English Literature IGCSE
Bildungsroman
What Bildungsroman means in English Literature IGCSE, as defined for Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Bildungsroman
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A coming-of-age story focusing on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist.
A 'coming-of-age' novel that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist.
A 'coming-of-age' story that focuses on the moral and psychological growth of the protagonist.
A novel dealing with one person's formative years or spiritual education.
Topics that use Bildungsroman
- Kumukanda (Kayo Chingonyi) (Cambridge International IGCSE)
- To Kill a Mockingbird (Cambridge International IGCSE)
- Great Expectations (Pearson Edexcel IGCSE)
- To Kill a Mockingbird (Pearson Edexcel IGCSE)
- Western Lane (Pearson Edexcel IGCSE)
Related terms
- Foreshadowing
- Motif
- Juxtaposition
- Colloquialism
- Dramatic Irony
- Enjambment
- First-person limited narrator
- Foil
Using Bildungsroman in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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