BildungsromanBildungsroman

The Coming-of-Age StoryThe Coming-of-Age Story

oror

Hero QuestHero Quest

What Is a What Is a bildungsromanbildungsroman or Hero Quest?or Hero Quest?

The story of an individual’s quest for The story of an individual’s quest for identity within societyidentity within society

Some form of loss must jar them away Some form of loss must jar them away from home/family at an early stagefrom home/family at an early stage

Process is long, arduous, and gradualProcess is long, arduous, and gradualRepeated clashes between his needs/ Repeated clashes between his needs/

desires and views imposed by societydesires and views imposed by society

Protagonist adopts society’s values Protagonist adopts society’s values and is welcomedand is welcomed

Protagonist assesses his place in this Protagonist assesses his place in this societysociety

The main character is often an orphan The main character is often an orphan or a child who has lost his/her fatheror a child who has lost his/her father

He/she is usually from a small townHe/she is usually from a small townEducation is preparation for adulthoodEducation is preparation for adulthood

It opens his/her mind to other It opens his/her mind to other possibilitiespossibilities

He/she desires to leave home to He/she desires to leave home to search for his/her identitysearch for his/her identity

The hero often experiences love after The hero often experiences love after leaving homeleaving home

Stages of the Hero QuestStages of the Hero Quest

http://www.interculturalrelations.com/v2i1Winter1999/w99hart.htm

Stages of the Hero QuestStages of the Hero Quest

The DepartureThe DepartureCommon WorldCommon WorldCall to AdventureCall to AdventureRefusal of CallRefusal of CallSupernatural AidSupernatural AidCrossing First ThresholdCrossing First Threshold

Stages of the Hero QuestStages of the Hero Quest

The InitiationThe InitiationRoad of TrialsRoad of TrialsSupreme OrdealSupreme OrdealThe Ultimate BoonThe Ultimate Boon

Stages of the Hero QuestStages of the Hero Quest

The ReturnThe ReturnRefusal of the ReturnRefusal of the ReturnCrossing the Return ThresholdCrossing the Return Threshold

Master of the Two WorldsMaster of the Two Worlds

THE DEPARTURETHE DEPARTURE

The story of an individual’s quest for The story of an individual’s quest for identity within societyidentity within societyHero will leave everyday worldHero will leave everyday world

Hero receives a “call to adventure”Hero receives a “call to adventure”May feel restless / outgrown old waysMay feel restless / outgrown old ways

Hero accepts call willingly or reluctantlyHero accepts call willingly or reluctantlyAide or mentor appearsAide or mentor appears

Helps hero get past fearsHelps hero get past fears

Crossing the ThresholdCrossing the Threshold

Hero undergoes ordeal in order to pass Hero undergoes ordeal in order to pass into the world of adventureinto the world of adventure

Trial could be painless or violentTrial could be painless or violentContrast between familiar world and Contrast between familiar world and

the unknown world of adventurethe unknown world of adventure

THE INITIATIONTHE INITIATION

Hero must undergo a series of testsHero must undergo a series of testsHelper / companion to assistHelper / companion to assist

Often violent encounters with forces of Often violent encounters with forces of naturenature

Each success proves hero’s ability and Each success proves hero’s ability and advances the journey toward its endadvances the journey toward its end

Supreme Ordeal – expansion of Supreme Ordeal – expansion of consciousness (after a Final Battle)consciousness (after a Final Battle)

Ultimate Boon – hero succeeds in journey Ultimate Boon – hero succeeds in journey and acquires object or knowledgeand acquires object or knowledge

THE RETURNTHE RETURN

Hero considers returnHero considers returnSometimes refusesSometimes refusesHero MUST return to complete the cycleHero MUST return to complete the cycle

Ultimately crosses the return thresholdUltimately crosses the return thresholdTakes form of awakening, rebirth, Takes form of awakening, rebirth,

resurrection, or emergenceresurrection, or emergenceKnowledge or object acquired is put to use Knowledge or object acquired is put to use

in everyday worldin everyday worldHome is not a placeHome is not a place

THEMESTHEMES

Opening ScenesOpening ScenesThe opening of a story must do more The opening of a story must do more

than get our attention; it should than get our attention; it should also present key ideas and themes also present key ideas and themes that will be echoed in some way that will be echoed in some way throughout the story.throughout the story.

Voice and Point of ViewVoice and Point of ViewFrom whose point of view is this From whose point of view is this

story told?story told?

How would you describe the How would you describe the narrative voice of the story? narrative voice of the story?

Are you sympathetic to this voice, or Are you sympathetic to this voice, or not? not?

How does this point of view influence How does this point of view influence or affect the story? or affect the story?

Turning PointsTurning PointsWhat were the most significant events in the What were the most significant events in the

protagonist's early life -- those that truly protagonist's early life -- those that truly changed who he or she became? changed who he or she became?

How does the story show the importance of How does the story show the importance of those events? those events?

What recurring themes and motifs are there in What recurring themes and motifs are there in this person's story? this person's story?

Choose one and explore how it is echoed Choose one and explore how it is echoed throughout the story. throughout the story.

Who Am I?Who Am I?In some way, all coming-of-age In some way, all coming-of-age

stories address the quest to define stories address the quest to define oneself. oneself.

Writing in the voice of the main Writing in the voice of the main character in the story you are character in the story you are studying, try to answer as that studying, try to answer as that person would if the question "Who person would if the question "Who am I?" was posed to him or her.am I?" was posed to him or her.

Interpersonal RelationshipsInterpersonal RelationshipsDoes the main character have Does the main character have

"good" parents/guardians by your "good" parents/guardians by your definition? definition?

