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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. The valedictorian of Chilton High School will inspire you. Let’s read like Rory!

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

Books Referenced in Rory Gilmore’s Graduation Speech

In Gilmore Girls, Rory Gilmore gave the valedictorian speech at her graduation from Chilton High School. She talked about the influences 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.”

(This would make a great senior yearbook quote!)

infographic of 9 books from rory gilmore's valedictorian speech at graduation on gilmore girls.

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

More Details About the Literary References in Rory Gilmore’s Valedictorian Speech

Below are snippets of all the literary references Rory makes in her speech, followed by more details about the book or books she refers to.

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“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”

“committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly”

“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.

Related Posts: Anna Karenina Quotes | Review of Anna Karenina

“strolled down Swann’s Way”

Jane Austen

Related Post: Jane Austen Books in Order

Eudora Welty

Recap

The books referenced in Rory Gilmore’s graduation speech showcase the “world of books” in which she lives. You too can read like Rory with classics like Anna Karenina, her favorite book.

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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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