Why should you read Virginia Woolf? - Iseult Gillespie

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How best can we understand the internal experience of alienation? In both her essays and her fiction, Virginia Woolf shapes the slippery nature of subjective experience into words, while her characters frequently lead inner lives that are deeply at odds with their external existence. Iseult Gillespie helps make sense of these disparities to prepare you for the next time you read Virgina Woolf.
Lesson by Iseult Gillespie, directed by Sarah Saidan.
Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible.
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[@TEDEd]

Interested in giving Virginia Woolf a try? You can download an audio version of any of Woolf's books (or any audio book) for free at www.audible.com/teded. And for even more book recs from our team, visit ed.ted.com/books.

[@cup_check_official]

thanks for the free book!

[@keri7031]

TED-Ed this is the best science and history channel thanks for the good work

[@bandanarai5270]

TED-Ed you are my best knowledgeable channel. I an 12 yrs old and my teacher gave me to write biography about famous English writers. Thank you! I am definitely going to write about her.

[@samiaahmad8705]

I'll make sure I'll give her a try now! Thank you!

[@user-iu1xg6jv6e]

Why would you assume it would be worst. I think it could be better, since she could raise 2 of them. So we would end with 2 Shakespeares.

[@kevslighthouse]

Can "Why Should You Read...?" become a regular series?

[@TEDEd]

Hey Kevin, it is a series! Check out our first three installments for "War and Peace," "Frankenstein," and "The Odyssey": ed.ted.com/lessons/why-should-you-read-tolstoy-s-war-and-peace-brendan-pelsue ed.ted.com/lessons/everything-you-need-to-know-to-read-mary-shelley-s-frankenstein-iseult-gillespie ed.ted.com/lessons/everything-you-need-to-know-to-read-homer-s-odyssey-jill-dash And we have a few more coming your way (likely this month), so keep an eye out. Any books or authors you'd love to see us cover in this series? Thanks for watching!

[@mustafaali-wp2nu]

TED-Ed please make one on Franz Kafka.

[@JustinGabriel425]

George Orwell and Shakespeare!

[@oldcowbb]

i don't like how buzzfeed this title sounds like

[@akshaygayakwad8741]

Jules verne

[@jiffyb333]

The artistry of this video is stunning.

[@aperson22222]

jiffyb333 It is, though I would have omitted the cigarettes.

[@jaykay6249]

I freakin' loved it.

[@Bongi344]

Riiiiiiiiite?

[@rehab4075]

How could we do such videos?

[@VivianeAvellin]

@@rehab4075 I want to know to

[@heroes8689]

“The mind can only fly so far from the body before it returns to the constraints of life”

[@internetsummoner]

Humberto Heroes love that quote!

[@jos.4174]

I've never read any of her books, but I think I should start because of this quote.

[@jerhamieignacio4368]

can you explain deeply what does this mean?

[@freiabereinsam-]

jerhamie ignacio the mind is an endless realm where you can think, dream and be in your own way beyond any limits. Sort of an escape into freedom. Once you’re back in (real) life, you’re bound to succumb to said constraints

[@axillamantova8912]

Selman thank you

[@nikag7732]

Woolf's writings make you ponder. My English teacher and the school librarian were great fans of Virginia but because of the lack of classic readers, they had to exclude her from the library book list. But on seeing my best friend and my love towards her writing, they agreed to stock up a shelf, dedicate a shelf to her. And now whenever I see one of her books in the hands of a fellow student, I can't help but smile at the thought that someone's perspective of life is going to change.

[@phobiarai8255]

💜🙂this brought a smile in my face....i have the same feeling when someone carried the closest book to me

[@AliceP.]

That's lovely. I'd love to know how would you say your own perspective in life has changed by reading Virginia Woolf, but I suppose that'd be too much to ask? heheheh

[@lindadwikat4941]

Which book for her do you recommend?

[@reemayaghmour7629]

Reading this made me smile

[@finnkyrie4569]

This is wholesome

[@sanayasminkhan3974]

I hate how classic novelists' lives end so tragically. They all deserved so much more.

