Character guide

Anne Shirley

major

Also known as Anne, Miss Shirley, Anne of Avonlea

At nineteen, Anne has traded her own schooldays for a classroom in Avonlea, where she pours her romantic imagination into teaching and helping Marilla raise the newly adopted twins. Her ache over parting with her scholars and her delight in a forget-me-not organdie reveal a heart that feels everything at full volume. As she steps into adulthood, her blend of whimsy and earnest care shapes the village life around her.

Marilla Cuthbert

major

Also known as Miss Marilla Cuthbert, Miss Cuthbert

Having raised Anne from a scrawny orphan into a young woman, Marilla now finds herself adopting the Keith twins and juggling a household that refuses to stay orderly. Her grim face on the drive home from the funeral barely conceals the tenderness that melts whenever Davy flings his arms around her neck. Her dry practicality is the steady ground beneath Anne's flights of fancy, and her slow, grudging warmth gives the story its moral center.

Davy Keith

supporting

Also known as Davy, David

Davy arrives at Green Gables newly motherless, all perpetual motion and unfiltered commentary, forever tugging Dora's curls or sneaking onto forbidden tables. He wants to be good but finds there are simply too many corners of a fellow to remember, and his cheerful confessions about zacksidents and courting keep the household in uproar. His unpolished honesty and hungry affection test Marilla's patience and Anne's pedagogy, making him the comic and moral engine of the Avonlea years.

Dora Keith

supporting

Also known as Dora

Dora is the still counterweight to her brother's chaos, a girl who sits starched and silent while Davy grabs pony tails and tumbles into lemon pies. Her timidity makes her easy to overlook, and her disappearance sends Marilla and Anne into a panic that exposes how deeply she has already been woven into the household. Her small, frightened presence sharpens the story's tenderness and reminds readers that the quietest child can cause the loudest fright.

Gilbert Blythe

supporting

Also known as Gilbert

Gilbert has moved from classroom competitor to trusted ally, teaming with Anne to write the mischievous 'Avonlea Notes' and taking the joke on himself as a blind. Village gossip insists he and Charlie Sloane are rivals for a certain gray-eyed damsel, but the real story is a friendship built on shared humor and mutual respect. His easy competence and unspoken devotion give Anne a steady counterpart as she navigates teaching, matchmaking, and growing up.

Diana Barry

supporting

Also known as Diana, Barry

Diana remains Anne's sworn confidante, the one who shares her anxieties over tardy guests and lends a steadying hand when lemon pies meet disaster. Where Anne dreams, Diana manages, and her quiet competence keeps the Avonlea social machinery running through dinners, bazaars, and borrowed willowware platters. Her unwavering loyalty gives Anne a safe harbor, and their friendship remains the emotional bedrock of the whole series.

Mr. J. A. Harrison

supporting

Also known as Mr. Harrison, J. A. Harrison, James A. Harrison

Anne's irascible neighbour, armed with a sarcastic parrot and a stubborn belief in the rod, who trades barbs with her across the veranda.

Mrs. Rachel Lynde

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Rachel, Rachel Lynde

Avonlea's blunt-tongued oracle of opinion, whose forty-five-year friendship with Marilla makes her the unlikely hinge on which Anne's college hopes swing.

Paul Irving

supporting

Also known as Paul, Master Paul

Anne's small, dreamy pupil, raised on porridge and grandmotherly discipline, who prays nightly for grace to finish his plate and longs for the father away on business.

Lavendar Lewis

supporting

Also known as Miss Lavendar, Miss Lewis

Echo Lodge's whimsical mistress, seventeen at heart and middle-aged in fact, who keeps a broken engagement and a dream-boy tucked among her echoes.

Charlotta the Fourth

supporting

Also known as Charlotta, Echo Lodge Charlotta the Fourth

Echo Lodge's devoted young maid, all widest smiles and literal wonder, who loves her mistress's visitors for her mistress's sake.

Stephen Irving

supporting

Also known as Stephen, Steve Irving

Paul's reserved, long-absent father, whose return to Avonlea stirs old promises and the quiet ache of a courtship abandoned years before.

Anthony Pye

minor

Also known as Anthony, a Pye

A difficult student in Anne's class who eventually respects her.

Jane Andrews

minor

Also known as Jane, Miss Jane Andrews

Anne's practical friend who becomes a teacher in White Sands.

Priscilla Grant

minor

Also known as Priscilla, Grant

Anne's friend from Queen's Academy who visits Avonlea.

Mrs. Allan

minor

The minister's wife, a kind and supportive friend to Anne.

Ginger

minor

Also known as Poor Ginger

Mr. Harrison's foul-mouthed parrot who causes trouble.

Young Mary Joe

minor

Also known as Mary Joe

The hired girl at Green Gables, often scolded by Marilla.

Mr. Judson Parker

minor

Also known as Judson Parker, Judson

A man who buys Anne's hair for a wig, causing a scandal.

Ruby Gillis

minor

Also known as Ruby, Gillis

A pretty, flirtatious friend of Anne's who dies young.

Milty Boulter

minor

Also known as Milty

A student in Anne's class, often in trouble.

Miss Copp

minor

Also known as Miss Sarah Copp

An elderly spinster who boards with the Harrisons.

Mrs. Charlotte E. Morgan

minor

Also known as Mrs. Morgan, Charlotte E. Morgan

A famous author who visits Avonlea and inspires Anne.

St. Clair Donnell

minor

Also known as St. Clair, Donnell

A dramatic boy in Anne's class who recites poetry.

