Final answer:
A bildungsroman is a novel that focuses on a person's formative years and moral/psychological growth, often called a 'coming of age' story. Examples include the Harry Potter series.
Step-by-step explanation:
A novel that deals with a person's formative years and moral/psychological growth, often referred to as a 'coming of age' story, is called a bildungsroman. It is a German term for a novel centered around the development of its main characters. A popular example of a bildungsroman is the Harry Potter series, which chronicles Harry Potter's difficult teenage years.
German, combining the words 'bildung' meaning education or formation, and 'roman' meaning novel. It is part of a larger classification of stories called genres, which share common plot elements and thematic content. While Bildungsroman is a distinct genre that centers around character development, many novels incorporate aspects of various genres, such as romance, mystery, or science fiction, making their categorization flexible.
Descriptive imagery plays a significant role in these stories, as it uses sensory details to bring the reader into the protagonist's world and experiences. This literary device aids in depicting the internal and external challenges that the character faces throughout the narrative. Overall, the Bildungsroman is a transformative journey that resonates with readers due to its exploration of universal themes of growth and self-discovery.