[@jasmin5872]

you don't expect a person like that to wait for death do you? (think deeply about it)

[@Iza56]

@@jasmin5872 she was mental. Not every great writer commit suicide

[@mehdiiqballone-1st-358]

Awesome

[@shailejanarain]

@@Iza56 and the stupidest comment award goes to..

[@JeremyCayaban]

@@Iza56 lot of them end tragically tho, it's not just writers, anyone with some renown: painters, musicians, actors. many suffer for their art, alot of them have to give their life to be great at what they do.

[@salome1075]

Woolf said ”Thinking is my fighting. ” She was a great soldier .

[@jilyyyyy.]

"she was a great soldier" but did she choose to be?

[@jilyyyyy.]

"She was a great soldier" but did she chose to be?

[@sharada7111]

Disney: we are the greatest animators of all time Mr.Ted: Hold my beer

[@utterqueernightmare]

Mr Ted, may I call you Ed?

[@bobmiller3627]

Sadly, Virginia Woolf was a soul that was born about a century before she should have been. If she was still alive today though, I think she would have been impressed by the progress the world has made since she left us :)

[@royshantzis3321]

I think people like Woolf find themselves at odds with history no matter when they're born. We needed her then as badly as we need people like Woolf now.

[@NoorFatima-qq1pc]

@@royshantzis3321 There are people like Virginia woolf in this time too. They are just alienated and we don't know about them. Maybe they don't publish their work because they feel that the people of this century just want to read about dragons and action. Or maybe their work will be discovered in the next century. We need to pay more attention to people around us.

[@patrickhanson712]

Maybe.

[@ashleyphoenix633]

@@NoorFatima-qq1pc I completely agree with you 💯 but I love stories with dragons not gonna lie 😂

[@raisa_cherry33]

@@ashleyphoenix633 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@AndNowIJustSitInSilence]

I wish such groups were still a thing. Like a few people who would just sit and drink coffee and discuss literature or the meaning of life and then go home and create something beautiful

[@emilygray2025]

They are you there, you it’s a matter of finding them.

[@clairdelune779]

Exactly that would be awesome

[@jprice1928]

They do exist. They don’t exactly just advertise them on Google you have to make friends who have similar interests and make something like this yourself.

[@faqihhhh]

you can make it on your own

[@MultiMrDmitry2]

I'm currently reading 'To the lighthouse' by her; never have I ever read any book with such an exquisite depiction of characters' inner worlds; they actually do transcend the reality that surrounds them with their marvellously lurid streams of conscience.

[@NickBoston]

To the Lighthouse is incredibly rich. I've never felt so moved by the written word before. I read Mrs. Dalloway earlier this year. I need to re-read it again after this. Her use of stream of consciousness, and the deep dive into the tiny details... those small things that seem insignificant. And yet life is made up of these insignificances. Nothing I have ever read has made me feel so human.

[@deepanshusharma8226]

Can anyone explain what did she mean by this sentence The autumn trees ravaged as they are take on the flesh of tattered flags kindling in the doom of cool cathedral caves where gold letters on marble pages describe death in battle and how bones bleach and burn far away in Indian sands. It's from 'to the lighthouse'

[@hiba__000]

Ooommmg it's my favorite novel Mrs Ramsay i looove i wish i could discuss with you all of this irl frr

[@pathbetweentrees]

It was my first novel by her that I read and for the first time I felt myself truly represented in a book. The vividness of the mundanity is so delicately interwoven by her, you can't help but be enamoured.

[@keri7031]

this is the best science and history channel thanks for the good work

[@lilconfused686]

haha, good joke mate

[@lxztbxy]

will there be a dj?

[@Bob-np2uc]

We watch these all the time in biology, it's amazing

[@keri7031]

1362 Bob yes

[@Blues.003]

@@lilconfused686 do you have any better recommendations?

