Final answer:
Stream of consciousness is a literary device that depicts a character's ongoing flow of thoughts, feelings, and sensations in real-time, giving readers an intimate view of the character's inner experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stream of consciousness is a literary technique that presents a character's thoughts and feelings as they occur. This narrative style is akin to following a character's thought process, with all its associations, tangents, and sensory perceptions, giving the reader an intimate and direct understanding of the character's inner world. The experience is similar to the uninterrupted flow of consciousness itself.
The technique often skips the usual grammatical structure and aims to mimic the mind's natural thought patterns, which can render the narrative disjoint and non-linear. Stream of consciousness may switch perspectives, moving between different character's views seamlessly, reflecting humanity's nature as described by philosophers: that the self is a 'bundle of different perceptions', in constant change. Noteworthy is that while some narratives might seem disorganized, the technique deliberately expresses the natural complexity of the mind. Writers such as Helen Keller, through sensory engagement, and poets like Allen Ginsberg and Charles Olson, have used this approach to offer a more tactile experience and a visceral connection to the narrative.