Anne of Green Gables

Main Characters:

Anne Shirley, Marilla Cuthbert, Matthew Cuthbert, Diana Barry, Gilbert Blythe, Mrs. Rachel Lynde

Setting:

Prince Edward Island, Canada

Green Gables

Plot:

At the start of the story we are introduced to Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. Matthew and Marilla are siblings living together on their farm called Green Gables. Matthew, who is in his sixties, needs help keeping up with the farm so he and his sister Marilla decide to adopt an orphan boy to help with the farm work. The day arrived that Matthew was to pick up the orphan boy at the train station, when he arrived there to his surprise the orphanage sent a girl about eleven years old, Anne Shirley was her name. Although Anne was not a boy the Cuthbert's kept her. Through hard work and studying Anne attends a four year college and becomes a teacher at the local Avonlea school.

Theme: Imagination vs. Reality

Anne has to figure out a way to keep her imagination in check. Throughout the story there are many examples where she says she cannot determine if what is occurring is imagination or reality. It is important to know the difference in order to be a part of a social community.

Literary Strengths/Weakness:

A strength that I found while reading Anne of Green Gables was the word choice of L.M. Montgomery. She chose words to describe Anne and her character very well. She drew a great picture for her readings through the word choice she used in her writing.

Worldview Element/Significant quote:

"... and it suddenly occurred to her that that simple little prayer, sacred to white-robed childhood lisping at motherly knees, was entirely unsuited to this freckled witch of a girl who knew and cared nothing about God's love, since she had never had it translated to her through the medium of human love."

Church and Community was a big element of Anne of Green Gables. The biggest thing to Marilla Curthbert was that the people of the town would think highly of her because Anne behaved herself and went to church and knew all the right answers. I think that it is important for us to be a part of society and have a good name but that should not be our sole focus in life.