[@elisevedsted9130]

I love Woolf, she writes so beautifully and I absolutely adore her way of using stream of consciousness

[@dellsantiago8108]

Tirra Was Taken any suggestion where i can begin to read her work. Im not a smart reader.. hehehhe but i always want to be a deep thinker.. the presentation made me see that her complex and somehow disturbing mind somehow mirrors me. Offcourse i dont have her creative prowess.. hehehehe. Im depress as well.. :(

[@mariesnape]

She has short-stories I think! Although her writing is relatively straight-forward, so not too confusing. Haha I relate so much to the "want to be a deep thinker" thing, doesn't come naturally to me though lol

[@gamayg7]

She has several short stories. I ultimately love The Death of the Moth.

[@jerrysmith6045]

Tirra Was Taken. Ladywolff off. Very busy will get back to you asap

[@arhanya8552]

Hope, Liam neeson helped you in due time..😄

[@galanzj]

"When I cannot see words curling like rings of smoke round me I am in darkness.I am nothing." Virginia Woolf.The Waves

[@lolaatearteen]

My all time fave line from The Waves .. "It is not one life I look back upon: I am not one person; I am many people; I do not know altogether who I am ... Or how to distinguish my life from their's. I feel like this is me. Weird.

[@internetsummoner]

Traecy Dazo reminds me of what David Bowie said about being a musician ! Beautiful quote ~

[@icungnhi1923]

I think most of us do the same. Thank for your comt. Now I check out The Waves first

[@popscent]

Can you explain its meaning

[@drwoo6090]

It’s not weird, it’s common!

[@submissivelover]

I feel this way often, from my teens to my 20's, I was very different, or perhaps I was as I am just less realized, less solid, or am I currently as illusory should I reflect in the future... She was a fascinating author, far before her time

[@Maracujakeks]

What a wonderful video, made with so much love and effort! Thank you for this.

[@reshmant7985]

love is the right term

[@dewi9611]

I'm wondering how long did you make this video... It's so mesmerizing and I need more video like this. Show us more about good books to read ;)

[@TEDEd]

Hi Dewi! We're so glad you like the video. The pre-production stage of our pipeline (which includes concept, writing, editing, and fact checking) took about a month and a half. In terms of scripts, this is about as quick as it gets. The production portion (including recording voiceover, design, animation, music, and sound effects) took roughly 2.5 months, which is also one of the faster productions for a piece of this length. All told, about four months, and we loved pretty much every minute of making it.

[@ladykenya]

TED-Ed and in that four months how many people worked on this piece and pieces like this? I want full credits for all the amazing human beings that worked on this. Virginia Woolf never seemed interesting to me until now. But to be fair, all that was told to us in high school was that she was writer who ended her own life.

[@AlexLopez-hn5ru]

@@TEDEd Thank you! 🙏🏻❤️

[@mellow-yellow918]

@@TEDEd You guys are so hardworking! It's astonishing that a video which is about 6 minutes long is a fabrication of 4 months' hardwork...you are doing absolutely wonderful job! Keep up the good work and keep on prospering 👍👏

[@madiha5401]

As a voice over artist I completely understand the effort 🙏 thankyou so much to everyone who worked on this masterpiece

[@Ashely56]

I read "A Room of One's Own" this year and so far it's my favorite book that I have read this year I found it brilliant, and woolf style of writing and writing itself incredible. She has become one of my favorite authors by far

[@d4nhumphr3y93]

00:00 A room of one’s own 01:40 Life background 02:49 Mrs. Dalloway 03:24 To the lighthouse 04:08 The Waves 04:40 Orlando

[@audobone]

This came at the right time! I had just picked up a copy of Orlando and begun reading. It wasn't mentioned in this video, but I would totally suggest reading her book "Jacob's Room", too, as it was her first modernist novel (she had one short story written in the same style and two conventional novels before it). Beautiful animation work on this video, by the way.

[@reptarhouse]

Orlando’s my favorite. I read it probably 20 years ago and I still remember the line ‘hens laid incessantly eggs on no special tint’ lol. I love everything by Virginia but Orlando holds a special place for me.

[@tuonglinhtranha200]

I remember when I was in high school I started to practice for SAT because I wanted to go to the US to study abroad. One of the first reading exercise I did was an excerpt from Woolfe's A Room of One's Own. I hadn't been exposed much to foreign literature so I was so so struck by her prose and the power it carried. It was truly amazing and worth rereading every time

[@KhaledAlfaris]

This is one beautiful looking video!

