1. a novel that traces the psychological and moral development of a protagonist from youth to adulthood
Usage: from German; also called a coming-of-age novel; literary term

Examples

• Charles Dickens's *Great Expectations* is a classic bildungsroman that follows Pip's journey to maturity.
• Many bildungsromans explore themes of self-discovery and personal growth.
• J.D. Salinger's *The Catcher in the Rye* is often studied as a bildungsroman in high school English classes.
• The bildungsroman genre emphasizes the protagonist's internal transformation rather than external plot events.
• Harper Lee's *To Kill a Mockingbird* contains bildungsroman elements as Scout learns about morality and injustice.