Genre 101: Bildungsroman

It’s safe to say that most readers know about genres in literature. There’s non-fiction, fiction, fantasy, and mystery, to name a few. Young adult novels pertain to audiences between 12 and 18; however, they can still be enjoyed by older audiences who enjoy reading Adult books. There are also others such as prose, poetry, and historical fiction.

But could it be possible that there is one more literary genre readers aren’t entirely aware of, such as the Bildungsroman genre? 

What is Bildungsroman? 

This literary genre was initially cultivated in 1819 by German philologist Karl Morgenstern during his lectures. The definition of this literary criticism focuses on the personal growth of the main character throughout the story from beginning to end as they enter a life-changing journey. Bildungsroman focuses on the protagonist’s maturity as they experience trials and tribulations starting from their childhood until reaching adulthood. 

The Differences Between Bildungsroman and Coming-of-Age

Bildungsroman is a literary genre better known as or often mistaken as the “Coming-of-Age” genre. The coming-of-age genre is often included in young adult fiction. Bildungsroman follows the protagonist as they grow out of childhood and mature into an adult–prioritizing the change of the character. Although, it is understandable that readers would confuse the two for having similar characteristics. The coming-of-age genre could be applied to many stories as teenagers go through changes, though they are not often followed into adulthood or aren’t a priority to the story. 

The Bildungsroman genre can be applied to a select few that focus primarily on the aspects that aid the main characters grow up. Using Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre (1847) as an example, the novel follows the protagonist as she suffers through an abusive childhood and grows into adulthood. As Jane Eyre grows up, she experiences love and makes strong friendships. The internal conflicts that start within Jane represent the component where seeks what her purpose is in life. 

Important Factors of Bildungsroman

Bildungsroman is designated to focus on the self-development of the main character. As such, some components encompass select novels that adopted this genre. The protagonist’s journey in the story focuses on a select number of contributing factors that ensure they grow and mature as the journey progresses, whether the protagonist wishes for the change or not. 

The Journey–This can pertain to several topics, but it consists of a protagonist experiencing conflict. They must surpass physical and psychological obstacles. Form bonds with other characters that could potentially become stronger or weaker throughout the story. The protagonist starts out as discontent with their lives but gradually comes to terms with the journey proposed to them.

Search for One’s Identity–During the progression of the story, the protagonist begins to question their role within the adventure they are undertaking. As insecurities build up throughout the story’s passage, the protagonist is growing out of their proverbial role of the novice in the journey. They learn more about the world around them and the supporting characters while discovering their strengths and weaknesses. 

Loss–Using J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings as an example, Frodo is a curious and kind protagonist who experiences loss early in life. Losing his parents, Bilbo and Gandalf, Frodo’s loss shapes his resolve in completing his mission to destroy the Ring. Loss changed Frodo into a tougher protagonist and a little more jaded when he encountered more enemies. 

Maturity–As the protagonist’s values become more apparent, their personal growth reaches the maturity level they hadn’t had at the beginning of the story. The self-worth they find can be represented in the society around them or the peace they experience within themselves. In addition, the confidence displayed in the character after experiencing loss and insecurity helps them grow until they reach the end of their story.