réminiscences

Réminiscences is a term used to describe memories of past events and the act of recalling them. In both French and English, it refers to recollections that may be brief anecdotes or longer passages, often focused on particular moments rather than a complete life story. The form is typically subjective, reflecting the remembrancer’s perspective, mood, and context.

Etymology and usage are linked to the verb reminiscere, meaning to recall. The word emphasizes memory retrieval and reconstruction, sometimes with selective emphasis on experiences that hold personal or cultural significance. In literary contexts, réminiscences may appear as autobiographical sketches, memoir-style essays, or narrative fragments embedded within a broader work.

Literary and cultural contexts view réminiscences as devices for evoking the past and shaping present meaning. They can illuminate historical periods, social practices, or personal identities by foregrounding sensory details, emotions, and associations tied to remembered events. Because memory is fallible and selective, reminiscences often reveal more about the author’s current concerns than a neutral report of the past.

In psychological and therapeutic contexts, reminiscence refers to the act of recalling past experiences. Reminiscence therapy, used with older adults, involves guided reminiscences to foster well-being, reinforce continuity of self, and preserve social connectedness.

See also: reminiscence, nostalgia, memoir, autobiography, oral history, memory studies.