Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika –
Зарубежная лингвистика и
лингводидактика – Foreign
Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Journal home page:
https://inscience.uz/index.php/foreign-linguistics
“Metroland” as a postmodern bildungsroman: a
comparative analysis with classic realistic Bildungsromans
Mukhlisa TURSUNOVA
1
Uzbekistan State World Languages University
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received February 2025
Received in revised form
10
March 2025
Accepted 25 March 2025
Available online
25 April 2025
The research paper discusses specific genre elements of the
novel Metroland by contemporary English novelist Julian Barnes.
In postmodern literature, which developed as a reaction against
modernism in the second half of the 20th century, classic genres
and their elements have been significantly transformed due to
the skeptical approaches of the authors. Metroland, although
classified as a Bildungsroman, due to the deconstructive style of
the author and the non-typical issues of postmodern life,
successfully broke the traditional conventions of the same genre.
The research suggests a comparative approach of classic,
realistic and postmodern Bildungsromans in understanding the
genre transformation of the literary type.
2181-3701/© 2024 in Science LLC.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47689/2181-3701-vol3-iss4
This is an open-access article under the Attribution 4.0 International
(CC BY 4.0) license (
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.ru
Keywords:
Metroland,
skeptical approaches,
Bildungsroman,
deconstructive style,
traditional conventions,
genre transformation.
“Metrolend” postmodern tarbiya romani sifatida: klassik
tarbiya romanlarining janriy unsurlari orqali solishtirish
natijalari
ANNOTATSIYA
Kalit so‘zlar:
Metrolend,
skeptik yondashuvlar,
tarbiya romani,
dekonstruktiv uslub,
an’anaviy adabiy mezonlar,
janrlar transformatsiyasi.
Ushbu ilmiy maqolada zamonaviy ingliz yozuvchisi Julian
Barnes qalamiga mansub “Metrolend” romanining muayyan
janriy unsurlari tahlil qilinadi. XX asrning ikkinchi yarmida
modernizmga qarshi reaksiyaviy oqim sifatida shakllangan
postmodern adabiyotda klassik janrlar va ularning individual
unsurlari mualliflarning skeptik va tanqidiy yondashuvlari
tufayli sezilarli darajada o‘zgarishga uchradi. Garchi “Metrolend”
asari tarbiya roman janriga mansub deb qaralsa-da, muallifning
dekonstruktiv uslubi va postmodern hayotga xos bo‘lgan
noodatiy masalalar tufayli ushbu janrning an’anaviy adabiy
1
Assistant Teacher, Uzbekistan State World Languages University.
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue – 4 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
147
mezonlarini muvaffaqiyatli ravishda transformatsiya qilishga
erishadi. Tadqiqotda ushbu adabiy turdagi janr o‘zgarishini
anglashda klassik realistik va postmodern tarbiya romanlar
o‘rtasidagi qiyosiy yondashuv tahlili taklif etiladi.
«Метроленд»
как
постмодернистский
роман
воспитания: сравнительный анализ с классическими
реалистическими романами воспитания
АННОТАЦИЯ
Ключевые слова:
Метроленд,
скептические подходы,
роман воспитания,
деконструктивистский
стиль,
традиционные элементы
жанра,
трансформация жанра.
Данная статья рассматривает специфические жанровые
элементы романа «Метроленд» современного английского
писателя Джулиана Барнса. В постмодернистской литературе,
развившейся как реакция на модернизм во второй половине
XX века, классические жанры и их отдельные элементы
претерпели значительные изменения из-за скептических
подходов авторов. «Метроленд», хотя и классифицируется как
роман
воспитания
(bildungsroman),
благодаря
деконструктивному стилю автора и нетипичным проблемам
постмодернистской жизни, успешно нарушает традиционные
конвенции
этого
жанра.
Исследование
предлагает
сравнительный подход к классическим реалистическим и
постмодернистским романам воспитания для понимания
трансформации жанра этого литературного типа.
INTRODUCTION
“Metroland”, the first novel and a Buildingsroman [1,19], by Julian Barnes narrates
Christopher Lloyd’s story from his adolescence years to his maturity. Julian Barnes as one
of the brightest representatives of English postmodernism, has transformed most of the
conventional novel writing through his innovations of self-reflexive, self-confessional,
unreliable narrative strategies and fabulations. Postmodernism, as one of the most
controversial literary and artistic movements, has received a considerable amount of both
positive and negative criticism due to its confusing nature. Postmodernist authors with
their sceptical and highly critical approach have been trying to reestablish the
unconventional literary norms of novel writing to restore the neglected truths.
