Bildungsroman: GCSE English Definition

What is a bildungsroman?

In GCSE English Literature, a bildungsroman is a literary genre sometimes called a ‘coming-of-age’ story. A bildungsroman explores the development of a character from childhood to maturity, focusing on a character’s moral, emotional and psychological development.

Why do writers use the bildungsroman genre?

Bildungsroman stories are timeless and appeal to readers of all ages and backgrounds because we can all relate to stories in which characters learn from their mistakes or strive for personal growth. These stories inspire and help us to learn more about ourselves.

The bildungsroman genre presents a character’s journey to maturity and allows a writer to compare and contrast different points of view as part of their development.

Examples of bildungsromans

A famous bildungsroman novel is Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations which describes young Pip’s journey from a humble orphan to a prosperous gentleman. As he grows, he develops morally and emotionally and recognises his youthful mistakes and misconceptions. 

Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird is another example of a bildungsroman. The protagonist, Scout, grows up as the novel progresses and comes to understand racial injustice in 1930s Alabama, shaking off her childish prejudices. 

Revision resources to ace your exams

Learn how to explore a writer’s use of a bildungsroman, including how to incorporate analysis of the bildungsroman genre into your essays, by using our detailed GCSE revision notes.

GCSE English Literature Revision Notes 

For more literary techniques, check out our list of 127 top literary devices, complete with student-friendly definitions.