Pathway: Intertextuality in Orlando by Kathryn Kenny

An exploration of the ways in which Woolf's base text and other texts are incorporated and added into Potter's adaptation.

Original Novel, Second page of Publishing/copyright info left, dedication page right, white book mark "wedding rings"

The dedication to Vita Sackville-West at the start of the novel echoes the basis of much of the novel on Vita's life and experiences.

Close up Orlando as she is told of lawsuits

The transference of Orlando's trouble with lawsuits once she becomes a woman onto the screen relates to the transference of this to the novel from Vita's experiences regarding lawsuits surrounding her family home at Knole House.

Black and white A4 print, Paper, Knole House R&D photograph

This image of Tilda outside Knole House, which was replaced by Hatfield House in the film, links to Vita once more. In the image she is lying back in a relaxed way which connotes to us that this is her home.

close up of Orlando watching performance of Othello.

An intertextual reference to Shakespeare is created when Orlando watches the performance of Othello and appears to tie it to his relationship with Sasha.

1 x colour slide in transparent plastic hanging sheet, Digital, Film Stills - Scene 4 - Queen Elizabeth I (Quentin Crisp) in the film

The use of Quentin Crisp in the role of Queen Elizabeth reinforces Virginia Woolf's feelings towards the unstable nature of gender and transfers it into a modern adaptation by using a contemporary homosexual icon.

1 x colour slide in transparent plastic hanging sheet, Digital, Film Stills - Scene 58 - (Tilda Swinton) and Shelmerdine (Billy Zane) in the film

The blending of gender roles is furthered by the androgynous appearances of both Tilda Swinton and Billy Zane, especially in this image they appear very similar.

1 x A4 black photograph album; 34 vellum pages; 24 x colour prints, Mixed, Presentation book containing Sally Potter's notes on the film and colour photographs of Tilda Swinton at Hatfield House

Tilda's ability to be androgynous is also seen here, she is dressed in Elizabethan male clothing yet her expression allows her to maintain an air of femininity.

Orlando's daughter running through field with video camera. Orlando sitting against oak tree in background

Potter brings the end of the film to the modern day which echoes Woolf's idea of the 'present moment' and in bringing it forward, Potter incorporates symbols of this such as the video camera being used by Orlando's daughter.

Original Novel, Page 202, green side line, page 203, pencil side lines, white bookmark "return to the oak tree"

In returning to the oak tree, which is what happens in the novel, this takes the story full circle and takes us back to the start. However we can see that Orlando's story will continue past the ending of the film.