Bildungsroman 

Bildungsroman is defined in Encyclopaedia Britannica as "class of novel that depicts and explores the manner in which the protagonist develops morally and psychologically. " (1)

Typical Structure of Bildungsromans

The typical Bildungsroman has a three-part structure:

1. The set-up, which introduces the protagonist, most often during his or her childhood.

2. Experiences that shape the protagonist's character, often culminating in some sort of spiritual crisis or loss of faith.

3. The protagonist reaches maturity, which usually involves them finding a sense of peace with themselves, or of belonging in the world. (2) 

Bildungsroman Examples

The following examples showcase the maturation process of three common types of Bildungsroman protagonists: the orphan, the misfit / runaway, and the artist. We've broken up the summary for each book into the three different parts of the genre's structure (Early life, Formative Experiences, and Conclusion) as well as highlighted examples of protagonists, themes, characters, and plot devices that are typical of the genre. (2)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brönte

Brönte's novel Jane Eyre uses the classic three-part structure, and begins with Jane as a young girl.

Early Life: Orphan Jane lives with her cruel Aunt at the luxurious Gateshead Hall, where she is bullied by her cousins, ridiculed for being poor, and locked in rooms as punishment. Jane goes off to boarding school to escape her cruel relatives, but life is rough at the austere Lowood School, too: the temperature is frigid, the food inedible, and Jane watches her only friend get beaten in class by a wicked teacher. Jane learns about religion from her inspiring friend Helen Burns and has a spiritual awakening. These new Christian values, like turning the other cheek, will serve as her guidepost throughout the novel and as her strength during trials. (2)

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Though The Catcher in the Rye begins in the protagonist's adolescence (rather than his childhood), the novel is still a Bildungsroman, as its protagonist Holden Caulfield details his journey to maturity.

Set-Up: Holden is a teenaged misfit who keeps failing out of his East-coast prep school and is already weary of life as an adult. He frequently dubs things and people around him "phony" to express his disenchantment. He has no luck with girls, and his observation of his handsome roommate Stradlater's relationship with girls (particularly Jane Gallagher, whom Holden admires from afar) reveal his own sexual frustrations. He ponders moving to a monastery or some other far away place. Knowing he'll be expelled, he decides to run away to New York City. (2)

(1) Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "bildungsroman". Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Jul. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/art/bildungsroman. Accessed 18 October 2024.
(2) Bulger, Allison. "Bildungsroman." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC,  5 May 2017. Web. 18 Oct 2024.

Jan Josefík 537309