1. “Coming of Age” Stories
Bildungsroman
“Coming of Age” Stories

2. Bildungsroman…What is it?
Genre of literature that focuses on the psychological, emotional, and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood
“Coming of Age” stories

3. Plot of Bildungsroman Youth faces emotional Loss
Leaves home on a “journey”
Encounters conflicts (internal and external)
Learns about self & matures
Understands place in society
Returns home as an adult with new knowledge to use in society

4. Emotional Loss
Death of family member or friend, break-up, loss of home/wealth/power/future

5. Journey
Literal
Metaphorical

6. Conflict External Internal Man vs man Man vs nature Man vs society
Do I want to grow up?

7. Gradual vs. Forced
Gradual: Frodo slowly grows throughout the course of his journey (LoTR)
Forced: Tris is forced to grow up when she must choose which faction to join

8. Learn, Grow, Return “Home”

9. Examples from Pop Culture
The Hunger Games

10. Examples from Pop Culture
The Harry Potter Series

11. Examples from Pop Culture
The Lord of the Rings

12. Examples from Pop Culture
Divergent

13. Quick Write (5 sentences)
Do you think we, as people, also undergo some sort of “coming of age” or is that just something from books and the movies? Explain.