AP Notes 65 66 67 68 Flashcards
BILDUNGSROMAN
A Bildungsroman is a story of the growing up of a sensitive person who
looks for answers to his questions through different experiences. Generally, such a novel
starts with a loss or a tragedy that disturbs the main character emotionally. He or she
leaves on a journey to fill that vacuum.
BILDUNGSROMAN
During the journey, the protagonist gains maturity gradually and with
difficulty. Usually, the plot depicts a conflict between the protagonist and the values of
society. Finally, he or she accepts those values and they are accepted by the society,
ending the dissatisfaction. Such a type of novel is also known as a coming-of-age novel.
Can you think of one such novel that you might have read that fits this description?
ILLUSION
(not to be confused with ALLUSION) An illusion is a false illustration of something,
a deceptive impression, or a false belief. Literally speaking, an illusion is something that is
false and not factual. It tricks the human brain into thinking an unreal into a real. In other
words, it is meant to mislead the perception of readers, and deceive their senses. Writers
deceive readers’ sense of sight, touch, taste, and sounds, making them imagine what is
happening, by illustrating certain details:
“I’ll tell you God’s truth. … I am the son of some wealthy people in the middle-west [San
Francisco] – all dead now.”
