As you read Charles Dickens' classic Bildungsroman novel, Great Expectations have students keep track of the different elements of Bildungsroman literature and incorporate them into this chart.
Have students not only depict the scene, but explain how it is highlighting the characteristic of Bildungsroman literature. Teachers can customize the level of detail and number of cells required for projects based on available class time, differentiated learners, and resources.
Students will enjoy following Pip’s journey to maturity from his humble beginnings in the forge and tracking his progress through illustrations and descriptions.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard chart that tracks the different stages of Bildungsroman literature.
Student Instructions:
Begin by introducing the concept of Bildungsroman novels to the students. Explain to them how these novels are the most popular form of literary fiction and are also known as “coming of age” stories. Explain some examples of well-known Bildungsroman novels that students are already familiar with such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” and tell them how these novels are associated with the journey and growth of the character.
After the introduction, explore the stages of the concept in detail. Tell the students how each stage correlates with a specific part of the novel and how they can identify and differentiate these stages. Teachers can also use visuals at this point to enhance their understanding.
Pay close attention to the literary techniques the author uses to illustrate the many stages of the Bildungsroman. Ask the students to look for narrative devices like symbolism, foreshadowing, and pacing that increase the impact of the story.
Comparing the stages and themes of the Bildungsroman you are studying with those of other older or more recent Bildungsroman works may help you understand the genre better. Comparative analysis can highlight recurring themes and variances.
Ask the students to create a short story where they will represent themselves as the main character and talk about any specific aspect of their life journey up til now according to the Bildungsroman stages. Students can be creative and add some exaggerated elements but the context should be based on their own lives.
Since it recounts the lives and growth of its protagonist, Pip, from his early years as an orphan through his maturity, "Great Expectations" matches the Bildungsroman subgenre. The story traces Pip's moral and emotional development as he gains knowledge of himself and his surroundings. Pip encounters all the stages that lead to his growth and development as any other character in a Bildungsroman novel.
The main stages of Pip's growth in the book include his humble origins, his encounters with Estella and Miss Havisham, his unexpected rise in social rank, his disappointment, and his final self-realization.
Pip learns about the harsh reality of the upper class and the brutality of certain people via his interactions with Estella and Miss Havisham. His desire to behave properly and gain Estella's affection is fueled by this encounter, which paves the way for his moral and emotional development.