C. Stream of consciousness

- disjoined flow of the character’s associated ideas, memories, sense impressions

- the author is removed from the stream of the inner speech

• Influenced by psychological studies

Mr. Bloom put his head out of the window.

Gasworks ... Whooping cough they say it cures. Good job Milly never got it. Poor children! Doubles them up black and blue in convulsions. Shame really. Got off lightly with illnesses compared. Only measles. Flaxseed tea. Scarlatina, influenza epidemics. Canvassing for death. Don’t miss this chance. Dog’s home over there. Poor old Athos! Be good to Athos, Leopold, is my last wish. They will be done. We obey them in the grave. A dying scrawl. He took it to heart. Quiet brute. Old men’s dogs usually are. (J. Joyce)

Functions of characters’ speech:

colours the text with the tone of spontaneity

contributes to the effect of reality, authenticity

 adds to the reader’s knowledge about the character

introduces a character’s point of view

serves as a personage’s self-characterisation

creates a psychologically complex character

depicts the inner world of the character