Stories in which a young person must learn a lesson in order to grow as a person are pervasive in most cultures. These stories feed into the overall cultural experience of growing and thriving in society. And, they help us learn something new. Yet, they go much deeper than that, as to grow and evolve as a character, one must go through the challenges and triumphs related to coming of age.

What is Bildungsroman?

To begin, the word “bildungsroman” comes from a German word that means “novel of education” or “novel of formation.” According to sources, these novels are a “class of novel that depicts and explores the manner in which the protagonist develops morally and psychologically.” Apparently, this term was coined by Karl von Morgenstern through his lectures on the “Essence and History of the Novel” in 1820 (Trott).

Still, others define it as a “regulated development within the life of the individual is observed,” and in, “each of its stages (has) its own intrinsic value … The dissonances and conflicts of life appear as the necessary growth points through which the individual must pass on his way to maturity and harmony” (Trott). In other words, the problems the character faces in a novel contribute to their growth as an individual.

We also know these stories as “coming-of-age” stories, which are extremely ubiquitous in our society, as the themes present in these types of stories appear in numerous animated and indie-flicks.

Characteristics of Coming of Age

These are some of the characteristics of a bildungsroman—but not all. Hopefully, this is more of a guide as to what to look for when you read a coming-of-age story.

• The character learns a lesson
• There is a moral or ethical development
• Identity building
• Losing one’s innocence
• A journey of some kind

Examples

In Literature

• To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) by Harper Lee
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) by Mark Twain
• The Catcher in the Rye (1951) by J.D. Salinger
• The Portrait of an Artist (1916) by James Joyce

In Film

• Star Wars (1977)
• The Hunger Games (2012)
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
• The Sword in the Stone (1963)

Conclusion

To sum up, a bildungsroman tells the tale of somebody coming into their own. It’s an important story, and one that has been around for many years. As you can see, there are many in Western media, but that stretches farther back in history. Thus, by understanding this idea (and the conventions of the genre), we can internalize the makings of timeless stories to use as our own.