Anne of Green Gables - LITERATURE NOTES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: (Lucy Maud Montgomery)
SUMMARY
Anne of Green Gables is set in Avonlea, located on the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Nova Scotia. Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a brother and sister, hope to obtain an orphan boy to help with chores on their farm. However, they are sent a girl, Anne, instead, instead. The story unwinds with the wild escapades of this imaginative, spirited and talkative child. The story progresses from her childhood to her teen years, and ends with her returning from Queens to help Marilla when Matthew dies.
SETTING
CHARACTER
Anne
Marilla Cuthbert
Matthew Cuthbert
Rachel Lynde
Diana
Gilbert Blythe
CHAPTER SUMMARIES
Chapter 1:
This chapter opens with Mrs.Rachel Lynde observing Matthew Cuthbert driving his buggy in the wrong direction. She makes a promise to herself to visit Marilla in order to find out why Matthew was behaving so strangely. She finds out that Matthew went to Bright River to collect a little orphan boy to help them with work on Green Gables. She warns Marilla of the risk that she is taking due to the mischievous things that boys do.
Chapter 2:
Matthew was surprised in this chapter because he discovers a boy, instead of a girl, at the train station in Bright River. Despite the fact that he finds the little girl, Anne, to be very strange in looks and temperament, he decides to take her home with him. The major highlight in this chapter is the fact that Anne talks nonstop throughout the journey to Green Gables.
Chapter 3:
Matthew and Anne arrive at Green Gables to face Marilla. Marilla is definitely surprised, and not pleased. At this point Anne realizes that the siblings had wanted a boy, instead of a girl, and starts crying. Marilla decides to allow Anne to stay in the east Gable spare room for the night and to take Anne to Mrs. Spencer's residence in the morning.
Chapter 4:
Anne awakens to the disappointing fact that she will not be staying at Green Gables. Marilla helps her to dress and takes her downstairs for breakfast. Her talkative nature is revealed at the table, as well as Marilla's aversion to it. Later in the afternoon, Anne and Marilla start their journey to Mrs. Spencer's house, despite the fact that Matthew was not in agreement with the decision to pass Anne on to another family.
Chapter 5:
This chapter reveals the very difficult life that Anne has led. This involves the death of her parents, while she was still an infant, as well as her life in the Asylum and with her foster family. Marilla listens to Anne's history and is touched, revealing that she is not as cold as she initially seems to be.
Chapter 6:
At Mrs. Spencer's house, an apology is given to Marilla for receiving the wrong 'type' of orphan. They are introduced to Mrs. Blewett Peters, who wants to adopt a little girl to work for her. Mrs. Blewett Peters inspects Anne and deems her to be acceptable, but Marilla decided to keep Anne because she had heard rumours of how cruel this person could be.
Chapter 7:
Anne's ignorance in relation to praying is highlighted in this chapter. Marilla is shocked, and takes it upon herself to teach Anne how to pray, as well as to instill 'Godliness' in the little orphan girl.
Contributer: Leisa Samuels‐Thomas
Our bulbs are still bubbling, check back later ...
Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables. Mineolo, New York: Dover Publications, Inc, 2000.
- Born in Canada in 1874
- She wrote poems and stories as a child
- She attended University for a year, becoming a teacher while still in her teens
- She wrote more than 20 novels and many short stories
- Anne of Green Gables is her first novel, published in 1908
- She settled in Toronto and died there in 1942
SUMMARY
Anne of Green Gables is set in Avonlea, located on the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Nova Scotia. Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a brother and sister, hope to obtain an orphan boy to help with chores on their farm. However, they are sent a girl, Anne, instead, instead. The story unwinds with the wild escapades of this imaginative, spirited and talkative child. The story progresses from her childhood to her teen years, and ends with her returning from Queens to help Marilla when Matthew dies.
SETTING
- The novel is set in Avonlea, located on the Gulf of St. Lawrence
- Nova Scotia, Canada
- The early 20th century
CHARACTER
Anne
- A very talkative young lady. This is seen from her first meeting with Matthew when she literally talks the whole way to Green Gables. The text is filled with examples that further support this to be true.
- A very intelligent young lady who did very well in school, her scholarship at the end of the text, as well as her record of doing well in school proves this to be true.
