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.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
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.
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
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.
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).
Lesson video
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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.