What defines a firsthand account?

A firsthand account is defined as an account from personal experience. This means that the narrator has directly experienced the events they are describing. Firsthand accounts provide unique insights and details that are often richer and more vivid since they come from someone who was actively involved in the situation. They are often found in diaries, letters, autobiographies, and interviews, where the individual's personal perspective and emotions are conveyed.

In contrast, the other options refer to secondary sources or fictional narratives, which do not capture the direct experiences of individuals. A secondary source recounts events that someone else has lived through, a narrative based on research typically summarizes or analyzes information collected by others, and a fictional interpretation may involve creative storytelling that isn't bound to actual events.