[@poetryquotesgoodreads3430]

I came across a hauntingly beautiful poetry book that had a Virginia Woolf vibe to it, “12:12 Midnight” by Danielle Ever Rose “From the wounded soul, comes poetry and music. In return, music and poetry heals the soul.”🎶 It was a great read.

[@raymondbatac3826]

Maybe I'm just a bad reader but I find her works extensive what I mean is it takes me twice or three times to read to finally understand what she means in one paragraph

[@IIImobiusIII]

I've read hundreds upon hundreds of books of all types from all over the world. Never connected with her in the slightest. Some great women authors out there. Some forgotten, take for instance Marie Corelli. Her "The Sorrows of Satan" was the first Novel ever to be considered a Best Seller in the Press. Never hear about her though, but I'm happy one of my friends got me a copy.

[@emilygray2025]

I have found the same, although it is not altogether an unpleasant experience. I think it helps a lot to read and then discuss, it seems to me that is the intention.

[@l.jadeee9997]

i came here trying to gain motivation again to continue her book to the light house but after i found out how she was problematic i couldn't find the energy to put into reading it again. But i will however go on and read her book orlando since it seems quite interesting

[@abbyfathauer1211]

I think in a way that’s what makes her so great. she isn’t always concise, but each reread reveals something new and beautiful

[@cennix]

or you just aren't smart enough lol

[@pooppoopzoopzoop9935]

This video was absolutely stunning! You can really tell how much time and care was put into this video, from the art, to the information, to go so far as to even link the viewer to an audio book! Liked!

[@Fatma-gz8hp]

I love how you shed a light on literary works... please do a lot of this in the future!!!!

[@juancasillas9877]

Of all the videos this channel has to offer, I personaly believe the art videos are the most fulfilling and beautiful. Great work, congratulations to everyone involved.

[@BloodAniron]

The content in this video is a masterpiece from beginning to end. I could listen/watch forever. Thank you so much!

[@StepanUa7]

Please, please, please more of these. This is my favourite content on KZbin ever.

[@Dani_1012]

Do more videos about these authors and their works of writing! This was really well done and the animation keeps getting better and better each video! Keep up the great work!

[@solenhav5203]

"You cannot find peace by avoiding life"

[@liquid5604]

what book????

[@GuitarHeartno1]

☘ To anybody who's reading this, May the dark thoughts, the overthinking, and the doubt exit your mind. when you hear music so bright and powerful all the negativity leaves your body and makes you feel amazing. May clarity replaces confusion. May peace and calmness fill your life. There are a lot of languages in the world but music is the language which connects all of us. May your life be full of joy, strength, light, and ease. Whatever is hurting you or whatever you are constantly stressing about gets better.

[@RainierKine]

Works of art -- the books were killed, destoryed to birth, to reincarnate, this work of art -- this video. Thank you for bringing this cycle to its own, another climax, whatever form it takes.

[@durpddurke4633]

Next up: Why you should read Great Expectations with great expectations for it.

[@maggie7960]

Is great expectations good? I’ve heard very mixed reviews.

[@rumblefish9]

​@@maggie7960 hated it when I read it.

[@meowlody]

I cam here because I mistaken the thumbnail as one of the Inktober videos and now I want to read that book.

[@Friendly911]

this animation is beyond amazing, there's no word for it. Such creativity is very much appreciated.

[@skinnylegend8460]

Omg the art here is so beautiful, it really captures her. Thank you for this beautiful piece!

[@zinebfarhane1728]

I constantly come back to this video whenever I am reading something to Virginia Woolf, and I cannot seem to explain how much I love it. The artwork, the voiceover, the words that become carved in one's mind. I absolutely adore it. This is just magnificently well made.

[@avinashkaur1950]

The artistry and efforts in every single ted ed video is just exceptional ✨️

[@GinzaGeorge]

The visual clips here are breathtakingly beautiful. It is organic where one wants to go back to this video for both the convincing explanation on why one may consider Woolf's works plus the brilliance of the visuals aiding the explanation so well.

