1. Novel in the 20 th Century

2. Social and Literary Background 1.Impact of World War I- Note of anxiety: post-World War I The reaction of the post-World War I has been to suspect all manifestations of authority. It is the era of revolt against authority. Political and religious skepticism, general disillusionment, cynicism, and irony have become the order of the day. 1.Impact of World War I- Note of anxiety: post-World War I The reaction of the post-World War I has been to suspect all manifestations of authority. It is the era of revolt against authority. Political and religious skepticism, general disillusionment, cynicism, and irony have become the order of the day.

3. 2.Loss of Faith in Traditional Values: Doubts scientific spirit and rationalism The rise of the scientific spirit and rationalism led to a questioning of accepted beliefs and traditions. In matters of religion it gave rise to skepticism.

4. 3. Pessimism The despair The despair of the age is seen in the picture of man, “as but the outcome of chance collocations of atoms”.

5. 4.Increased Inwardness: The New Psychology withdrawal of the individual within his own shell. The break-down of accepted values has resulted in increased inwardness, in an increased withdrawal of the individual within his own shell. Freud’s psychological theories proved human conduct to be determined by the deep force lying buried within the sub-conscious and the unconscious rather than the conscious.

6. 5. Internationalism: Nationalism imperialism equality Nationalism is no longer regarded as enough, and imperialism has come in for a great deal of criticism. The relations between the nations of the world must be based on equality and mutual respect and not on the old basis of political subjugation and imperial supremacy.

7. The Stream of Consciousness Novel (psychological-subjective) The rise of this art-form was on the eve of the world War I. This particular kind of novel is also called the novel of subjectivity or the psychological novel. Definition Definition : According to William James, who first used the term, it is the chaotic flow of impressions and sensations through the human consciousness The rise of this art-form was on the eve of the world War I. This particular kind of novel is also called the novel of subjectivity or the psychological novel. Definition Definition : According to William James, who first used the term, it is the chaotic flow of impressions and sensations through the human consciousness

8. The Characteristics of Stream of Consciousness Novel 1. Treatment of Time Bergson’s theory of time psychological time”, Bergson’s theory of time has been of far-reaching significance in this connection. He divided time into “clock time” and “ psychological time”, which is conceived as a flow, a continuously moving stream and the division into past, present, and future are artificial. The past lives on in the present, in memory and in its consequences, and in the way it shapes the future. 1. Treatment of Time Bergson’s theory of time psychological time”, Bergson’s theory of time has been of far-reaching significance in this connection. He divided time into “clock time” and “ psychological time”, which is conceived as a flow, a continuously moving stream and the division into past, present, and future are artificial. The past lives on in the present, in memory and in its consequences, and in the way it shapes the future.

9. 2.Probing of Human Consciousness The psychologists of the day revealed that there are layers within layers in the human consciousness. Beneath the conscious, there is sub-conscious, and then there is the unconscious. The past lives on in the sub- conscious and the un-conscious and is brought up to the conscious level, through memory and recollection. The conscious is only a very small part of the human psyche or soul. Human actions are determined more by the sub- conscious and the unconscious than by the conscious, and this will be the precept upon which all stream of consciousness writing function.

10. 3. Study of Human Psyche chaotic flux The aim of the modern psychological novelist is to render the ‘psyche’ truthfully, and with this end he uses the stream of consciousness technique. The human psyche is not a simple entity functioning logically and rationally, in a predictable manner, but rather as a chaotic flux.

11. 4. Decay of Plot The action moves backward and forward in time. There is no plot construction in the sense of a logical arrangement of incidents, leading chronologically to a catastrophe or dénouement. The action moves backward and forward in time. The result is that the novel in their hands is often incoherent and shapeless, and creates insurmountable difficulties for the readers. The irrational and the chaotic in the human consciousness is rendered.

12. The Contribution of Virginia Woolf form and discipline clock time and inner time sign points In this connection, Virginia Woolf’s contribution is of far-reaching significance. The credit of imparting form and discipline to the chaotic psychological novel must go to her. She held a close confrontation of clock time and inner time, and the transitions from the past to the present, and from one consciousness to another, are clarified by enough sign points for the guidance of the readers.