Question

Pick out the novel written in the Stream of consciousness mode:

• A. Frankenstein
• B. Mrs. Dalloway
• C. Great Expectations
• D. Pride and Prejudice

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Mrs. Dalloway

Stream of Consciousness Technique in Literature

• The stream of consciousness is a narrative mode or literary technique that attempts to depict the multitudinous thoughts and feelings which pass through the mind of a narrator.
• It is characterized by free association of ideas, sensory impressions, memories, and reflections.
• It often bypasses traditional grammatical structures and logical progression to mirror the fluid and often chaotic nature of human thought.
• Key proponents of this technique include Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and William Faulkner.

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

• Mrs. Dalloway, published in 1925, is a seminal work that masterfully employs the stream of consciousness technique.
• The novel follows a single day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, a high-society London hostess, as she prepares for a party.
• Woolf delves into the inner thoughts and memories of Clarissa and other characters, revealing their pasts, desires, and anxieties.
• The narrative seamlessly shifts between different characters' perspectives, capturing the ebb and flow of their mental processes.
• Other notable works by Virginia Woolf that utilize stream of consciousness include To the Lighthouse (1927) and The Waves (1931).

Notable Examples of Stream of Consciousness in Other Novels

• Ulysses (1922) by James Joyce is perhaps the most famous and complex example of stream of consciousness, particularly in its final chapter, Molly Bloom's soliloquy.
• William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury (1929) uses the technique to explore the fragmented consciousness of Benjy Compson and Quentin Compson.
• Dorothy Richardson's Pilgrimage (1915-1967) is considered an early and extensive exploration of the stream of consciousness.

Significance in Competitive Exams

• Understanding literary techniques like stream of consciousness is crucial for analyzing literary texts in competitive exams.
• Questions often test the ability to identify authors and their signature styles or to recognize specific techniques within given literary excerpts.
• Familiarity with major works and their associated techniques can help in quickly answering questions related to literary modernism and its prominent authors.