Contemporary theoretical formulations have failed postcolonial literature as they do not define exactly what the characteristics are of the so called postcolonial novel or author. The bildungsroman originally a German, nationalist genre, as used by postcolonial novelists to show the growth of a young protagonist into nationalist, anti-colonial sentiments is the form that helps define the true characteristics of what constitutes postcoloniality in a work of literature. The most important component, however, is that the growth defined is not just anti-colonial but is towards indigenousness in language, style, religious roots and belonging
