Stream of consciousness is a literary device that takes the reader inside a character’s mind, allowing them to follow their thoughts. It can be difficult to follow as it is not linear, but it helps to understand the character better. It is typically used as a character study and often includes memories and feelings. James Joyce’s Ulysses is a well-known example. It is a complex technique that experienced writers use, and when done poorly, it can make the work incomprehensible.
Stream of consciousness in literature is a narrative mode that takes the reader inside the mind of the character to follow his thought patterns. While in some cases it helps drive the plot forward, in most cases the stream of consciousness allows the reader to get to know the character a little better. It can be a little difficult to follow, as it often doesn’t follow a set linear pattern or logical pattern, as it is intended to be written the way people actually think, which tends to be disjoint and rather free-associative. Perhaps the best known example of stream of consciousness in literature is James Joyce’s novel Ulysses.
As a literary device, stream of consciousness generally falls within the purview of more experienced writers. This is because it can be complex and difficult to write well, especially in a way that the reader understands. When done wrong, stream-of-consciousness literature can make the work virtually impossible to comprehend. Many writers frequently add references to other literary works or other common literary symbols into stream-of-consciousness passages, to make them more complex but also more meaningful.
The role of stream of consciousness in literature is typically as a character study. The character is not speaking to the audience in this literary device, as he or she is in a monologue, but is rather speaking to himself. While the character may analyze events that have occurred in the story and move the plot that way, typically the character is examining her response to events. Usually, this is a literary technique that the author will draw in and out of throughout the story, although some writers will produce an entire novel in this stream-of-consciousness format, with the character acting as narrator.
Another technique frequently used with stream of consciousness is the discussion of a character’s memories, as well as thoughts, feelings, and responses to current events. This contributes to the non-linear sense that stream-of-consciousness communicates. Often, these memories will be used as a method of flashback or foreshadowing, to allow the reader to start guessing what might happen later in the text. This is especially true when entire novels are written in this format, rather than short interludes to hear a character’s internal monologue.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
