what are anecdotes

An anecdote is a short, self-contained story that usually highlights one particular theme, lesson, or aspect of a persons character. It is a story with a point, used to communicate an abstract idea about a person, place, or thing through the concrete details of a short narrative or to characterize by delineating a specific quirk or trait. Anecdotes may be real or fictional, and they can be used to add dramatic nuance to dialogue. They are most often told through speech rather than written down. Anecdotes serve countless purposes and make situations more interesting for both the characters and the audience.