METHODS
By analyzing “Metroland”, we have identified that the classic Bildungsroman genre
has undergone a significant transformation, developed unique genre dynamics and
incorporated unconventional narrative strategies in its artistic form. Due to such highly
sceptical and deconstructive approaches, postmodern literary representatives have
considerably changed the literary elements of conventionnal genres. In his first
postmodern work, “Metroland”, Julian Barnes portrays the physical and psychological
maturation of the two adolescent protagonists, Christopher Lloyd and Tony Barbarowski,
using a deconstructive approach [2, 7] that corresponds with the requirements of the
postmodern era. According to N. Makhmudova, the classic Bildungsroman encompasses
both the characters’ traditional education and the concept of their enhancement.
Moreover, it depicts the history of the characters’ physical growth and psychological
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue – 4 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
148
maturation, covering the period from their early childhood to adulthood, or up until the
time the characters find their place in society [5, 14]. N. Makhmudova gives the
characteristic features of realistic Buildingsromans through the literary analysis of
Dicknes’s novels of this genre. She asserts that primarily the events, conflicts, conditions,
and the environment in the novel have a significant impact on the protagonist’s personal
and spiritual progress. In addition, secondary characters influence the protagonist’s
growth in either a constructive or a destructive manner. Most notably, the English
Bildungsromans are based on didactic moral teachings, aiming to cultivate moral values in
the reader. And finally, the chronotope in the novel is expressed in proportion to the life
cycles. These artistic features are identified as the main genre characteristics of classic
Bildungsromans.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
The English classic Bildungsroman is characterized by aspects such as
“autobiographical narration (the authors describing events from their childhood in their
works), genealogy (the protagonist’s family history), apprenticeship, self-awareness (the
protagonist leaving their birthplace), a chronological plot structure, strong internal and
external conflicts, life challenges, the protagonist being under constant influence, the
concept of a morally healthy family, and efforts to find one’s love”. Postmodernists, on the
other hand, prefer to depict themes of personal transformation of the main characters in
literature without relying on realistic elements. By analyzing Julian Barnes’s “Metroland”,
we claim that postmodern authors insist that the formal elements characteristic of the
realistic Bildungsroman are incapable of portraying the psychological and emotional state
of postmodern society, and therefore they mostly tend to create their works by narrating
the stories from different point of views at a time, narrators insisting on their unreliability
due to the inconsistency of memory, subjectivity of history and relativity of philosophy and
by fragmenting different sources.
Ihab Hassan describes the psychological condition of nations suffering from the
aftermath of World War II, which is related to depression, nihilism, and hopelessness,
using the concepts of “indeterminacy” and “immanence” [3, 269], which are not in
dialectical relation to one another. According to him, postmodernism developed within the
framework of these two terms. The scholar asserts that indeterminacy does not consider
it correct to rely on a specific source and its absoluteness in one’s actions. People often
regard a religious book, a philosophical worldview, or a political-social tendency as
“infallible” and fundamentally establish their lifestyles, moral norms, and spiritual
outlooks according to them. They also try to impose the rules and norms they believe to be
correct on others. For postmodernists, since all truths are relative, they critically examine
such religious sources, philosophical, social, and political viewpoints, revealing their
subjectivity. Barnes has created his novel Metrolend in a way that deviates from the classic
Buildingsroman, typical of realism. This can be seen through the classification presented
below (see Table 1).
Table 1. Comparative analysis of postmodern Buildingsroman - “Metroland”
Classic
Buildingsroma
n and its
In the example of
typical
classic
Buildingsroman
Postmodern
Buildingsroman
Examples
from
“Metroland”
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue – 4 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
149
literary
elements
and its literary
elements
autobiographic
al narration
The
authors
describe
events
from
their
childhood;
The
author
narrates his own
experiences in a
non-linear
retrospection
In the work, Barnes' life
experiences are depicted
in certain places (the
author’s time spent living
in
Metroland,
his
awareness
of
the
environment and social
life there, his extended
visits to France, his
enthusiasm for speaking
French, and so on)
genealogy
the
protagonist’s
family history
to view the family
tree
as
an
expression
of
bourgeois
society."
