Anne of Avonlea · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery.
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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.