Journals and Diaries

Journals and diaries are first person accounts of personal events or experiences. Journals may be found more often detailing the daily events that take place at work or in society. Ship’s captains, for example, would record the daily events of a voyage. Diaries cover more personal experiences and reactions to the experiences.

How to read journals and diaries

It is important to do some research about the time period, geographic location, and societal structure to be able to put journals and diaries in context. Depending on the setting for a journal or a diary, a reader may need to look up unfamiliar vocabulary in a dictionary.

Readers must also keep in mind that diaries, in particular, present an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and opinions. The language may be unedited and informal. Focus on understanding the person’s feelings and thoughts rather than the quality of the prose.