[@NBJ97]

You have yet again surpassed yourself regarding the quality and captivating style of your animation. I loved it.

[@superquietbunny]

the animation here is the best i’ve seen from ted ed or anywhere really, and ted ed has plenty of beautiful animations

[@nivedya4413]

This is such an insanely amazing video! Loved the animation, loved the narration. It's too beautiful!

[@pratikshakanade539]

Every time I play any video from this channel the intro music is so soothing and calm....I just can't stop replaying it twice thrice etc

[@naz7413]

The animating and directing of this video is absolutely fantastic!!

[@peterpansplayground]

beautiful animation and narration as always TED-Ed! awesome job! I always look forward to seeing your videos.

[@mjparent222]

This is really wonderful. The story, the animation and the main character that inspired both of you. Thank you for this great work.

[@tolbiny36]

The stop motion artistry of this video is absolutely beautiful! Wow.

[@jiminsjamsinfireme2471]

I can't stop watching this video. The artwork is absolutely stunning

[@lipsach]

This animated part with books was amazing

[@prithikalatha7218]

I've watched this video three times already, it never ceases to amaze me.

[@AndNowIJustSitInSilence]

4:44 i love this so much. I don't usually appreciate cutting up books, but this is just beautiful

[@nikkallamas]

The visuals and the art is amazing

[@hellozup]

what a beautiful video/animation/illustration.. I often heard about Virginia Woolf's works but haven't read any of them. Sounds like a tragic yet very insightful writings, really interesting..

[@JohnCF]

I had a hard time listening to what she was saying. Was too busy enjoying the artistic visuals! Very well done!!

[@eliskaneugebauer5338]

This video in general was beautiful... And the E. Albee reference at the end was just cherry on top of the cake. Absolutely loved this. ☺️

[@arjunrajv1831]

Appreciate the effort and insight put into the making of this video. It's exceptional.

[@X60Gamers]

This is so well done

[@MrTwentington]

Virginia Woolf is better with context- I've only read Jacob's Room and Mrs Dalloway and both were a hard read to get into. It was somehow so simple- both relatively small books about fairly ordinary things- but the way it was done and the way I had to think to read it was a challenge. When I started watching biopics of her life and why she wrote the way she did and what she was trying to say it suddenly clicked. I still had to take my time to really absorb what was happening on each page- it's not one to read on autopilot- but my appreciation for her work grew immensely and it made so much more sense even changing the way I saw artistic expression and the world

[@vincyli5189]

I love the graphics and visuals so much! Well done!

[@elitesflowers-floristshop.3616]

Fantastic video, I can’t imagine the huge amount of hours put into this video. I subscribed immediately and I shared it with my friends. Thanks!!!!

[@AnneSofieLovesMozart]

Thank you for this, I loved the animations

[@harshalbhanarkar]

I really need more of these books recommendation!

[@rckanyakumari]

Captivating graphics compiled with soothing audio was amazing to watch...

[@tanvikhan6981]

The animation of these videos is what draws me back again and again

[@darkescape2500]

This is amazing animation! I couldn't take my eyes off the screen for even a second. But perhaps I'll have to rewatch or rather rehear what was being said as I was completely spellbound by the beautiful art before me.

[@carolel2459]

this video is amaaazing 😩 thank you so much!

[@sehgalvikas]

the animations in this video are pure gold!!

[@khwajafatmi5882]

Imagine how much care was put to make this animation! Very inspiring!

[@eddevortex3219]

One of the most beautiful things i've ever saw about Virginia. Brought me to tears. Thank you so much all the crew involved for existence of this video.

[@myderp6954]

RIP all of those innocent books! :c

[@mitradave3469]

This is presented very beautifully! Kudos to the so well thought and executed animation!! :D

[@mrimperium1063]

I love the different animation styles that TED-ed use, with this one and the Charles Dickens video being firm favourites.

[@samirshrestha8309]

wow early bird did catch the worm !! love the animation work !

[@cinnamontoastslut4335]

This video is amazing. So inspiring. I write too in a modernistic way

[@amicst]

The animation was just as enjoyable as the explanation, thank you.

