stream of consciousness
Say it: stream of KON-shus-nus /ˌstriːm əv ˈkɒnʃəsnəs/ · noun phrase
What “stream of consciousness” means
Writing that follows someone's thoughts as they flow.
More precisely: Writing that captures a character's continuous, unfiltered flow of thoughts and feelings.
When to use it
When discussing writing that moves freely through a character's thoughts, memories and feelings without tidying them into neat order.
Similar words
interior monologue, free association
Where it comes from
Coined by the psychologist William James in 1890.
Quick check
A novel follows a woman's thoughts from lunch to childhood to worry, without organising them neatly. What style is this?
epistolary or stream of consciousness?
Show the answer
stream of consciousness
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