Anil Awad's Quest For Literature

Difference between Steam of Consciousness Interior Monologue, Soliloquy and Aside

By -Anil Awad

Simplified (Lecture Notes)

The Stream of Consciousness is the term first used by William James in ‘The Principles of Psychology’ and Interior Monologue by James Joyce in ‘Valery Larbaud’. If you will study the literary genre throughout the ages minutely, you find some minor differences between the two.

The stream of conscious is related to the five SENSATION (sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch).

For example - You smell a perfume and start to remember the events in a marriage ceremony you attended long ago; you hear an old melody and you remember that your father was listening the same by sitting in a wooden chair, when you were a kid. Etc. etc.

Interior Monologue is related to express the particular SITUATION. Stream of Consciousness is a NARRATIVE MODE where syntax, grammar and punctuations are neglected (Since the mind of human being flows like stream and…..consciousness of human beings runs without syntax & grammar). In Interior Monologue it is followed with Poetic License and more DRAMATIC than narrative. There is MULTIPLICITY of subject matter/content in Stream of Consciousness…because…we have five senses….to perceive the external world…so multiple experiences. While in Interior Monologue, we have UNIFICATION of the subject. Stream of Consciousness has more concern with Novel….and Interior Monologue to poetry.

Please don’t MISUNDERSTAND the concept of Stream of Consciousness, Interior Monologue, Dramatic Monologue, Soliloquy, Apostrophes and Asides. Confused..Let me make it simple..

Dramatic Monologue…it’s a drama…between the Addresser (the protagonist) and Addressees (the audience) both can be imaginary…and we are reading it as an Omnipotent Reader...like an All Knowing God. e.g. My Last Duchess.

In Soliloquy the character is almost alone on the stage and communicates his/her feelings and expressions to the audience (e.g. to be or not to be that is the question).

Aside is shorter than soliloquy and the character comments the ongoing situation in presence of the other characters but….. as if he/she is alone on the stage…target of communication…the audience in front of him. (It is a kind of TACIT AGREEMENT between the Stage and the Audience). Both are related to stage performances.

In Apostrophes…known person/idea/situation/etc. is addressed…example…In the poem London…Wordsworth addresses ‘Milton! Thou shoud’st be living at this moment..’. Apostrophic ‘S is important…so called Apostrophes. Used both in Drama and Poetry prominently.

HOW TO REMEMBER

1. Stream of Consciousness : Founder - William James, used by Jamse Joyce. Related to five senses, Mojor genre – Novel. Narrative Mode.

2. Interior Monologue – Founded by James Joyce but used since ancient time, related to situation, Major genre – Poetry. Dramatic Mode.

3. Dramatic Monologue: Founder: Victorian Poets (Browning & Tennyson eminent), Addresser and Addressee both are imaginary. Major genere – Poetry.

4. Soliloquy : Expression of inner feelings, almost alone on the stage, Major genre – Drama.

5. Aside : Comment upon the present situation, other characters are there, tacit agreement between the character and the audience. Major genre – Drama. Prevalent since ancient time.

6. Apostrophe : Apostrophic ’S is important. Addressed to known person/situation/idea. Prevalent since ancient time.

Thanks.

Anil S Awad

English Net Consultant

anilawad123@gmail.com

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