noun
- Plural of bildungsroman; novels that depict the psychological and moral development of a protagonist from youth to adulthood.
Usage: From German: Bildung (education) + Roman (novel); Literary term; commonly used in academic and literary criticism contexts
Examples
- Many classic bildungsromans explore how young characters learn from their mistakes and grow into mature adults.
- The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye are often studied as American bildungsromans.
- Contemporary bildungsromans frequently address themes of identity and belonging in modern society.
- Jane Eyre is considered one of the finest bildungsromans in English literature.
- Bildungsromans typically follow a protagonist's journey from innocence to experience.
- These bildungsromans show how education and life experience shape character development.