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Bildungsroman, or, Coming of Age

What is a Bildungsroman?

bildungsroman

noun [ C ]

US   /ˈbɪl.dʊŋz.roʊˌmɑːn/

a story, especially in the form of a novel, that is about events and experiences in the life of the main character as they grow up and become an adult. (Cambridge Dictionary)

The word Bildungsroman was originally German, having been first used in the literary scene around the early 1800s. Its literal translation means "novel of education" or "novel of formation". To modern audiences, this genre is more typically referred to as "Coming of Age"