Davis contrasts the two types of autobiographies by explaining that, "Jewish life histories were given a frame of family interest, recording something of past generations and elaborating on the preset so that children would know where they came from and be guided in how to live." Throughout her memoirs Gluckel directly addresses her "dear children," her "beloved children" several times in her manuscript. Gluckel has made it a keen interest to explain to her children that keeping family history alive is very important and that knowing their culture is what will keep the family generations precious. Gluckel emphasizes to her children that she is writing her memoirs, "so that if today or tomorrow your dear children or grandchildren come and do not know about their family, I have recorded here briefly who their people are." What is of great importance when analyzing the method in which Gluckel writes her motherly narrative is the genre in which her memoirs unfold. Comparing Christian style of family history autobiographies to that of Gluckel's methods enables the reader to understand Gluckel's blend of memoir and story. Davis argues that, "Christian life history was often a spin-off from an account book and or from a record of births, marriages, and deaths penned into a book of hours, Bible, religious calendar or other devotional text." Such a method of writing is not visible in Gluckel's memoirs, but rather Jewish life history was written based on personal wisdom passed on to ones children from ancestors. Therefore from a parental perspective Gluckel's method of writing included words of wisdom, and moral lessons which are the key in setting out history. Gluckel's main purpose for writing her memoirs was to inform her children of her life experiences and to do that she chose an autobiographical genre, which emphasized Jewish history. Gluckel's writing fostered, "centuries-old ethical will, an exposition of moral lessons and p...
