Coming of age

Question 1

The coming of age archetype?

Answer 1

• Characters are between 12-18
• Adults are “bad” or not important
• Usually involves a journey
• Must confront fears
• Conflict with parent/guardian
• Learning something important
• Involving test or challeneges
• Ending might be bittersweet
• Scarification

Question 2

Definition of coming of age (bildungsroman)?

Answer 2

• Concentrates on development or education of a central character
• Personal enrichment
• Quest story; purpose in life
• Something happens, ex: a loss, that jars the character
• Process of maturity is long, arduous and gradual

Question 3

What can story contains sometimes?

Answer 3

1- Initiation, trial, rite of passage
2- Loss of innocence
3- Decision making
4- Commentary on society
5- Epiphany (a-ah moment)
6- A journey, real or symbolic

Question 4

Examples of coming of age movies?

Answer 4

• Ferris Bueller’s day off
• Juno
• Napoleon Dynamite
• Breakfast club
• Sixteen candles
• Stand by me
• The outsiders
• 10 things I hate about you
• Clueless

Question 5

Typical plot?

Answer 5

1- Emotional loss for youth
2- Youth leaves home on journey
3- Encounters many conflicts (external and internal)
4- Youth learns, matures
5- Young adult accepts values or society. Society accepts him.
6) Adilt returns home with new knowledge to benefit society.

Question 6

When does the character’s growth begins?

Answer 6

• He is faced with loss or discovery
• Character may lose innocence
• Character may struggle with knowlegde that the adult world is complex

Question 7

The character’s growth is shown by?

Answer 7

• Clashes between what he wants and rules of society
• Character wants to establish his own rules.
• There are usually internal or external conflict!