Genre
David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens

David Copperfield: Genre 1 key example

Genre
Explanation and Analysis:

The novel is a clear example of a Bildungsroman, or novel of development. A Bildungsroman most often features a male protagonist over a number of years as he comes of age, builds his character, and learns how to craft a successful life for himself, usually among the middle class. A novel in this genre typically ends with professional success, marriage, or both. There were plenty of Bildungsromans in English and in other languages before Dickens wrote David Copperfield, but this novel fits into the genre extraordinarily well. It not only tells the story of David Copperfield's life from birth through professional success and marriage, but it also spins each life event into a narrative of growth: even moments when things go badly, the adult narrator finds a way to justify how his entire life has prepared him for his literary career and marriage to Agnes.