What narrative technique provides a glimpse into a character's thoughts and feelings?

The narrative technique that provides a glimpse into a character's thoughts and feelings is stream of consciousness. This technique immerses the reader in the inner workings of a character's mind, presenting thoughts in a flowing, often chaotic manner that reflects the natural thought process. It allows for a deep exploration of a character's emotions and mental state, revealing their vulnerabilities, desires, and conflicts.

This technique contrasts with other narrative strategies. Dialogue, for example, involves characters speaking to one another and conveys information or emotions through their spoken words, but it does not directly provide insight into a character's internal thoughts. Exposition is focused on background information and context within a narrative, providing necessary details about plot and setting without delving into a character's mental landscape. Direct characterization tells the reader explicitly about a character's traits and values, usually through narration rather than through the character's own internal monologue. Stream of consciousness stands out by offering a raw and unfiltered view of a character's psyche, making it a powerful tool for authors to create an intimate connection between the character and the reader.