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What is a bildungsroman?
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Bildungsroman
A bildungsroman is a novel that traces the development of a
character from childhood to adulthood, through a quest for
identity that leads him or her to maturity. The term
bildungsroman comes from the German for "formation
novel," or "education novel."
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Bildungsroman: Topics
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Teenage troubles
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Coming of age
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School years
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Search for identity
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Self-establishment in community
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Bildungsroman: Characteristics
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Protagonist
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grows psychologically and physically from adolescence to maturity
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acquires a clear, unique identity by the end of the story
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achieves self-understanding and a sense of social responsibility
Style
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typically emphasizes dialogue over plot development, keeping the
reader's attention on the growth of character
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often told from a first-person point of view
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Bildungsroman: Story Examples
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Literature
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To Kill a Mockingbird
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Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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Jane Eyre
Movies
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“The Matrix”
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“Forrest Gump”
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“The Lion King”
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“Terminator” series
Any others you can think of?