between character and world around him/her

• Overcomes struggles - grows, changes, and reaches maturity

• Ends on positive note: recognizes identity & role in the world

Examples• Books: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, The

Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton,The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Harry Potter by J.K Rowling, Twilight by Stephanie Meyers

More Examples• Movies: The Matrix, Star Wars, Good Will

Hunting, The Breakfast Club, Almost Famous, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, 13 Going on 30, Juno,

• TV Shows: Boy Meets World, That 70’s Show, Freaks & Geeks, Degrassi, The OC,

• Others?

What is a Bildungsroman

?5 minute writing exercise.

YOUR TASK• Writing

autobiography/bildungsroman/coming-of-age story

• How you developed as a person (grown up & matured)

• Elements: Beginning 3 events You now Theme

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

READING TIME

Getting Started on Your Story