Bildungsroman facts for kids
A Bildungsroman is a special kind of novel. It's often called a "coming-of-age" story. These stories are about a main character growing up. They show how the character changes and learns from their experiences. This includes their feelings, thoughts, and how they see the world.
The word "Bildungsroman" comes from German. "Bildung" means "education" or "shaping." "Roman" means "novel." So, it's a "novel of education" or a "shaping novel."
Contents
What is a Coming-of-Age Story?
A coming-of-age story focuses on a young person's journey. They start as a child or teenager. By the end, they have become an adult. This journey isn't just about getting older. It's about learning important life lessons.
How Characters Grow and Change
In a Bildungsroman, the main character faces many challenges. These challenges help them learn about themselves. They also learn about the world around them. This can include:
- Making mistakes and learning from them.
- Dealing with difficult situations.
- Understanding their own feelings.
- Finding their place in society.
The story often shows the character leaving home. They might go on a journey. This journey helps them discover new things. They meet new people and have new experiences. These experiences help them mature.
Why Are These Stories Important?
Coming-of-age stories are popular because many people can relate to them. Everyone goes through a time of growing up. These stories can help young readers:
- Understand their own feelings.
- See how others deal with challenges.
- Think about their own future.
- Learn about different paths in life.
They show that growing up is a process. It involves learning, changing, and becoming who you are meant to be.
Famous Examples
Older Stories
- Lazarillo de Tormes (first edition 1554)
- The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding (1749)
- Candide by Voltaire (1759)
- Geschichte des Agathon by Christoph Martin Wieland (1767)
- Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship by Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1795–96)
Stories from the 19th Century
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847)
- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (1850)
- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (1861)
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1869)
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (1884)
Stories from the 20th Century
- Kim by Rudyard Kipling (1901)
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce (1916)
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (1943)
- The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger (1951)
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)
- The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton (1967)
- A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (1968)
- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (1985)
- Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling (1997–2007)
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (1999)
- Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto (1999)
Stories from the 21st Century
- The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (2002)
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003)
- Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (2005)
- Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton (2018)
These stories often explore themes like identity, morality, and purpose. They show how a person's character is formed over time.
See also
- Novela de aprendizaje para niños (In Spanish)