Sorcerers of WritingAndy ChoiCrystal LiuAnthony Vu

Whitley Zetina

Defining BildungsromanConventions/Purpose/Types of

BildungsromanExamples in works of literatureExamples in LoTRExamples in GoTDiscussion: GoT PassageQuestions?Sources

Genre of literature that focuses on the psychological, emotional, and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood Simply put: Coming of age story

"Bildungsroman." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 8 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildungsroman>.

Protagonist is forced away from home on a journey

Undergoes psychological/moral growth

Goal is maturity

Self-discovery

Conflict with society

Themes of grand struggle

"Bildungsroman." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 8 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildungsroman>.“The Victorian Bildungsroman.” Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.stanford.edu/~steener/su02/english132/Bildungsroman.htm>.

Portrays hero’s maturation process

Forces character to undergo changes

Defines expectations of society

Fosters growth of reader

Builds a greater understanding of the characterEverett, Kristian.”The Bildungsroman in Fantasy Fiction.” Web. 15 Oct. 2012.

<http://sfatsf.blogspot.com/2010/12/bildungsroman-kristian-everett.html>.

Gradual: Frodo slowly grows throughout the course of his journey (LoTR)

Forced: Robb is forced to grow up when Bran falls into a coma (GoT)

Ex. The Hunger Games

Katniss/Primrose Everdeen“I volunteer”

The Harry Potter Series

Ender’s GameEnder/Bean

Artemis Fowl

Throughout the course of his journey, Frodo grows up as he carries the task of destroying the ring on his shoulders

Samwise Gamgee also embarks on the quest to destroy the ring, accompanying Frodo and growing up alongside him

Robb grows up when he is expected to assume leadership of Winterfell after Ned leaves to King’s Landing to become King Robert’s Hand

Jon Snow comes of age when he chooses to join the Night’s Watch and is faced with the harsh realities of life on the Wall

Bran Stark wakes up from his coma and slowly matures as he tries to piece together the horrifying events leading up to his fall

After the death of her beloved direwolf, Sansa’s personality hardens and she becomes mentally stronger

Dany undergoes a character transformation as she becomes stronger and more resilient towards her brother after marrying Khal Drogo

“[Maester Luwin] bowed his head. “Yes, my lady, but the appointments-”“I’ll make the appointments,” Robb said. Catelyn had not heard him enter, but there he stood in the doorway, looking at her. […] Maester Luwin looked from Catelyn to her son. “I have prepared a list of those we might wish to consider for the vacant offices,” he said, offering Robb a paper plucked from his sleeve. Her son glanced at the names. He had come from outside, Catelyn saw; his cheeks were red from the cold, his hair shaggy and windblown. “Good men,” he said. “We’ll talk about them tomorrow.” He handed back the list of names. “Very good, my lord.” The paper vanished into his sleeve. “Leave us now,” Robb said. Maester Luwin bowed and departed. Robb closed the door behind him and turned to her. He was wearing a sword, she saw. “Mother, what are you doing?” Catelyn had always thought Robb looked like her; like Bran and Rickon and Sansa, he had the Tully coloring, the auburn hair, the blue eyes. Yet now for the first time she saw something of Eddard Stark in his face, something as stern and hard as the north” (Martin 129-130).

Martin, George R.R. A Game of Thrones. NY: Bantam Books, 1996. Print.

What are some characters in other literary works who experience coming of age?

Do you think we, as people, also undergo some sort of coming of age? If so, is it as drastic as in works of literature?

Do all high fantasy novels fall under the Bildungsroman genre?

How does the absence of a coming-of-age story affect the novel? Is it necessary?

Why does Bildungsroman only apply to young characters? Do you think it applies to adults as well?

"Bildungsroman." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 8 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildungsroman>.

“Characters: Game of Thrones House Stark.” TV Tropes. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/GameOfThronesHouseStark>.

Everett, Kristian.”The Bildungsroman in Fantasy Fiction.” Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://sfatsf.blogspot.com/2010/12/bildungsroman-kristian-everett.html>.

Hader, Suzanne. “The Bildungsroman Genre.” The Victorian Web. 21 Feb. 2005. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.victorianweb.org/genre/hader1.html>.

Martin, George R.R. A Game of Thrones. NY: Bantam Books, 1996. Print.

“The Victorian Bildungsroman.” Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.stanford.edu/~steener/su02/english132/Bildungsroman.htm>.

Villabourani, Adrian. “What Exactly is an Example of Bildungsroman?” WordPress. 17 Mar. 2010. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://villabourani.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/what-exactly-is-an-example-of-bildungsroman/>.

“What Is Coming of Age Fantasy?” bestfantasybooks.com. Web. 13 Oct. 2012.<http://bestfantasybooks.com/coming-of-age-fantasy.html>.