Bildungsroman

In literary criticism, bildungsroman (German pronunciation: [ˈbɪldʊŋs.ʁoˌmaːn]; German: "formation novel") [1] or coming-of-age story is a literary genre which focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood (coming of age),[2] and in which character change is thus extremely important.[3] The term was coined in 1819 by philologist Karl Morgenstern in his university lectures, and later famously reprised by Wilhelm Dilthey, who legitimized it in 1870 and popularized it in 1905.[4][1] The genre is further characterized by a number of formal, topical, and thematic features.[5] The term coming-of-age novel is sometimes used interchangeably with Bildungsroman, but its use is usually wider and less technical.

The birth of the Bildungsroman is normally dated to the publication of Goethe’s The Apprenticeship of Wilhelm Meister in 1795-96.[6] Although the Bildungsroman arose in Germany, it has had extensive influence first in Europe and later throughout the world. Thomas Carlyle translated Goethe’s novel into English, and after its publication in 1824, many British authors wrote novels inspired by it. In the 20th century, the genre has been particularly popular among women writers,[7] and among minority writers;[8] and it has spread to Germany, Britain and France,[9] and several other countries around the globe. The genre translates fairly directly into cinematic form.

A Bildungsroman tells about the growing up or coming of age of a sensitive person who is looking for answers and experience. The genre evolved from folklore tales of a dunce or youngest son going out in the world to seek his fortune. Usually in the beginning of the story there is an emotional loss which makes the protagonist leave on his journey. In a Bildungsroman, the goal is maturity, and the protagonist achieves it gradually and with difficulty. The genre often features a main conflict between the main character and society. Typically, the values of society are gradually accepted by the protagonist and he is ultimately accepted into society – the protagonist's mistakes and disappointments are over. In some works, the protagonist is able to reach out and help others after having achieved maturity.

There are many variations and subgenres of Bildungsroman that focus on the growth of an individual. An Entwicklungsroman ("development novel") is a story of general growth rather than self-cultivation. An Erziehungsroman ("education novel") focuses on training and formal schooling, while a Künstlerroman ("artist novel") is about the development of an artist and shows a growth of the self.[10] Similarly, other genres of fiction tell coming of age stories similar to buildungsromans, such as coming-of-age films.

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Examples

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Engel (2008) p.263
  2. ^ Lynch (1999)
  3. ^ Bakhtin, 1996, p.21. Jeffers, 2005. p.2
  4. ^ Summerfield (2010) p.1
  5. ^ Iversen 2010; Change and Continuity
  6. ^ Jeffers, 2005, p. 49
  7. ^ Abel et al. (1983). This work is maybe the first literary criticism on female Bildungsroman. Such literary criticism has since multiplied, and this in turn attests the spread of the genre.
  8. ^ Examples of literary criticism on the “ethnic” or non-European Bildungsroman include Feng, Otano, Japtok, Karafilis, and Nyatetu-Waigwa
  9. ^ Moretti (1987) and Hirsh
  10. ^ Werlock, James P. (2010) The Facts on File companion to the American short story, Volume 2, p.387
  11. ^ Joy Palmer, Liora Bresler, David Edward Cooper (2001). Fifty major thinkers on education: from Confucius to Dewey. Routledge. p. 34. ISBN 0415231264. 
  12. ^ a b McWilliams, Ellen (2009) Margaret Atwood and the female bildungsroman, p.14 quotation:

    The two early English Bildungsromane already mentioned, Tom Jones and The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, are examples of coming-of-age narratives that predate the generic expectations of the German tradition.

  13. ^ "Candide". Fajardo-acosta.com. http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/voltaire/candide.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  14. ^ "The Bildungsroman in Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism". Enotes.com. http://www.enotes.com/nineteenth-century-criticism/bildungsroman-nineteenth-century-literature. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  15. ^ "Martin Eden Summary - Jack London - Masterplots II: American Fiction Series, Revised Edition". Enotes.com. http://www.enotes.com/martin-eden-salem/martin-eden-11000305. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  16. ^ Geoffrey Nash, "Ameen Rihani's The Book of Khalid and the Voice of Thomas Carlyle," New Comparison Journal, no. 17, The British Comparative Literature Association, University of Essex, Colchester, UK, 1994.
  17. ^ "Sons and Lovers Lawrence's novel as a Bildungsroman". Enotes.com. http://www.enotes.com/sons-lovers/lawrences-novel-bildungsroman. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  18. ^ James Joyce. "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Summary & Study Guide - James Joyce". eNotes.com. http://www.enotes.com/portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-man. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  19. ^ Hendriksen, Jack; This side of paradise as a Bildungsroman; ISBN 0820418528
  20. ^ Mukherjee, Meenakshi (1985). Realism and reality : the novel and society in India. Oxford University Press. p. 128. ISBN 0195616480 
  21. ^ http://www.blackstone.lioninc.org/bildungsroman.pdf
  22. ^ Kercheval, Jesse Lee. "Continuing Conflict". Building Fiction. The Story Press. p. 101. ISBN 1884910289. 
  23. ^ "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit: Context". Sparknotes. 1959-08-27. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/oranges/context.html. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  24. ^ "Secret Life of Bees-Character Analysis". Sparknotes. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/secretbees/canalysis.html. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  25. ^ Khaled Hosseini (1965-03-04). "Katherine C. (Berwyn, PA)'s review of The Kite Runner". Goodreads.com. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/35890028. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  26. ^ "The Top 13 Coming-of-Age Novels | The Top 13". www.thetop13.com. 2009-12-09. http://www.thetop13.com/coming-of-age-novels-L45/. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 

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