A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

by James Joyce

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: Stream of Consciousness 1 key example

Definition of Stream of Consciousness

Stream of consciousness is a style or technique of writing that tries to capture the natural flow of a character's extended thought process, often by incorporating sensory impressions, incomplete ideas, unusual syntax... read full definition
Stream of consciousness is a style or technique of writing that tries to capture the natural flow of a character's extended thought process, often by incorporating... read full definition
Stream of consciousness is a style or technique of writing that tries to capture the natural flow of a character's... read full definition
Chapter 1, Part 3
Explanation and Analysis—Psychological Insight:

Stream-of-consciousness narration is one of the most famous techniques in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. This technique helps represent the characters' inner thoughts and perceptions. It appears most notably in Chapters 1 and 5 in order to provide insight into the mind of Stephen Dedalus. In Chapter 1, Part 3, the narrator describes Stephen's reaction to hearing the chapel bell:

How beautiful and sad that was! How beautiful the words were where they said Bury me in the old churchyard! A tremor passed over his body. How sad and how beautiful! He wanted to cry quietly but not for himself: for the words, so beautiful and sad, like music. The bell! The bell! Farewell! O farewell!

Chapter 2, Part 5
Explanation and Analysis—Psychological Insight:

Stream-of-consciousness narration is one of the most famous techniques in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. This technique helps represent the characters' inner thoughts and perceptions. It appears most notably in Chapters 1 and 5 in order to provide insight into the mind of Stephen Dedalus. In Chapter 1, Part 3, the narrator describes Stephen's reaction to hearing the chapel bell:

How beautiful and sad that was! How beautiful the words were where they said Bury me in the old churchyard! A tremor passed over his body. How sad and how beautiful! He wanted to cry quietly but not for himself: for the words, so beautiful and sad, like music. The bell! The bell! Farewell! O farewell!

Unlock with LitCharts A+