Mr. Joshua Pye

minor

Also known as Joshua Pye, Joshua

A cantankerous old man from Carmody, father of Anthony.

Uncle Abe Andrews

minor

Also known as Uncle Abe

An elderly, superstitious man who tells tall tales.

Gertie Pye

minor

Also known as Gertie, Gertrude

A spiteful girl in Anne's class, sister of Anthony.

Hester Gray

minor

Also known as Hester, little Hester Gray

A young bride who died long ago, buried in the Avonlea graveyard.

Joe Sloane

minor

Also known as Joseph, Joe

A lazy student in Anne's class who plays pranks.

Fred Wright

minor

Also known as Fred

A young man who courts Diana Barry.

Mrs. Harmon Andrews

minor

Also known as Mrs. Andrews

A neighbour and mother of Jane Andrews.

John Henry Carter

minor

Also known as John Henry, little John Henry Carter

A boy from White Sands who gets lost with Davy.

Rev. Mr. Allan

minor

Also known as Mr. Allan

The kind minister of Avonlea church.

Prillie Rogerson

minor

Also known as Prillie

A shy student in Anne's class.

Barbara Shaw

minor

Also known as Barbara

A young woman who marries Stephen Irving.

Daniel Blair

minor

Also known as Dan Blair, Mr. Blair

A Carmody merchant who courts Lavendar Lewis.

Mr. William Bell

minor

Also known as Mr. Bell

A stern Avonlea elder who opposes the Improvement Society.

Mrs. Irving

minor

Also known as old Mrs. Irving

Paul's grandmother, who raised him in his father's absence.

Mr. Levi Boulter

minor

Also known as Levi Boulter, Mr. Boulter

A farmer and father of Milty Boulter.

Matthew Cuthbert

minor

Also known as Matthew

Marilla's shy, kind brother who died before this book begins.

Mr. Major Spencer

minor

Also known as Major Spencer, Mr. Spencer

A local man who helps arrange the adoption of the twins.

Peter Sloane

minor

Also known as Peter

A student in Anne's class, often teased.

Mrs. Theodore White

minor

Also known as Mrs. White, Mrs. Milton White

A neighbour who hosts a social gathering.

Mr. Lawrence Bell

minor

Also known as Lorenzo, Mr. Bell

A Carmody man who marries Mary, a servant.

Mr. Harmon Andrews

minor

Also known as Mr. Andrews, Harmon

Jane's father and a local farmer.

Gracie Andrews

minor

Also known as Gracie

Jane's younger sister, a student in Anne's class.

Lauretta White

minor

Also known as Lauretta

A girl in Anne's class who is very shy.

Jerry Corcoran

minor

Also known as Jerry, Corcoran

A boy who helps with chores at Green Gables.

Martha Copp

minor

Also known as Martha

Miss Copp's sister, who lives with her.

Mary Keith

minor

Also known as Mary

Anne's late mother, mentioned in memories.

Julia Bell

minor

Also known as Julia, Isabella

A girl in Anne's class who is very studious.

Old Mr. David Gray

minor

An elderly man who lives near the old Gray homestead.

Jordan Gray

minor

Also known as Jordan

A young man who died, buried beside Hester Gray.

Simon Fletcher

minor

Also known as Simon

A local man who helps with the hay harvest.

Charlotta the Fifth

minor

Also known as Charlotta

A new maid at Echo Lodge after Charlotta the Fourth leaves.

Mr. Barry

minor

Diana's father, a farmer.

Miss Stacy

minor

Also known as Stacy

Anne's former teacher from Queen's Academy, mentioned fondly.

Mr. Elisha Wright

minor

Also known as Elisha Wright, Mr. Wright

A local man who sells land to Mr. Harrison.

Miss Josephine Barry

minor

Also known as Miss Barry

Diana's wealthy, stern great-aunt who visits Avonlea.

Mrs. Hiram Sloane

minor

Also known as Old Mrs. Hiram Sloane

An elderly neighbour who gossips with Mrs. Lynde.

Mr. Roger Pye

minor

Also known as Roger Pye

Another member of the Pye family, known for quarrels.

Emerson Gillis

minor

Also known as Emerson

Ruby Gillis's brother, a student.

Aunt Mary Shaw

minor

Also known as Aunt Mary

Barbara Shaw's aunt, who lives with her.

Timothy Cotton

minor

Also known as Timothy

A boy who helps with the hay at Green Gables.

Richard Keith

minor

Anne's late father, mentioned in memories.

Mrs. William Bell

minor

Also known as Mrs. Bell

Wife of Mr. William Bell, a church member.

Oliver Sloane

minor

A student in Anne's class, known for his appetite.

Lorenzo White

minor

Also known as Lorenzo

A young man who courts Lauretta White.

Mrs. Wiggins

minor

Also known as the Wiggins

A neighbour who takes in boarders.

Luther Wallace

minor

A man who helps with the hay harvest.

Mrs. Pendexter

minor

A woman who sells her house to Mr. Harrison.

Mr. Baxter

minor

A Carmody man who sells a horse to Mr. Harrison.

Morley Andrews

minor

Also known as Morley

Jane's brother, a student.

Ned Clay

minor

A student in Anne's class who stutters.

Miss Rogerson

minor

Prillie's mother, a strict woman.

Minnie May Barry

minor

Diana's younger sister, often ill.

Charlie Sloane

minor

Also known as Charlie

A student in Anne's class who has a crush on her.

Aunt Josephine

minor

Also known as Josephine, Josie

Diana's great-aunt, a wealthy spinster from Charlottetown.