[@nanohiso]

I wish I had the money to support you guys! I love love Ted Ed videos beyond imagination! it's even on my bucket list that once I get the money and electronic payment means, supporting you is a must! keep up the great work!

[@ius2713]

Nice! There is Tolstoy video on TedEd, now Woolf. Hope there would be others too. Next Dostoevsky, maybe?

[@andlabs]

The closest thing that I can remember them doing to a complete author study is the video on "what makes something Kafkaesque", though it doesn't go into a full biography. There's also other single-work videos like the Tolstoy one, but the only one I can think of off the top of my head is the The Wizard of Oz one... (The "what makes something Orwellian" video focuses more on the word than on the work or the man, but I guess that one should be counted too.)

[@ius2713]

Pietro Gagliardi how could I even forgot videos about about Kafkaesque and Orwellian! It's just amazing and rewarding to watch these beautifully animated videos. I certainly want to read Woolf because of this video, though previously I'm afraid of her writing style that is famous for being hard to read.

[@ankursingh1912]

This comment aged well , They made a video on Crime and Punishment.

[@Sweetumskitty1789]

I feel like Orlando has a pretty sick deal, I personally would love to be functionally immortal and change genders and bodies. As long as my best friend has that power too!

[@laurafoster327yt]

I love the way this video was done. I've read A Room of One's Own and Mrs. Dalloway (many years ago), and look forward to reading more of Woolf's work.

[@sonaliverma1218]

Thank you for such beautiful content. Terrific editing ❤

[@Madfattdeeb]

This was amazing!! Virginia Woolf is one of my favorite authors of all time. So I had to see this video. I was not disappointed. I believe everyone should try reading a Virginia Woolf book at least once in their life. Also the art in this video was really beautiful.

[@irispereyra4780]

Love these videos, both the animation and the themes! This one has inspired me to read a few of those Woolf's books I haven't read yet.

[@abhinavinvincible122]

You guys are so creative and hardworking.

[@sujatasingh2017]

It is a pure joy to watch this video. In order to understand the works of Virginia Woolf, her personal life must be taken into consideration. She writes from the depth of the words which has layers upon layers and the reader gets lost into the world of each character.

[@elizabethdalloway]

I love Virginia Woolf's work. Thank you so much for spreading knowledge and fun!

[@yiz1612]

The art in this video is AMAZING!

[@kiralynae6998]

The visual artist is phenomenonal.

[@dev6834]

In our 12th grade curriculum we have one lesson of Woolf, 'The New Dress'......... while my fellow friends hated the lesson for its mind boggling vocabulary and paragraph long sentences, I wondered, what complexity an author has to undergo, to write such a masterpiece... It's tragic to find she drowned herself.. RIP

[@cup_check_official]

You are telling us to read the Virginia Woolf and giving us a link to get an audio book. make up your mind ted-ed

[@enmedallo]

Listening is the new reading, the important is the content not the media

[@dimatadore]

whether you listen to the book or read it, the same words enter your mind :)

[@ezekiel0606]

comments took you seriously lels

[@xadadax5014]

Ezekiel Briones Ikr?? xD

[@vertuenlgr1505]

promoting a book is not bad

[@nguyenha8278]

the art is so amazing !!

[@vaibhavagrawal1210]

Once again, nicely explained and beautiful animation. Thank you.

[@yojiviriak675]

one of the greatest minds of all times

[@raisa_cherry33]

I m gonna study one of her works in tomorrow's class of Modernism (26th Aug 2019) ❤😃

[@rachitasaha1407]

The audio and video is STUNNING 💖

[@hollyfegan9558]

The animation of this videos is incredible! I just bought "To the lighthouse"; this video has made me even more excited to read it!!.

[@Olga_and_Needle]

You should definitely read Woolf if you want to feel anxious, lost, depressed, sad, helpless, misunderstood, and very much alone. Love her books actually.

[@shreyaadani694]

Nice I will read

[@waxedlatexpanda8496]

Love the animation Sarah!

[@lindapow9351]

a beautifully compiled story telling in art.... look forward to listening & learning!