The Bildungsroman - Archetype

Many writers of young adult fiction use a certain archetypical pattern for their plots. Archetype, or "original pattern", is a model from which other characters or stories are based. Archetype is as old as human storytelling and continues throughout contemporary literature (just that you don't always notice it as archetype).

When an author uses archetype, he is patterning his character(s) or plot after other types of that kind. For example: character archetype might include: 1. The hero 2. the protective mother 3. the prostitute with a heart of gold 4. the trickster or 5. the evil or cruel master. Plot archetype might include: 1. the Rags to Riches plot 2. the Quest 3. Transformation or 4. traditional love story: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back.

There are many, many more. And yes, archetype used too often, can create stereotype.

Plots, too, can be archetypical. One such archetypical plot is: The Bildungsroman.

The Bildungsroman is a type of story that focuses on the psychological, moral, and social formation of the protagonist (usually a young person) as he or she grows to adulthood.

This type of story was made popular during the period of the German Enlightenment, or during the seventeenth century through the eighteenth (usually ending at the Napoleonic Wars or early nineteenth century). It is still with us today, as most children's literature writers use the pattern somewhere within their stories.

The pattern is as follows:
1. The protagonist grows from child to adult.

Note: this does not always mean growing to legal or mature age--it refers mostly to the psychological state of the child (whose world centers around him/herself) to that of the mature adult (whose world centers around others). Of course, not everyone reaches this state of being just by growing older.

2. The protagonist must have a reason to embark upon his or her "journey of self discovery." A loss or discontent must, at an early stage, jar him or her away from their home or family setting. In literature, we usually call this the INCITING INCIDENT. It is the event that gets the plot moving along.

3. The process of maturation is long, arduous and usually gradual, involving repeated clashes between the hero's needs and desires and the views and judgments enforced by an unbending social order. Note: this is similar to Sigmund Freud's concept of the pleasure principle versus the reality principle- meaning that a character wants what is desired immediately or will give the greatest satisfaction, but must deal with the concept that "you don't always get what you want." Wise words for any growing or maturing person today.

4. Eventually, the spirit and values of the social order become manifest in the protagonist, who is ultimately accommodated into the society. In other words, the character grows up to become a model character -- one accepted into a specific culture or society.

5. The novel or story ends with the protagonist's self discovery or awareness of his/her growth and understanding his/her new place or role in society. In other words, there is a realization by the character that he/she has grown up.

An example of the bildungsroman archetype would be:
Holden in A Catcher in the RyeHarry Potter in the Harry Potter and the ... series
clare in Shadow Baby
Leo in Stargirl
David in Montana 1948
Harvey in The Thief of Always
Jim in Treasure Island
Huckleberry Finn in Huckleberry Finn
Ponyboy in the Outsiders
Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

There are, of course, thousands of other characters you may be familiar with in books and movies you have read or seen. In your journal make a list of other books you have read that may have been bildungsroman novels.