Stream of consciousness is a narrative technique. It shows a character’s thoughts and feelings as they happen, often in a continuous and unstructured way. This style can include unfinished sentences, repetition, or sudden changes in topic — just like real thoughts.
Writers use stream of consciousness to help readers get inside a character’s mind and experience their emotions more directly. It can make the writing feel more personal, emotional, or confusing, depending on the effect the writer wants.
Example of stream of consciousness in a GCSE text
In The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, the main character Christopher often shares his thoughts in a stream of consciousness style. His narration jumps between maths problems, memories, and observations without warning. This helps readers understand how Christopher processes the world and gives a deeper insight into his unique way of thinking.
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