"Stream of consciousness" is the name for a narrative mode that produces a character's random thoughts and associations.
In literature, stream of consciousness is a writing technique that attempts to depict the continuous flow of a character's thoughts, feelings, and sensory experiences. It is a narrative mode that immerses the reader in the character's mind, presenting a subjective and often disjointed view of reality.
This technique is used to create a sense of intimacy and realism, giving the reader insight into the character's inner life. By presenting the character's thoughts in a stream-of-consciousness style, the reader can experience the character's emotions and mental processes as they occur in real-time.
Therefore, the answer to the question is "a narrative mode that produces a character's random thoughts and associations."