The
characters’
indifference to a specific
family tree and their pride
in being distant from such
social divisions.
apprenticeship
mastering the skills
of craftsmanship
reluctance
to
possess
a
particular
profession
a sense of distrust towards
several professions and a
strong inclination solely
towards art
self-awareness
the
protagonist
abandoning
their
birthplace
Self-realization is
not bound to any
particular place.
Although the protagonist
leaves his homeland, the
goals he seeks may be
varied
(Christopher
travels to Paris, not only to
find the necessary sources
for his thesis but also to
experience the culture,
understand street life, and,
of course, for women as
well).
a chronological
plot structure
to depict the events
of the plot in a
coherent
and
A
complicated
and
blended
narration
the work is generally
narrated retrospectively,
sometimes disregarding
chronological norms, and
sometimes it is conveyed
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue – 4 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
150
systematic
chronological order
through fragmentary
memories
strong internal
and
external
conflicts
Strong
life
challenges
mostly internal
conflict
The characters are filled
with a strong sense of
distrust
and
disillusionment towards
the general political and
social state of society
(viewing society as the
bourgeois layer), and the
desire to escape from it.
the protagonist
being
under
constant
influence
The restrictions in
the hero’s sense of
freedom are due to
specific
social
norms
and
the
political system.
remaining under
the influence of
specific
personnel
or
circles due to
negligence and a
lack of initiative
towards pursuing
any life goal.
Christopher
was
unconsciously
manipulated by Toni, but
after
some
time,
understanding Toni’s real
intentions, he decisively
shifts the course of his
relationship with him.
the concept
of a morally
healthy
family
and
efforts to find
one’s love.
Love and family
relationships are
depicted based on
certain standards
and within the
framework
of
moral principles.
openly lustful
attitudes
and
chaos
in
romantic affairs
Although
in
his
adolescence Christopher
displayed
signs
of
immorality, a strong
inclination
toward
street life, indifference
to serious life values,
and chaotic romantic
relationships, in the
third part of the work, he
comes to understand
that life cannot go on in
such a disorder. As a
result, motivated by
love, he decides to build
a family and form
regular bonds.
CONCLUSION
Relying on those literary-aesthetic depictions, we can classify “Metroland” as
postmodern or anti-buildingsroman [4,16] like the novels - “Tristam Shandy” by
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
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L.Stern and “Sartor Rezartus” by T.Carlayle. That is, if the characters of classical
educational novels overcome the difficulties of life without losing their personal
qualities and showing patience, then the heroes of postmodern educational novels
achieve personal maturity by experiencing a natural existence in understanding life
and undergoing a “street” education.
Another distinctive feature of the novel “Metrolend” in comparison to some
other classic Buildingsromans is that of literary technique - silence, which plays a
significant role in the characters’ understanding of life and their sense of self-identity.
In the 19th century, silence served as part of the culture of the era and the prevailing
realistic views, whereas by the 20th century, it became the main element of artistic
representation. It, in its turn, by bearing symbolic meaning, began to reflect the
psychological tension of individuals of the postmodern period. The concept of literary
silence began to be used not as the end of spirituality or the death of the soul, but as
an ideological concept of societies seeking a sense of safety within the accelerated
processes of modernity and postmodernity.
CONCLUSION
Autobiographical approaches, the depiction of life facts in general, a strongly critical
attitude toward traditional views of family lineage and the pursuit of social status through
some type of professional occupations, skepticism toward the idea that experiences in
various locations can improve one’s life, and the perception of space as tied to differing
motives – along with a contentious view of society (seen as a bureaucratic residue of the
bourgeois class) and its overall socio-political condition – all contribute to a complex
portrayal of postmodern characters and their dissatisfied personality. The protagonist’s
immoral fantasies throughout adolescence, strong attraction to street life, indifference to
serious life norms, and the realization, after chaotic youthful romantic relationships, forces
him to understand that such a life of unrest cannot continue, culminates in the decision to
form family ties due to love and asserts that Metroland can surely be classifyed as a
subversive postmodern coming-of-age novel (an anti-Bildungsroman).
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