Growth and maturation are essential themes in writing. Since the transition from immaturity (childhood) to maturity (adulthood) is something everyone undergoes, it’s a universally relatable theme. In literature, a novel that focuses on a protagonist’s journey from childhood to adulthood falls within the Bildungsroman genre. From Jane Eyre and The Catcher in the Rye to Great Expectations, there are many novels that fall within this popular literary genre. This article will discuss the Bildungsroman genre in detail and discuss the various elements of such a novel.