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Anne of the Island · Theme

Coming of Age

How Anne of the Island develops Coming of Age.

The book follows Anne's transition from adolescence to adulthood, exploring her experiences at college, her evolving relationships, and her growing understanding of life's deeper purposes and responsibilities.

Where it surfaces

  • Anne of the Island

    Anne transitions from Avonlea to university, marking her journey into adulthood.

  • The Shadow of Change

    Anne and Diana grapple with the realities of adulthood, including marriage, career, and the loss of childhood innocence.

  • Home Again

    Anne's transition from Redmond student to returning home, and her guidance of Davy through a moral dilemma.

  • Anne’s First Proposal

    Anne experiences her first proposal, a milestone of adulthood, but finds it far from the romantic ideal she had imagined.

  • The Way of Transgressors

    Davy tests boundaries and learns about conscience and moral responsibility through his rebellion and subsequent confession.

  • A Letter from Davy

    Davy's composition on the kind of wife he'd like reflects childhood notions of adulthood and marriage roles.

  • An Interlude

    Anne's twentieth birthday marks a transition from youth to adulthood, prompting reflection on character and life's direction.

  • Paul Cannot Find the Rock People

    Paul's loss of the Rock People symbolizes the transition from childhood to adolescence, and Anne reflects on how summer seems shorter as one grows older.