STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS: MEANING, HISTORY, IMPORTANCE IN PSYCHOLOGY AND ENGLISH LITERATURE

STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS: MEANING, HISTORY, IMPORTANCE IN PSYCHOLOGY AND ENGLISH LITERATURE 

In a  general language, Stream of consciousness is a narrative technique in which what  a writer or a person who wants to create something attractive write down what comes in his or her mind randomly.In this blog, I will cover the history of this technique, Facts about this and the importance of this technique in English Literature and Psychology as well.

WHAT'S STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS?

As I above explained in a easy manner, Stream of consciousness is a narrative or writing techniques use to enhance the uniqueness of writing skill, it's a technique of writing randomly with the hope of great changes and attraction by the writing.In other words, It's a technique which is totally based on the mind, thought and situation arround the writer.

HISTORY OF STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS

The term "Stream of consciousness" was first introduced by the famous psychologist William James in his work "The principles of psychology" in the field of psychology in 1893.He used this theory to explain the power of free thought process and the free flow of thoughts.In English Literature, Virginia Woolf considered the medium to include this technique in English.She used this modern technique in her writing to express character's thoughts, thinking and experience.

IMPORTANCE OF STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN PSYCHOLOGY

William James 

In psychology, Stream of consciousness has a major importance to define the flow of thoughts and feelings in subject's mind.It gives a clarity about the thought process and concept of people's thoughts. It's a independent way to explain the experience and circumstances of a subject ( here subject is a person in psychology).

IMPORTANCE OF STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN ENGLISH LITERATURE

Virginia Woolf 

Virginia Woolf who was an English writer , considered one of the most important modernist in 20th century.She is the first who used stream of consciousness in her writing and wrote many works by this technique i.e. Shakespeare's Sister, Mrs.Dalloway and many others. The importance of this writing technique are as follows:-

1- There is a great important of this technique in English literature, In which an author can feel his character and can make him conscious for the readers.

2- In this style of writing, Narrators provide readers with access to a character's thoughts by simply narrating all of them.

3- This is a way of expressing independently everything what comes in mind regarding any current situation.

Some popular example of stream of consciousness are as follows:

1- Mrs Dalloway : It's a novel written by Virginia Woolf in 1925 and based on the stream of consciousness.It is a novel covered in one day.

2- A Room of One's Own:

A room of one's own is a written work of Virgin Woolf with this writing  technique.Its is a book published in 1923.

3- I know why the caged bird sings : The novel was written by Maya Angelou in 1969 is a autobiography of poet what cover the whole life of poetess and based on stream of consciousness.