Listen&Learn: A Room of One’s Own

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

A feminist essay from 1929.

Pre-listening vocabulary

feminism: the movement for women’s rights
essay: a short piece of writing about a certain topic
absence: the lack of something
independence: the ability to control your own life
disadvantage: something that makes success difficult

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”20383″]

Discussion/essay questions

Why did Woolf believe that “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction”?
Do you think that feminist works from the 1920s are still relevant? Why or why not?

Transcript

A Room of One’s Own is a feminist essay written by English author Virginia Woolf. The essay’s main argument is that “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction”. Woolf came to this conclusion after noticing the absence of female writers in history. She believed that many more women could have written books if they’d had money and independence. Woolf first presented A Room of One’s Own at a women’s university in 1928, and published it as a book one year later. This was a time when women still faced many disadvantages in life. Woolf’s essay was one of the first well-known feminist works, and it is still famous today.

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

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18 comments

abdolmonem says:

1. Because believed that many more women could have written books if they’d had money and independence.
2. I don’t know about feminism.
English Club Indonesia says:

“Women must have money and independence” means that women should have the means to support themselves and have the freedom to express their thoughts and desires. The feminist works from the past are still relevant today. However, it’s unfortunate that the newer generation takes it too far, thinking that feminism means women are equal to men, but, frankly speaking, they are not.
Mateus Domingos says:

Thank you so much about this story! I really learned alot with this little short story I loved it
Mateus Domingos says:

Thank so much story! I really learned alot with this little short story I love it
Omar says:

Thank you very much it is agreat work
Ioana Luminita says:

Interesting short stories – I would call them ‘shot stories’ because like in a shot of injection we get significant information in a blink of an eye.
Thank you so much for your wonderful important work- I could have never afford a payed course and I am really grateful for this chance.
charvy says:

Thanks a lot.
Tahany EL-sherif says:

Thank you for giving us this chance to read this .
it’s a very good effort to let the people know the history, I Need to read more and more a bout women in history , spicialy ladies who sucsed to live independint .
thank you.
Mya Mya Ei says:

Thank
mahsa ebrahimi says:

these short stories are very useful . thanks
WELLINGTON SILVA says:

If you’re reading this, congrats! Excellent exercise!Tanks
Reza says:

These stories are very useful for learning, Because they are simple, very short, and understandable. Tanks
Suad Mohamad says:

I like learn English
Evelyn says:

very nice
Anil says:

I like this sort of learning exercise.
Hamade Esmail Joao says:

Great essay. It is also a way of learning and practicing our listenning skill
Rana Muhammad Dildar says:

That is a very good effort to let the people know the history and background of women writing, publishing and circumvention in their way.
Christine PENNEC says:

Very good!