Stream of Consciousness Novel & Important Facts

A Brief Introduction

The Psychological or stream of consciousness novel surfaced in the twentieth century. The stream of consciousness technique was used by the novelists to represent a character’s thoughts and sense impressions without syntax or logical sequence. Four main types have been identified : (i) Soliloquy, (ii) omniscient narration of mental process and (iv) direct and (v) Indirect interior monologue. The phrase ‘stream of Consciousness’ was first used by William James in his book Principles of Psychology (1890) to describe the random flux of conscious and sub-conscious thoughts and impressions in the mind. This technique became important with the rise of modernism in the 20th century. Those who used this technique in their novels are James Joyce, Dorothy Richardson and Virginia woolf.

Important Facts to Remember

1. Under the Stream of consciousness’ technique the concept of ‘reality’ is changed the reality lies not in the outer actions, but in inner working of the human mind. In the inner perceptions, Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse is an experiment towards a new method of this technique.

2. In the realm of fiction this revolt appeared in two forms revolt against reason and revolt in style. D.H. Lawrence was the leader of the revolt against reason.

3. The novels written in the stream of consciousness technique clearly reflect the decay of the plot. If these are stories, they have no proper sequence, no coherence, no proper ending. The unities of time, place have no meaning or any significance in this novels.

4. The ‘Stream Consciousness’ novelists were neither satisfied with traditional forms of realism nor were they contended with the basic aims which motivated it. They wanted to give more than could be perceive of the surface.

5. The method of characterization in the modern novel has undergone a great change. The traditional way of delineation of character has been discarded just as the story, so also the characters has decayed in the modern novel.