A anecdote It is a very short story that is meaningful for the subject that is being talked about. They usually add a personal experience or specific knowledge about that topic.
In fact, the anecdotes are stories. Like many stories, anecdotes are usually told orally. They are spoken rather than written.
The term anecdote comes from the Greek phrase ἀνέκδοτα , which means"things without publishing". The anecdotes are used in daily life, and also in literature, in movies or series, and also in poetry and theater.
They have a wide variety of styles, tones and usefulness. In addition, they can be used in any situation and by any person. A context becomes more interesting with an anecdote.
The 5 main types of anecdotes
1- Humorous
It is an anecdote that adds a touch of humor to the conversation.
Example
Two friends argue about how to get to the destination they are driving to. The driver tells the companion to turn off the GPS because he knows the way. The companion answers:
"Yes, of course, like that day when we turned off the GPS and ended up in the middle of a field full of cows?"
At that moment the image of the cows surrounding the car appears in their memories, leading to a jocular moment.
2- Reminder
It is a story that recalls something general about the past or a specific event. It is expressed with phrases such as:"this reminds me when...","when I was a child...","I remember once...", and so on.
Example
An example may be the story of a mother and father arguing over whether to adopt a dog for the family or not.
Then the father says:"Do you know something? When I was a child my dog was my best friend. My childhood was happier thanks to him."
Then the mother, reflects on the anecdote and accepts to adopt a dog.
3- Philosophical
This type of anecdote makes you think in depth about a topic.
Example
A group of university students discuss whether it is moral to lie. Most agree that it is never right to lie.
Then, one of them tells the following anecdote:"What do you think of the families who lied to the German soldiers? They were not told that they were hiding Jews in their homes. Does not saving lives justify telling lies?"
Therefore, after hearing the anecdote the students question the validity of their previous arguments.
4- Inspirational
It is an anecdote that is told to inspire hope or other positive emotions.
Often they try not to abandon, to achieve dreams or goals, and to make the impossible possible.
Example
A doctor tells a group of soldiers who returned from the war and who have suffered amputations, the story of another soldier who arrived without his hands and without hope. But when he left the hospital, he was carrying his newborn baby in his orthopedic hands.
5- Warning
They are anecdotes that speak of the dangers or negative consequences that a certain action entails.
Example
A speaker tells a group of teenagers about the danger of using drugs.
During the presentation he tells the anecdote of a good student, very intelligent, who always got the highest marks, and who died of heroin overdose a few years ago. In this way he warns them that dependence can affect anyone.
References
- PW Nathan (1967) What is an anecdote? The Lancet, Elsevier.
- RJ Pelias (2005) Performative writing as scholarship: an apology, an argument, an anecdote. 12/20/2017 Cultural Studies. journals.sagepub.com
- Editor (2017) What is an example of an anecdote? 12/20/2017 Literary Terms. literaryterms.com
- Editor (2017) What is an anecdote? 12/20/2017 Reader K12. k12reader.com
- Editor (2017) Definition of Anecdote by Merriam Webster. merriam-webster.com