At the time when I read books like the Harry Potter series or the Inheritance Cycle (remember Eragon?), little did I know that these were actually the most common examples of the Bildungsroman genre for children.
The Bildungsroman (Bil-doongs-rohman) genre refers to novels in which the protagonists “develops” or “matures” consistently till his regrets and disappointments are over. These are called “formation novels” where writers shape their characters in a way that they grow or nurture themselves from the inside during the course of the book. Harry Potter is one of the most well-known examples of a Bildungsroman protagonist. I don’t even have to tell you why!
According to me, one of the most prolific examples here would be The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Huck and Tom both evolve into more responsible and reliable characters by the end of the books. This is also where the theme of liberation comes into picture. The Mississippi River is used as a symbol of liberation when Huck and Jim are sailing downwards. Another important characteristic of a Bildungsroman is the evolution of various themes.
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is now considered as an American classic Bildungsroman. The protagonists, Jem and Scout chart the story of their lives in the form of an experience of living in a town plagued with racial discrimination. Destruction of innocence and the fear of society are other important themes of this book. As they see their father Atticus fighting for a black man in a white country, they grow up quicker than they need to in the pursuit of understanding the society they live in.
However, without a doubt, my favorite Bildungsroman is J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. The protagonist Holden Caulfield’s interactions with the various “phonies” around him, his encounter with Sunny, the prostitute and his later conversations with his sister Phoebe are all indicators of how the protagonist has matured.
Other examples include Eleanor Porter’s Pollyanna (another favorite) and even Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women among others. However, do remember that every dragon-snorting and sword-brandishing novel does not fall in this genre.
For now, try to think of how many Bildungsromans you have read among all your books. You’ll be surprised to know how you never realized this before!
