T H E O R G AN IZATIO N O F TH E BILD U N G SR O MA N N O VEL

SIMPLY PUT:

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In literary criticism, bildungsroman (or coming-of-age story) is a literary genre which focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood and in which character change is thus extremely important.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildungsroman

INTRODUCING:

J O H A N N C A R L S I M O N M O RG E N S T E R N

I’m not a linguist, but sometimes It helps to breaking down a word

Bildungsroman:

The word “Bildung” is German word for self-cultivation. “Roman” translates into literally: novel Source: http://dictionary.reverso.net/german-english/Roman

Criteria for Bildungsroman: 1. Protagonist is usually (but not always) an adolescent.

2. Protagonist usually carries an unusual burden that prevents him/her from taking their usual place in society (orphaned, war, race issues, identity issues).

3. There is usually (but not always a villain that makes matters worse (factory owner, evil step-mother, Voldemort) 4. There is a benefactor that assists the protagonist on his way by assuming the role of teacher, suitor, philanthropist).

5. The story usually resolves with the spiritual growth of the antagonist who happily takes his/her place in society.

Bonus

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The evil villain is locked away, trades places with the protagonist, or dies a terrible yet satisfying- death.

There are many ways to classify this Genre!!! Here are just a few:      Language or Nationality Time Period (Early versions and Modern) Genre Particular Issue or Controversy Mediums (The novel expands from the page to the stage)

Language and nationality of earlier works: Bildungsroman began in present day Germany (I have no idea what the country was called in the 1830’s) Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Meister%27s_Apprenticeship French: Gustave Flaubert's L'Education sentimentale (1869) There are others-of course-but these may be more familiar: 19 th Century English: Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre in 1847 and Charles Dickens: Great Expectations in 1861

MODERN EXAMPLES OF ENGLISH BILDUNGSROMAN:

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Harry Potter

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To Kill A Mockingbird

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White Oleander

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Great Expectations

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Jane Eyre

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Kite Runner

GENRE!

Examples can be found in most genres but here are a few most may not think of  Fantasy: Harry Potter  Sci Fi: Endor’s Game  Romance: Anne of Green Gables  Steampunk: The Diamond Age (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Diamond_Age)  Even Plays: Look Homeward Angel (Though it was God-Awful!)

CONTROVERSY

The most common form of Bildungsroman are the novels that makes the news headlines because of target audience and content (and now you know what they are actually called!)

COMMON CONTROVERSIAL OBSTACLES

Quick Re-cap: Bildungsroman is a genre defined by how it’s organized. First, you are introduced to the protagonist. The coming-of-age element is critical to this definition. He/she is entering adolescence in an unusually cruel way.

Second, There is some sort of obstacle preventing the normal transition into adulthood. Third, There is usually an antagonist or evil villain that worsens the obstacle typically by oppression. Think of almost every Disney movie ever made (Scar, Captain Hook, Ursula, Wicked Queen, Gaston).

Finally, there is usually a benefactor that assists the protagonist.

Can be organized by:

Language or Nationality Time Period (Either the actual time book was written or back drop of story).

Genre (Note how the Bildungsroman theme can appear in nearly any genre).

Controversy: Today’s common element of the Bildungsroman is controversy of some kind.

Finally: Crossover of story mediums:

From the page to the stage:

Questions ???

Comments???

Tomatoes??

Sources Cited:

Google Images Dabble, Margaret. (2003). "Bildungsroman." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved April 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54 Bildungsroman.html

Websites: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/65244/bildungsroman http://michelle-wright.suite101.com/how-to-write-a-coming-of-age-story a210637 http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/5160054/Elements_of_Bildungsroman

http://www.enotes.com/bildungsroman-nineteenth-century-literature criticism/bildungsroman-nineteenth-century-literature http://www.abebooks.com/books/coming-of-age-youth childhood/bildungsroman-novels.shtml