Definition: A bildungsroman is a novel that traces the development of a character from childhood to adulthood, through a quest for identity that leads him or her to maturity. The term bildungsroman comes from the German for "formation novel," or "education novel."
Also Known As: education novel, formation novel, coming of age novel
Common Misspellings: bildungroman
Examples:
"David Copperfield" is an example of a bildungsroman, or coming of age novel.