How is Great Expectations a coming of age novel?

A coming of age story is a story that focuses on how a particular child character matures and the life experiences that make him or her an adult. Great Expectations is the story of a young boy, Pip, who grows up due to tumultuous experiences he has from a very young age. Pip's first experience is in the cemetery. read more

A coming of age story is a story that focuses on how a particular child character matures and the life experiences that make him or her an adult. Great Expectations is the story of a young boy, Pip, who grows up due to tumultuous experiences he has from a very young age. Pip’s first experience is in the cemetery. read more

Great Expectations, published in 1861, is considered to be one of his greatest works both overall and within the bildungsroman genre, due to its intricate narrative and character developments. The novel addresses many of the common concerns in bildungsromane, such as finding a place to belong, discovering who one can depend on, defining what really matters in life, and coming to peace with one’s self. read more

Motifs: sense of location; criminals; social expectations. Major Symbols: Miss Havisham's house; money. Movie Versions: Great Expectations (1946); Great Expectations. The three most important aspects of Great Expectations: Great Expectations is a bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel. read more