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Genre

Coming-of-Age Story

The Novel and Its Forms

In genre studies, a coming-of-age story is a genre of literature, theatre, film and video game that focuses on the growth of a protagonist from childhood to adulthood, or coming of age. Coming-of-age stories tend to emphasize dialogue or internal monologue over action and are often set in the past, with teenagers as their typical subjects. The Bildungsroman is a specific subgenre of the broader coming-of-age story.

Facts
Place of Origin
Germany; the Bildungsroman, the genre's most developed subgenre, arose there and later influenced literature first across Europe and later worldwide. 1
Notable Example
Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto 1
Defining Trait
Centers on a protagonist's growth from childhood to adulthood, emphasizing dialogue or internal monologue over action, with the plot built around the character's emotional change. 1
FAQs

Is the Bildungsroman the same thing as a coming-of-age story?

The Bildungsroman is one specific subgenre of coming-of-age story.

No. The Bildungsroman is a specific subgenre of coming-of-age story.
Connections

Features Author

The Body, Works
Source The Body (King novella) (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Originated In

Europe

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Source Coming-of-Age Story (Wikipedia)tier 2
Germany

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Source Coming-of-Age Story (Wikipedia)tier 2
Sources
1. Coming-of-Age Story (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section, first paragraph
    focuses on the growth of a protagonist from childhood to adulthood, or "coming of age"
  • Japanese literature section
    Masashi Kishimoto's manga Naruto is a notable example of the genre, depicting the teenage protagonist Naruto Uzumaki with self-confidence, growth and ambition to becoming the Hokage.
  • Literature section, Bildungsroman subsection
    Although the Bildungsroman arose in Germany, it has had extensive influence first in Europe and later throughout the world.
View the Source
The Body (King novella) (Wikipedia)
Features Author: The Body, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: The Body, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Coming-of-age story
View the Source
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