Emily of New Moon · Character

Ilse Burnley

Wild, red-haired whirlwind of Blair Water, whose fiery temper and fierce loyalty make her Emily's most electric companion.

supporting

Also known as Elizabeth Burnley, Burnley, Ilse, homesick Great - great - aunt Elizabeth stalking about in her bonnet, agile , quick - witted Ilse

First appearance: XI: Ilse

As a supporting figure in Emily of New Moon, Ilse Burnley is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Introduced as a wild, outcast tomboy with a bad reputation.

In the storyTrial by FireOpen this moment free

Ilse Burnley appears in Emily of New Moon as supporting figure.

Ilse Burnley first appears in 0010 xi ilse.

With Emily Byrd Starr (friendship): Ilse is Emily's fiery, loyal best friend who shares adventures and secrets, though their temperaments often clash. With Emily Byrd Starr (friendship): Ilse is Emily's fiery, loyal best friend who shares adventures and secrets, though their temperaments often clash. With Emily Byrd Starr (friendship): Ilse is Emily's fiery, loyal best friend who shares adventures and secrets, though their temperaments often clash.

See Ilse Burnley in Trial by Fire Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Character Web

33 connections

A slice of how Ilse Burnley sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

New Moon Household
Extended Village and Family
Shrewsbury School Antagonists

+28 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this chapter, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Aunt Elizabeth discovers Emily’s secret writ…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Emily Byrd Starr
friendship · positive
Ilse is Emily's fiery, loyal best friend who shares adventures and secrets, though their… How this plays out →
Emily Byrd Starr
friendship · positive
Ilse is Emily's fiery, loyal best friend who shares adventures and secrets, though their… How this plays out →
Emily Byrd Starr
friendship · positive
Ilse is Emily's fiery, loyal best friend who shares adventures and secrets, though their… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Ilse Burnley in XI: Ilse

In the story

Ilse Burnley appears across 19 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Trial by Fire
Introduced as a wild, outcast tomboy with a bad reputation. She sits alone and is described as having a terrible temper and an infidel father.
XI: Ilse
Becomes Emily's new chum; she is bold, honest, and shares her troubled home life and ambitions to be an elocutionist.
The Tansy Patch
Fights with Emily in a Burnley tantrum, but quickly forgets the quarrel and rebuilds the playhouse; joins Emily in visiting Teddy at the Tansy Patch.
XIII: Daughter of Eve
Ilse is the recipient of Emily's farewell letter; she is away in Charlottetown with her father.
Fancy Fed
Ilse joins the evening gatherings around the potato pot, reciting and dancing, and finds in Emily's companionship a sense of belonging.
XV: Various Tragedies
Ilse makes fun of Perry's ignorance and tears up Teddy's caricature of Perry, for reasons Emily cannot understand.
Check for Miss Brownell
Ilse sits with Emily on the side bench, writing poetry, and is complicit in the defiance.
Living Epistles
Emily's friend who dares her to sleep alone in the garret and gives her a box of candy for her birthday.
By Aerial Post
Emily's close friend; they pray together, Ilse wins a recitation medal, and she is treated coldly by her father Dr. Burnley.
Romantic but Not Comfortable
Skates with Teddy and Emily; is praised for her looks.
Wyther Grange
Jealous of Emily's visit, warns her about the ghost at Wyther Grange and Caroline Priest being a witch, but later bids her goodbye.
XXIII: Deals with Ghosts
Ilse is mentioned as having warned Emily about ghosts at Wyther Grange, contributing to Emily's fear.
A Different Kind of Happiness
Emily misses her and receives a letter from her about the Midsummer Night's Dream play.
XXV: "She Couldn't Have Done It"
Ilse is the daughter of Beatrice Burnley, unaware of her mother's alleged abandonment; Emily dreads meeting her with this secret.
On the Bay Shore
Emily thinks of Ilse's mother's mysterious disappearance while in danger, and prays someone will discover the truth about her.
The Vow of Emily
Ilse is mentioned as the source of news about the new teacher, Mr. Carpenter, and her father's reaction to Miss Brownell's marriage.
A Weaver of Dreams
Likes Mr. Carpenter from the start because he upsets school traditions.
When the Curtain Lifted
Blossoms into beauty and brilliance; reconciles with her father after the truth about her mother is revealed.
XXXI: Emily’s Great Moment
Recovering from measles, tries to break her habit of calling names.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Ilse Burnley unlock in the free preview.

See Ilse Burnley in XI: Ilse

See Ilse Burnley in Trial by Fire