Mrs. Dalloway

Consider Woolf’s stream-of-consciousness narratives in Mrs. Dalloway. How does she use this structure to connect the characters to the reader? How do her narratives broach the themes of Isolation Within the Social Classes and The Power of Memory?

Teaching Suggestion: Woolf’s novel is a construction of various stream-of-conscious narratives, all of which at some point connect with each other. In this manner, Woolf equally provides insight into all her characters’ thoughts, including the mindset of war veteran Septimus as he deals with mental health concerns. Students may wish to consider how Woolf’s technique differs from a limited third-person or an omniscient narrative stance as they address the prompt.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who struggle to articulate their thoughts, consider selecting a stream-of-consciousness narrative from the perspective of a single character, such as Peter Walsh, and have them trace the way in which the narrative both helps readers connect with the character and articulates the themes of Isolation Within the Social Classes and The Power of Memory.

Use this activity to engage all types of learners while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

DEBATE: “Is Mrs. Dalloway an anti-war novel?”