What is a bildungsromans?

A Bildungroman is a genre of literature( can apply to movies,too). The Word has German origins but is also used in modern English. It is essentially a coming-of-age novel. A coming-of-age novel, or Bildungsroman has to have three characteristics to be classified in this genre:

1. The protagonist must have an impetus, like a loss or death which pushes him/her away from the home setting.

2. The protagonist must age throughout the novel( not nessecarily physical growth, but moral growth as they accept society and mature).

3. The character must accept some values of society ultimately as they mature.

Some notable examples of a Bildungsroman genre novel are: "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger, "Peter Pan" by James Barrie, and "Back to the Future!"( movie).