Question Details

Who among the following coined the term ‘Stream of Consciousness’?

Options

A

Virginia Woolf

B

Marcel Proust

C

May Sinclair

D

James Joyce

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option C

May Sinclair

Solution :

The correct option is May Sinclair.

Detailed Explanation:
The term "stream of consciousness" has its origins in psychology, but its adoption into the realm of literary criticism is attributed to the English writer and critic May Sinclair.

1. Origin of the Term: The term was originally coined by the American psychologist and philosopher William James in his book The Principles of Psychology (1890) to describe the continuous, fluid flow of thoughts, sensations, and memories in the human mind.

2. Literary Application: In April 1918, May Sinclair became the first person to apply this term to literature. Writing a review of Dorothy Richardson's multi-volume novel sequence Pilgrimage in the journal The Egoist, Sinclair used "stream of consciousness" to describe Richardson's innovative narrative method, which presented the narrative directly through the protagonist's unfiltered thoughts and perceptions.

3. Significance: Through Sinclair's critical review, the term was established in literary history. It went on to define a major narrative technique of modernist literature, famously utilized by other prominent authors of the era, including James Joyce and Virginia Woolf.

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