"Orlando" by Virginia Woolf

“The flower bloomed and faded. The sun rose and sank. The lover loved and went. And what the poets said in rhyme, the young translated into practice.”

Themes: Gender; Time; Fame; Poetry; Gender Roles; Clothing; Light/Dark

Discussion:

1. How does time work in this book? How does time pass when Orlando is sleeping? What is the purpose of Orlando’s extended sleeping periods?

2. How did you interpret Woolf’s commentary on race and/or religion in Orlando? Was it satirical, serious, ignorant?

3. What role do “light” and “dark” play in Orlando? How does Woolf utilize this motif?

4. Do you enjoy Woolf’s prose? Why or why not?

5. Did you find that the writing style changed after Orlando transitioned from a man to a woman?

6. How did Orlando’s priorities change after becoming a woman? Did they?

7. Why is Orlando so obsessed with poetry?

8. Woolf often discusses gender through clothing throughout Orlando. Did any particular instances stand out to you? Do clothes in Orlando affect external or internal perceptions, or both?