What does "stream of consciousness" refer to?

"Stream of consciousness" refers to a narrative mode that captures the flow of thoughts and feelings running through a character's mind. This technique aims to provide an intimate insight into characters’ inner experiences, often presenting a continuous flow of ideas, emotions, and sensory perceptions as they occur. This might include disjointed thoughts, fragmented ideas, and associations that mirror the natural patterns of human thought.

By using this style, authors can effectively convey complex emotions and thoughts, making the reader feel as though they are directly experiencing the character's mental landscape. It serves to deepen character development and enhance the reader’s understanding of a character's psyche, which is a hallmark of modernist literature and can be seen prominently in the works of authors like Virginia Woolf and James Joyce.

This understanding highlights why B is the accurate choice, as it encapsulates the essence of the stream of consciousness technique in literature. Other options do not capture the fundamental characteristics of this narrative style.