How do they influence him or her? How do they influence him or her?

FamilyFamilyWhat is the role of the main character in his or What is the role of the main character in his or

her family? her family? Does that role change? Does that role change? What code or set of beliefs does the family What code or set of beliefs does the family

seem to live by? seem to live by? What expectations does the family have for What expectations does the family have for

this person? this person? Does he or she meet them? How does the Does he or she meet them? How does the

character try to separate from his or her character try to separate from his or her family? family?

To what extent is he or she successful? To what extent is he or she successful?

Gender RolesGender RolesHow many stories can you think of How many stories can you think of

that portray men and women in that portray men and women in stereotyped gender roles? stereotyped gender roles?

Now examine the story you are Now examine the story you are studying: to what extent are the studying: to what extent are the roles of men and women roles of men and women stereotypical?stereotypical?

FriendshipFriendshipFor many young people, their peer For many young people, their peer

group becomes more influential group becomes more influential than their family. than their family.

How do friendships change this How do friendships change this character? character?

In what ways are these friendships a In what ways are these friendships a substitute or continuation of his or substitute or continuation of his or her family? her family?

FriendshipFriendshipFor many young people, their peer For many young people, their peer

group becomes more influential group becomes more influential than their family. than their family.

How do friendships change this How do friendships change this character? character?

In what ways are these friendships a In what ways are these friendships a substitute or continuation of his or substitute or continuation of his or her family? her family?

RebellionRebellionIn what ways does the character In what ways does the character

rebel?rebel?

What does he or she rebel against? What does he or she rebel against?

How does the character rebel -- How does the character rebel -- outwardly or inwardly? outwardly or inwardly?

Does rebelling accomplish Does rebelling accomplish something important? something important?

Where Is Home?Where Is Home?How does the main character in the How does the main character in the

story you are studying define story you are studying define "home"? "home"?

Is it the place the character comes Is it the place the character comes from, or somewhere of his or her from, or somewhere of his or her own making? own making?

What about this character's "home" What about this character's "home" seems to stay with the person seems to stay with the person wherever he or she goes? wherever he or she goes?

Everyday LifeEveryday LifeWhat films or books have you seen What films or books have you seen

in this genre in which the everyday in this genre in which the everyday life of the characters is especially life of the characters is especially interesting or unfamiliar to you? interesting or unfamiliar to you?

What do you learn about different What do you learn about different cultures from this description of cultures from this description of everyday life?everyday life?

Romance and SexualityRomance and SexualityAlmost no coming-of-age story is Almost no coming-of-age story is

without this theme. without this theme.

How big a role does it play in the How big a role does it play in the story you are studying? story you are studying?

Do you wish it had played a smaller Do you wish it had played a smaller or larger role? or larger role?

How? How?

Community ValuesCommunity ValuesWhere is the main character from in Where is the main character from in

the story you are studying? the story you are studying?

How does it shape who he or she is? How does it shape who he or she is?

What values and beliefs of this What values and beliefs of this community does the character community does the character embrace? embrace?

Which does he or she reject?Which does he or she reject?

Education / The ArtsEducation / The ArtsMany artists, writers, and filmmakers Many artists, writers, and filmmakers

first glimpsed the outside world first glimpsed the outside world through books, dance, or other art through books, dance, or other art forms. forms.

What works of art were important in What works of art were important in affirming or changing the main affirming or changing the main character's view of him- or herself?character's view of him- or herself?

Political / Social RealitiesPolitical / Social RealitiesAs young children, we are sometimes As young children, we are sometimes

unaware of issues such as gender roles, unaware of issues such as gender roles, race, class, or other political realities. A race, class, or other political realities. A common theme of many coming-of-age common theme of many coming-of-age works is a dawning understanding of these works is a dawning understanding of these realities. realities.

At what point do the characters in the story At what point do the characters in the story you are studying begin to understand the you are studying begin to understand the political and social boundaries that define political and social boundaries that define their lives? their lives?

What incidents set off this understanding? What incidents set off this understanding? How does it shape them?How does it shape them?

The Outside WorldThe Outside WorldHow does the story you are studying How does the story you are studying

show how outside events change show how outside events change or define the characters? or define the characters?

Some Coming of Age StoriesSome Coming of Age StoriesYou Might KnowYou Might Know

Go Tell It on the MountainGo Tell It on the MountainThe Tale of the Swamp RatThe Tale of the Swamp RatThe Mortician’s ApprenticeThe Mortician’s ApprenticeThe Dirt EatersThe Dirt EatersMy Enemy, My BrotherMy Enemy, My BrotherHoop DreamsHoop DreamsAngela’s AshesAngela’s AshesBastard out of CarolinaBastard out of Carolina

Black BoyBlack BoyStar WarsStar WarsGreat ExpectationsGreat ExpectationsThe Silence of the LambsThe Silence of the LambsThe Autobiography of Malcolm X The Autobiography of Malcolm X The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the RyeA Tree Grows in BrooklynA Tree Grows in BrooklynNative SonNative SonBoyz in the Hood Boyz in the Hood The Outsiders The Outsiders Stand By MeStand By MeLord of the RingsLord of the Rings

I Know Why the Caged Bird SingsI Know Why the Caged Bird SingsMama’s GirlMama’s GirlThe House on Mango StreetThe House on Mango StreetRattleboneRattleboneWhite OleanderWhite OleanderTheir Eyes Were Watching GodTheir Eyes Were Watching GodGirl InterruptedGirl InterruptedComing of Age in MississippiComing of Age in MississippiWe Were the MulvaneysWe Were the MulvaneysThe Joy Luck ClubThe Joy Luck ClubThe Color PurpleThe Color Purple