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Get the full list of books referenced in Rory Gilmore’s graduation speech. The list includes books, authors, and more details about what she mentioned and why. I host The Rory Gilmore Book Club, in which we have a monthly Gilmore Girls reading challenge to read books from the full Gilmore Girls book list on a variety of themes, so I’m very familiar with these books. The valedictorian of Chilton High School will inspire you to read them, too. Let’s read like Rory!

stack of books in rory gilmore's valedictorian speech at chilton graduation.

Full Rory Gilmore Graduation Speech

In Gilmore Girls, Rory Gilmore gave the valedictorian speech at her graduation from Chilton High School. She discussed the impact of books and her mother on her life.

Rory’s graduation speech appears in the Gilmore Girls Season 3 finale, Episode 22: “Those Are Strings, Pinocchio.”

Watch Rory Gilmore’s speech on Youtube:

Let’s take a closer look at Rory’s valedictorian speech, where she famously refers to herself as living in two worlds, one of which is a world of books:

“I live in two worlds. One is a world of books. I’ve been a resident of Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, fought alongside Napoleon, sailed a raft with Huck and Jim, committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly, rode a sad train with Anna Karenina and strolled down Swann’s Way. It’s a rewarding world, but my second one is by far superior.”

Rory Gilmore

(This would make a great senior yearbook quote!)

About the Literary References in Rory Gilmore’s Valedictorian Speech

Use this shareable checklist graphic to track your reading of all the books to which Rory refers:

checklist of the books in rory gilmore's graduation speech.

Wondering what Rory’s speech means? Below are snippets of all the literary references Rory makes, followed by more details about them.

“I’ve been a resident of Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County”

  • Author William Faulkner wrote several books set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County; however, Rory is seen with The Sound and the Fury in an earlier episode of Gilmore Girls.

“hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod”

  • The Pequod is the fictional Nantucket whaling ship in Moby Dick by Herman Melville, and the white whale is, of course, Moby Dick. This book is also on Rory’s love interest Jess Mariano’s book list.

“fought alongside Napoleon”

  • While there are many books about Napoleon Bonaparte, this reference likely refers to War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, which are referenced during class at Chilton.

“sailed a raft with Huck and Jim”

  • Huck and Jim are the main characters in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. This is a high school classic that shares the coming-of-age theme with Gilmore Girls.

“committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly”

  • Ignatius J. Reilly is the protagonist in A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, known for his comical adventures across New Orleans. It’s also popular among high school and college students.

“rode a sad train with Anna Karenina”

  • Of course, Anna Karenina is the protagonist in Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, which is also known as Rory’s favorite book, which she called “beautiful.” Though, Dean said it was “depressing.”

Related Posts: Anna Karenina Quotes | Review of Anna Karenina

“strolled down Swann’s Way”

Jane Austen

  • Jane Austen is the classic author of six novels, the most popular of which is Pride and Prejudice. She is commonly referenced in Mr. Medina’s classroom, and Rory gives this book to Dean early in their relationship.

Related Post: Jane Austen Books in Order

Eudora Welty

  • Rory is seen reading The Collected Stories by Pulitzer Prize winner Eudora Welty, known for her short stories, in an earlier episode of Gilmore Girls.

QUIZ:
What book from Gilmore Girls should you read? Take the Quiz

If you liked this Gilmore Girls-themed post about the books referenced in Rory Gilmore’s graduation speech, you will love these posts:

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I'm the founder and president of The Literary Lifestyle®, an authentic community that helps busy women relax, learn, and embrace a very cozy way of life.

I'm a reader of 100+ books per year, I studied English literature, and I've been on The Today Show's Read with Jenna Book Club, Buzzfeed, The Atlantic, Reader's Digest, Women's Health, The Everygirl, Glamour, Parents, and more. My essay was published in the book But I'm a Gilmore!

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