Anne of Green Gables · Questions
Questions
Evidence-linked answers for Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.
Who is Anne Shirley?
Anne Shirley is the red-haired orphan sent by mistake to Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, who expected a boy to help on the farm. She talks constantly, renames places with poetry, and fights for belonging in Avonlea. Her history — foster homes, Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Hammond — explains fierce attachment to Green Gables once she is allowed to stay. Anne is heroine and handful: she smashes a slate on Gilbert Blythe’s head, dyes her hair green, and saves Minnie May with Marilla’s help. Montgomery makes her talented and flawed so growth feels earned. An answer that lists only “imaginative girl” should add stakes — without Green Gables she has nowhere. Point readers to the Cuthberts’ surprise chapters and Anne’s apology to Rachel Lynde as the arc’s foundation.
Who is Marilla Cuthbert?
Marilla Cuthbert is Anne’s adoptive guardian — Matthew’s stern sister, practical, Presbyterian, and secretly tender. She initially wants to send Anne back; she keeps her after seeing conscience and charm beneath the chatter. Marilla’s love shows as rules, sewing, and sharp speech softened over time. She represents duty becoming affection. Her rivalry with Rachel Lynde, her grief after Matthew dies, and her sacrifice so Anne can attend Queen’s show moral backbone without sentimentality. Students comparing Marilla to Anne should note opposite temperaments learning from each other: Marilla gains color; Anne gains restraint. Marilla is not villain of the mistaken adoption — she becomes the home Anne must not lose.
Why does Anne hate Gilbert Blythe?
Anne hates Gilbert because he calls her hair “carrots” and pulls her braid in school — public humiliation for a girl already ashamed of her looks. She holds the grudge for years, refusing to speak to him even when he tries to be friendly. Pride and sensitivity, not mere temper, fuel the feud. Montgomery uses the slate incident to launch rivalry that becomes respect. Gilbert saves Anne from drowning, shares the school prize, and chooses a teaching post so Anne can stay near Marilla — acts Anne slowly acknowledges. The hate is plot engine for maturity: forgiveness arrives when Anne sees Gilbert as equal, not tormentor. Avoid reducing it to “she likes him” in book one alone; the text tracks slow thaw through Queen’s Academy.
Who is Gilbert Blythe?
Gilbert Blythe is Anne’s classmate, handsome, competitive, and eventually her quiet ally. He provokes the famous slate incident by teasing her hair, then spends years trying to undo the damage. He excels at school, respects Anne’s ambition, and later gives up a local teaching position so she can remain close to Marilla. Gilbert is not a simple love interest in the first book — he is rival and mirror. He wants the top of the class; he also shows physical courage and generosity. Montgomery sets up the later romance by proving character through action. Answers for classroom use should cite the feud’s origin and his sacrifice near the end, not film shorthand alone.
Who is Diana Barry?
Diana Barry is Anne’s “bosom friend” — loyal, less theatrical, daughter of strict Mrs. Barry. They vow eternal friendship, share secrets, and survive the currant-wine catastrophe when Diana is accidentally drunk. Diana represents steady companionship against Anne’s extremes. Their friendship tests Avonlea rules: Mrs. Barry forbids contact after the wine incident until Anne saves Minnie May. Diana will not go to Queen’s with Anne but remains anchor to girlhood. Classroom answers should emphasize female friendship as central theme, not only background to Gilbert. Diana’s name itself becomes part of Anne’s imaginative world — the Haunted Wood path to her house.
How does Anne of Green Gables end?
Anne of Green Gables ends with Anne choosing Avonlea over immediate college ambition: after Matthew dies and Marilla faces losing Green Gables, Anne gives up her scholarship seat at Redmond to teach locally and care for Marilla. Gilbert Blythe gives up the Avonlea school so Anne can stay — a truce and partnership that closes the long feud. The ending balances loss and hope. Matthew’s death is irreversible; Anne’s gratitude to him lives in her decision to keep his home. Marilla gains companionship; Anne gains purpose as teacher and writer-in-training. Montgomery refuses a pure triumph — grief stays — but belonging is affirmed. Students should connect the finale to puffed sleeves, Queen’s success, and duty themes rather than treating it as sudden romance alone.
How does Anne of Green Gables develop the theme of Imagination and Creativity?
