First person fictional autobiography of a Jewish person, or a person relevant for Jewish history. Your protagonist can live at any point in the time our course covers. They can be fictional or real. The account needs to span your whole life and relate to the key events that happen in your lifetime in the country where you live, but also to your class and gender. It needs to cover your life, not just a few year that you find interesting. It cannot be a dialogue. You should not be writing an autobiography of a real person who wrote a memoir, because that would defeat the purpose of your own research and context.
Include a relevant bibliography at the end which does not count towards the word count. The essay does not need to have footnotes. The bibliography will help you position your protagonist in historical context and make their experience authentic and probable. The bibliography should draw on both scholarly literature and (published or unpublished) sources.
The aim here is to offer as authentic biography as possible that is positioned in the contents of the syllabus. The essay does not need to be analytical, and if it suits the person’s narrative and your inclination, can be written in formal or informal tone.
I will not mark the style but rather, historical accuracy. Try to be specific, avoid being vague. If your person lived through events important to Jewish history, they need to relate. Details can be key: for instance, if you are a Jewish politician in 1900 Paris, how do you experience the Dreyfus affair? what do you think about the socialist movement? about the occupation of Alsace? About Zionism? about refugees from pogroms in Russia? etc.
Authenticity: please avoid wildly improbable events (the French Jewish politician will not have met Lenin; there are no miracles).
Here are the marking criteria
The autobiographical essay/ memoir, based on Alexandra Garbarini’s award-winning syllabus, is a 3000 word essay which will be a first person account by a fictional person in Jewish history. Your protagonist should be Jewish. In your essay, you offer a short memoir of your life.
The memoir needs to give accurate and plentiful realistic detail.
You need to be specific, avoid being vague. If your person lived through events important to Jewish history, they need to relate. Details can be key: for instance, if you are a Jewish politician in 1900 Paris, how do you experience the Dreyfus affair? what do you think about the socialist movement? about the occupation of Alsace? About Zionism? about refugees from pogroms in Russia? etc.
Authenticity: avoid wildly improbable events (the French Jewish politician will not have met Lenin (unless he is on the far left and has excellent networks; there are no miracles).
The essay does not need to have footnotes, but you need to include a bibliography (which does not count towards the word count). The bibliography will help you position your protagonist in historical context and make their experience authentic and probable. The bibliography should draw on both scholarly literature and (published or unpublished) sources.
The aim is to offer as authentic biography as possible that is positioned in the contents of the syllabus. The essay does not need to be analytical, and if it suits the person’s narrative and your inclination, can be written in formal or informal tone. The style will not be marked (we are in History, not in Creative Writing) but if your writing is particularly beautiful, it is a plus.
Class Scale Mark Generic descriptor Review descriptor
First
Excellent first
100 Work of original and exceptional quality which in the examiners’ judgement merits special recognition by the award of the highest possible mark. Exceptionally well researched memoir that shows a deep understanding of the time and place. You offer a realistic biography that tells us about your protagonist and their experience in terms of politics, gender, language, family, friends, etc. The biography is very realistic and gives a strong sense of a person’s life in the Jewish history. The bibliography attached brings all the relevant literature.
Piece that is of publishable standard.
94 Exceptional work of the highest quality, demonstrating excellent knowledge and understanding, analysis, organisation, accuracy, relevance, presentation and appropriate skills. At final-year level: work may achieve or be close to publishable standard.
rough way to carry out essay
Roots in Weimar Germany: Growing Up in a Changing World
This section can focus on the protagonist’s childhood and early life in Weimar Germany, exploring their family background, cultural heritage, and experiences growing up in a society undergoing significant political and social transformations.
Rising Tensions: Preparing for Kristallnacht
Here, the essay can delve into the escalating tensions and increasing anti-Semitic sentiment in Germany leading up to Kristallnacht. The protagonist’s experiences witnessing discrimination, persecution, and the rise of Nazi ideology can be highlighted, emphasizing the growing threat to Jewish communities.
Night of Broken Glass: Surviving Kristallnacht
This section can narrate the protagonist’s firsthand experience of Kristallnacht, detailing the violence, destruction, and terror unleashed upon Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues. It can explore their efforts to survive the pogrom and its aftermath, including the impact on their family, community, and sense of identity.
Life in the Shadow of Tragedy: Coping and Resilience
Here, the essay can focus on the protagonist’s life in the aftermath of Kristallnacht, reflecting on their struggles, losses, and efforts to rebuild amidst ongoing persecution and uncertainty. It can explore themes of resilience, resistance, and the enduring spirit of Jewish survival in the face of adversity.
Legacy and Remembrance: Honoring the Past, Looking to the Future
In this final section, the essay can reflect on the protagonist’s journey through history, highlighting their commitment to preserving memory, honoring the victims of Kristallnacht, and advocating for justice and remembrance. It can explore the enduring significance of their experiences for future generations and their hope for a better, more inclusive world.
