delit1-5, Exercise 2: The Bildungsroman

Model answer (check the details):

Definition: a novel of formation, in which a young hero develops through experience, mistakes and encounters until he finds a place in the world. Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship (1795 to 1796) follows a merchant's son who is drawn to the theatre and gradually learns what he wants from life, guided by a mysterious society.

Reason for caution: the term Bildungsroman was applied to the novel later (in the nineteenth century), and critics have debated whether Wilhelm Meister really fits the pattern, since Goethe treats his hero ironically and the ending is ambiguous. The category is also broad enough to cover many novels, so it risks explaining little.

Use the label as a convenient description, not a strict genre rule.