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery develops Imagination and Creativity across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. Anne's vivid imagination is central to her character, allowing her to transform ordinary life into something beautiful and to cope with hardship, though it often clashes with the practical, rigid expectations of Avonlea society. Anne's vivid imagination is central to the chapter, as she describes sleeping in a wild cherry tree, imagining marble halls, and creating stories about other orphans. Anne's imaginative naming of places (e.g., 'White Way of Delight') and her desire to be called 'Cordelia' highlight her creative escape from harsh reality. Anne's vivid imagination is on full display as she names the cherry tree 'Snow Queen,' the geranium 'Bonny,' and imagines staying at Green Gables forever.
How does Anne of Green Gables develop the theme of Belonging and Home?
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery develops Belonging and Home across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. The story follows Anne's journey from a lonely, unwanted orphan to finding a true home and family at Green Gables, highlighting the deep human need for love, acceptance, and a place to belong. The chapter introduces the impending arrival of an orphan, setting up themes of finding a home and belonging at Green Gables. Anne's longing for a home and to belong to someone is a key theme, culminating in her emotional recognition of Green Gables as home. Anne's deep yearning for a home and her despair at being unwanted are central to this chapter, as she cries herself to sleep in the east gable.
How does Anne of Green Gables develop the theme of Identity and Self-Acceptance?
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery develops Identity and Self-Acceptance across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. Anne struggles with her red hair, temper, and talkative nature, but gradually learns to accept herself and her unique qualities, growing from a sensitive child into a confident young woman. Anne's self-awareness about her thinness and her imaginative compensations reflect her struggle with self-image and acceptance. Anne's insistence on 'Anne with an e' and her rejection of her plain name reflect her struggle to define her own identity. Anne grapples with her red hair and her orphan status, while Marilla reflects on Anne's ladylike nature and possible good lineage.
How does Anne of Green Gables develop the theme of Friendship and Community?
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery develops Friendship and Community across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. The bonds Anne forms—especially with Diana Barry, Matthew, and Marilla—and her integration into the Avonlea community demonstrate the transformative power of friendship and mutual support. Mrs. Rachel's visit and the community's interest in the Cuthberts' decision highlight the interconnectedness and gossip-driven nature of Avonlea. The chapter centers on the formation of Anne and Diana's deep friendship, marked by a solemn vow and shared plans, highlighting the importance of companionship. Anne's friendship with Diana is highlighted through their shared playhouse and plans for the picnic; the community event of the picnic itself underscores belonging.
How does Anne of Green Gables develop the theme of Growth and Education?
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery develops Growth and Education across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. Anne's intellectual and moral development through schooling, rivalry with Gilbert Blythe, and the guidance of teachers like Miss Stacy emphasizes the value of education and personal ambition. Marilla begins to teach Anne responsibility and obedience, and plans to give her cooking lessons, marking Anne's ongoing education in domestic skills. Anne channels her emotional turmoil into academic achievement, spurred by rivalry with Gilbert, and excels in most subjects. Anne's struggle with geometry and her practical knowledge from caring for the Hammond twins show her intellectual and personal growth.
How does Anne of Green Gables develop the theme of Nature and Beauty?
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery develops Nature and Beauty across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. Anne's deep appreciation for the natural world—from the Lake of Shining Waters to cherry blossoms—serves as a source of joy, solace, and spiritual nourishment throughout the novel. Anne is overwhelmed by the natural beauty of Green Gables—the cherry blossoms, orchard, brook, and clover field—which she describes with poetic delight. Anne's delight in the October landscape and her desire to bring nature indoors highlights her deep appreciation for beauty. The frosty winter morning and Lovers' Lane are described with wonder, reflecting Anne's appreciation of the natural world.
How does Anne of Green Gables develop the theme of Morality and Redemption?
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery develops Morality and Redemption across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. Anne's frequent scrapes and mistakes, followed by sincere apologies and efforts to improve, explore themes of conscience, forgiveness, and the possibility of personal redemption. Marilla's moral qualms about handing Anne to a harsh woman lead her to choose compassion. Marilla's insistence on an apology and Anne's stubborn refusal set up a moral conflict about forgiveness, accountability, and the possibility of redemption. Anne's apology to Mrs. Lynde and her subsequent forgiveness highlight themes of repentance and moral growth.
How does Anne of Green Gables develop the theme of Gender Roles and Expectations?
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery develops Gender Roles and Expectations across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. The initial disappointment that Anne is a girl instead of a boy, along with her challenges to conventional female behavior, subtly critiques rigid gender expectations of the late 19th century. Marilla's practical, no-frills approach to dressing Anne contrasts with societal expectations of femininity and fashion, highlighting differing views on raising girls. Anne questions why women cannot be ministers, challenging contemporary gender norms, while Mrs. Lynde's reaction underscores societal restrictions.
