EnglishNEB 2076 (old course)
a) What is an autobiography? Write any four characteristics of an autobiography. [2] b) Write an autobiography of a famous personality you admire. [3]
5Answer
a) Autobiography and its Characteristics
Autobiography is a self-written account of a person’s life, written by the person themselves. It typically covers significant events, experiences, struggles, achievements, and personal reflections from birth to the present or a specific period.
Four Characteristics of an Autobiography:
First-Person Narration
- Written in the first person (using "I," "me," "my") to provide a personal perspective.
- Example: "I was born in a small village..."
Chronological Order (Mostly)
- Events are usually arranged in the sequence they occurred, though some autobiographies may use flashbacks or thematic organization.
- Example: Childhood → Education → Career → Challenges → Achievements.
Focus on Personal Experiences
- Highlights the author’s emotions, struggles, triumphs, and life lessons rather than just facts.
- Example: "The day I failed my first exam taught me resilience."
Subjective and Honest
- Reflects the author’s true feelings, biases, and interpretations (not purely objective like a biography).
- Example: "I felt betrayed when..." (instead of neutral reporting).
b) Autobiography of Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
I, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, was born on **July 18, 1918**, in the small village of Mvezo, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. My name, Rolihlahla, means ‘troublemaker’ in Xhosa—a name that would later define my rebellious spirit against apartheid, the racist system that oppressed my people. Raised in a royal family, I was taught the values of courage, wisdom, and justice by my father, Chief Hen
My formal education began at **Clarkebury Boarding Institute**, where I was one of the few Black students. Later, I studied at **Fort Hare University**, a prestigious institution for Black Africans, but I was expelled for leading a student protest. Undeterred, I completed my BA through correspondence and later enrolled in law at the **University of Witwatersrand**, where I became deeply involved i
The apartheid government’s brutality forced us into action. In 1961, after peaceful protests were met with violence, I helped launch the **Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation)**, the armed wing of the ANC, to fight oppression. For **27 long years**, I was imprisoned on **Robben Island**, where I endured harsh conditions but never lost hope. In solitude, I wrote my autobiography, *Long Walk to F
On **February 11, 1990**, after relentless global pressure, President F.W. de Klerk released me. The world watched as I walked free, my chains broken but my mission unfulfilled. I negotiated with the apartheid regime, leading to the **first democratic elections in 1994**, where I became South Africa’s first Black president. As president, I worked to heal a divided nation, establish a **Truth and R
Beyond politics, I was a husband, father, and son who cherished simple joys—reading, gardening, and the laughter of my grandchildren. I received the **Nobel Peace Prize in 1993** for my efforts to dismantle apartheid peacefully. Though I left office in 1999, my legacy as a symbol of **forgiveness, reconciliation, and justice** endures. I once said, ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done.’ My
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