(TUL) Lesson Topic 1: Beginning Biographies

Biographies represent a subgenre of nonfiction in literature. A biography is the story of someone's life written by another person. You might write a story about a member of your family, and that would be a biography. Also, you might read a story about your favorite writer, singer, or artist—these would all be considered biographies if other people write the information.

For example, Frederick Douglass was a very important American slave in history. Read the excerpt below from one of many autobiographies of Frederick Douglass. As you read, take notes on how the author presents the information of a biography. Also, note how the themes in Douglass's life connect to the themes of The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963.

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, who later became known as Frederick Douglass, was born a slave in Talbot County, Maryland, between Hillsboro and Cardova, probably in his grandmother's shack east of Tappers Corner and west of Tuckahoe Creek. The exact date of Douglass's birth is unknown. He chose to celebrate it on February 14. The exact year is also unknown (on the first page of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, he stated, "I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it.") He spoke of his earliest times with his mother:

"The opinion was ... whispered that my master was my father; but of the correctness of this opinion I know nothing... My mother and I were separated when I was but an infant... It [was] common custom, in the part of Maryland from which I ran away, to part children from their mothers at a very early age."

"I do not recollect ever seeing my mother by the light of day. ... She would lie down with me, and get me to sleep, but long before I waked she was gone."

After this separation, he lived with his maternal grandmother, Betty Bailey. His mother died when Douglass was about 10. At age seven, Douglass was separated from his grandmother and moved to the Wye House plantation, where Aaron Anthony worked as overseer. When Anthony died, Douglass was given to Lucretia Auld, wife of Thomas Auld. She sent Douglass to serve Thomas's brother Hugh Auld in Baltimore.

Writing a Biography

Notice how the author presents the facts regarding Frederick Douglass's life. Nonfiction focuses on a more realistic version of facts, whereas a fictional account of Douglass's life might not include complete truths.

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION