1) Definition (CUET-ready)
A diary is a form of life writing consisting of dated entries (or regular records) written close to the time of events, typically in first person. Diaries can record:
- daily experiences,
- reflections,
- emotions,
- social observations,
- personal decisions.
A diary differs from autobiography in that it is usually:
- non-retrospective (written “as life happens”),
- fragmented and episodic rather than shaped into a single arc.
2) Core features of diary writing
A) Temporality: immediacy
Diaries capture:
- present-tense perception,
- evolving thoughts,
- uncertainty before outcomes are known.
B) Fragmentation and discontinuity
Entries can be:
- uneven,
- repetitive,
- incomplete.
This is not a flaw; it is part of the genre.
C) Privacy and audience
Diaries are often imagined as private, but:
- many are later edited/published,
- “privacy” can be a rhetorical pose.