- A very competitive young lady that was always trying to best Gilbert Blythe.
- She was an orphan who had a very hard life until she was later adopted by Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert.
- She is also very imaginative. Her encounter with the ‘spirit’ in the woods is an example of this.
- Accident prone; there were many incidences of her accidentally hurting herself and other people. She dyes her hair green, got her friend drunk, was stranded on a boat and fell off a roof.
- She is a very happy child despite the trials of her life, very optimistic and friendly.
- Loyal because she gave up her scholarship to stay and help Marilla, on the farm, after Matthews death.
Marilla Cuthbert
- She is a very serious person. She did not smile very often, but her attitude toward Anne softens by the end of the book.
- She is a very practical person, an example is that she did not see the sense in wasting material on puffed sleeves.
- She is very loyal, an example is when she defends Anne when Rachel Lynde criticizes her.
- By the end of text she loves Anne like a daughter.
Matthew Cuthbert
- Matthew is extremely shy, especially around women.
- Loves Anne very much because he made himself uncomfortable to buy her a puffed sleeve dress.
- Loves to hear Anne talk, he tells her this at the beginning of the text.
Rachel Lynde
- She extremely inquisitive; the book opens with her observing Matthew, then deciding to try to ascertain the reason for his strange behavior.
- She is very mean spirited, mainly because she is not a good communicator.
- She does not think before she speaks.
Diana
- Anne’s best friend.
- Anne changes her life by introducing adventure and fun.
- She gets herself drunk at Anne’s house by drinking too much ‘strawberry cordial’.
Gilbert Blythe
- Anne’s academic rival in school.
- Her first ‘crush’.
- There is a suggestion that he had a ‘crush on Anne as well
- Gives up his space in school (as a teacher) to Anne.
CHAPTER SUMMARIES
Chapter 1:
This chapter opens with Mrs.Rachel Lynde observing Matthew Cuthbert driving his buggy in the wrong direction. She makes a promise to herself to visit Marilla in order to find out why Matthew was behaving so strangely. She finds out that Matthew went to Bright River to collect a little orphan boy to help them with work on Green Gables. She warns Marilla of the risk that she is taking due to the mischievous things that boys do.
Chapter 2:
Matthew was surprised in this chapter because he discovers a boy, instead of a girl, at the train station in Bright River. Despite the fact that he finds the little girl, Anne, to be very strange in looks and temperament, he decides to take her home with him. The major highlight in this chapter is the fact that Anne talks nonstop throughout the journey to Green Gables.
Chapter 3:
Matthew and Anne arrive at Green Gables to face Marilla. Marilla is definitely surprised, and not pleased. At this point Anne realizes that the siblings had wanted a boy, instead of a girl, and starts crying. Marilla decides to allow Anne to stay in the east Gable spare room for the night and to take Anne to Mrs. Spencer's residence in the morning.
Chapter 4:
Anne awakens to the disappointing fact that she will not be staying at Green Gables. Marilla helps her to dress and takes her downstairs for breakfast. Her talkative nature is revealed at the table, as well as Marilla's aversion to it. Later in the afternoon, Anne and Marilla start their journey to Mrs. Spencer's house, despite the fact that Matthew was not in agreement with the decision to pass Anne on to another family.
Chapter 5:
This chapter reveals the very difficult life that Anne has led. This involves the death of her parents, while she was still an infant, as well as her life in the Asylum and with her foster family. Marilla listens to Anne's history and is touched, revealing that she is not as cold as she initially seems to be.
Chapter 6:
At Mrs. Spencer's house, an apology is given to Marilla for receiving the wrong 'type' of orphan. They are introduced to Mrs. Blewett Peters, who wants to adopt a little girl to work for her. Mrs. Blewett Peters inspects Anne and deems her to be acceptable, but Marilla decided to keep Anne because she had heard rumours of how cruel this person could be.
Chapter 7:
Anne's ignorance in relation to praying is highlighted in this chapter. Marilla is shocked, and takes it upon herself to teach Anne how to pray, as well as to instill 'Godliness' in the little orphan girl.
Contributer: Leisa Samuels‐Thomas
Our bulbs are still bubbling, check back later ...
Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables. Mineolo, New York: Dover Publications, Inc, 2000.
The bulbs in our soup are almost ready. Check back later!
