Anecdotes Examples & Definition
Introduction
In conversation, anecdotes provide additional insights or brief breaks from the main focus of a story. An anecdote, in that way, is a short tale or story that is usually told during discussion, but can also appear in writing.
In literature, anecdotes can appear in texts when a narrator or character breaks from the central plot or story and delivers a short story. These will not be styled in any unique way to the actual story itself. However, it will be clear, to the readers that the main story has shifted in focus to a tale that may not be totally related.
How Anecdotes Add to a Story
The anecdote may provide background information, reveal the details of an event, or be used for the purposes of entertainment. In literature, anecdotes can serve a variety of purposes.
Anecdotes can also bring color and clarity to character interactions. For instance, if it becomes clear in the main plot that two characters have tension with one another, the author may provide a brief anecdote to clarify a specific event or instance that colors that interaction.
Definition
An anecdote is defined as “a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.”
Examples
Anecdotes in Classic Works
In Shakespeare’s works, anecdotes sometimes happen as short stories or conversations that tend to drift from the main storyline.
Sometimes Shakespeare inserts an anecdotal conversation to detract from the intensity of the scene or show more of a character’s personality.
For instance, in Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse, a woman responsible for looking after Juliet in the play, tells a short story from Juliet’s youth. The story recalls a funny moment between Juliet and the Nurse’s late husband. The anecdote illustrates how silly and inappropriate the Nurse can sometimes be.
Additionally, in Macbeth, the Porter, who serves as a doorman in the story, greets another character in the early morning. As he greets the visitor, the Porter goes on a long and tangential story about the effects of alcohol. The short anecdote is a distraction from the story, and also serves to emphasize the silliness of the Porter. His lines provide a lighter and sillier conversation after a grim scene. The anecdote provides some comic relief.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Dill, a main character, also interrupts the plot to tell the audience short stories. Dill’s stories can be humorous, but are often centered on Boo Radley, a mysterious neighbor. Additionally, for Dill, many of the anecdotes are a means of escape and a way to fit in. For example, Dill does not have a relationship with his father, but tells stories about him in order to connect with his friends, Scout and Finch. Though anecdotes are little stories that are usually about true events. In the context of fiction, anecdotes can have a more flexible meaning and purpose.
Anecdotes in Conversation
In real life, it’s usually easy to tell when someone is sharing an anecdote.
A conversation that is informal may include many anecdotes, as storytelling and sharing experiences is part of how people connect with one another.
Anecdotes in a Speeches
In rhetoric, or speech, a person may choose to share one or more anecdotes for the purposes of illustrating a point. For example, in the 1960s, General of the Army Douglas MacArthur received the Sylvanus Thayer Award. This is a prestigious award bestowed upon people who have made significant contributions to society. At the start of his speech, General MacArthur warms the crowd with a short tale from that very morning. He states:
“As I was leaving the hotel this morning, a doorman asked me, ‘Where are you bound for, General?’ And when I replied, ‘West Point,’ he remarked, ‘Beautiful place. Have you ever been there before?’
No human being could fail to be deeply moved by such a tribute as this [Thayer Award]. Coming from a profession I have served so long, and a people I have loved so well, it fills me with an emotion I cannot express. But this award is not intended primarily to honor a personality, but to symbolize a great moral code — the code of conduct and chivalry of those who guard this beloved land of culture and ancient descent. That is the animation of this medallion. For all eyes and for all time, it is an expression of the ethics of the American soldier. That I should be integrated in this way with so noble an ideal arouses a sense of pride and yet of humility which will be with me always.”
The short anecdote about leaving the hotel is somewhat tangential to the main point of his speech to the cadets. However, the tale elicits laughter from the crowd as, unbeknownst to the doorman, MacArthur is a graduate of West Point himself. This little story or anecdote has an intended purpose. It is not a distraction, but is also not the main point of MacArthur’s speech.
Anecdotes in Memoirs
Memoirs are also another genre where people often share many anecdotes about their lives.
Trevor Noah’s memoir, Born a Crime, highlights many anecdotes from his childhood, teen years, and early adulthood. In each part of his memoir, he shares memorable experiences that illustrate his background. He share his experiences being raised during apartheid in South Africa.
Conclusion
Anecdotes can be used in different ways depending on the circumstance or text.
Though they may be separate from the main focus of a conversion, speech, or larger work, they are important to analyze, as they are often purposeful. In order to think through or guide a discussion about an anecdote, use these guiding questions:
- What does the anecdote explain? Summarize it.
- Why does the author or speaker use the anecdote in this location?
- How does the anecdote enhance or detract from the subject of focus?
A careful and close reading is an important part of understanding anecdotes.
Resources:
https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/douglasmacarthurthayeraward.html