WOOLF’S NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE AND MODERNISM

Abstract

This article explores the narrative techniques employed by Virginia Woolf as a central figure of literary modernism. The study examines how Woolf transformed traditional narrative structures through the use of stream of consciousness, free indirect discourse, nonlinear temporality, and symbolic imagery. Using a qualitative textual analysis of selected novels, including Mrs Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, and The Waves, the research investigates how Woolf’s stylistic innovations reflect the broader aims of modernism – particularly the emphasis on subjectivity, psychological depth, and fragmentation. The findings demonstrate that Woolf’s narrative strategies not only redefine the concept of realism but also establish a new literary paradigm centered on inner experience. The study concludes that Woolf’s contribution to modernist literature lies in her ability to merge form and content, creating a narrative mode that captures the complexity of human consciousness.