Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables Summary | Plot Summary

Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert make plans to adopt an orphan boy to help with chores on their family farm named Green Gables. On arriving at the train station, Matthew finds instead a little redheaded orphan girl waiting on the platform. Matthew, normally shy and timid around females of any age, is charmed by the little girl and her precocious chatter. The little orphan girl, Anne Shirley, is a great romantic of eleven. Anne delights in the buggy ride and is soon enchanted by the environs of Green Gables. There is no hiding Marilla Cuthbert's dismay when she discovers the mix up. Marilla archly rejects Matthew's suggestion of keeping young Anne Shirley. Only after learning of Anne's hard luck life does Marilla acquiesce to Matthew's wishes to keep the girl.

A clever girl with a heart full of youthful sentiment and romance, Anne's imagination is as mischievous as it is endearing. Anne's first years at Green Gables are a series of misadventures and theatrics, comical but enlightening to the spirited girl. Her penchant for drama is tempered by her desire to do good things and see the best in all people. Sensitive to her manner of dress and her redheaded tresses, Anne's vanity is often the source of fits of temper. After a time she grows into her own person, comforted by the many dear people in her life. A lifelong desire for a bosom buddy is met in the person of Diana Barry, a kindred spirit. Timid Matthew forms a gentle union with the grateful Anne , and Anne's maturation grows in equal measure to Marilla's fondness for her.

Soon, Anne's life is to expand and grow in new directions. With the arrival of Mrs. Allan, the new minister's wife and a new kindred spirit, and Miss Stacey, the new school mistress, Anne's life takes a new turn. Her interest in school and desire to do good things flourish under their encouragement. Miss Stacey forms a study group for the Queen's entrance exam. Anne is thrilled at the possibilities it presents and after a winter of earnest study she enjoys the most golden summer of her life. After the summer, Anne is two inches taller, markedly quieter, and is not so inclined to use big words when small ones will do. All her hard work not in vain, Anne discovers her name at the top of the Queen's entrance exam pass list, tied with Gilbert Blythe.

As Anne sets to leave for Queen's, the usually much reserved and undemonstrative Marilla is moved to tell Anne how much she will miss her presence at Green Gables. She soon sets her sights on winning the Avery scholarship to Redmond College. Anne regrets her prideful scorn of Gilbert Blythe and grows jealous of his companionship with Ruby Gillis. The morning comes for Anne to check the results of final examinations posted on a bulletin board, only to learn Gilbert Blythe has been awarded Class Medalist. Feeling a pang of disappointment, Anne is soon cheered as the winner of the Avery scholarship.

Soon after Anne returns to Green Gables, Matthew suffers a fatal heart attack. Anne awakens in the middle of the night overcome by grief and falls to tears at the memory of Matthew's words, "my girl that I'm proud of." Marilla visits the eye doctor the next day and learns that she must give up sewing and reading if she is to save her eyesight. Having lost all the family savings at the failed Abbey Bank, Marilla is forced to consider selling Green Gables. Anne decides that she will stay to help Marilla and save Green Gables. Anne resolves to teach at a neighboring town, giving up the Avery scholarship for correspondence school. Gilbert Blythe withdraws his teaching application so that Anne may teach in Avonlea. Meeting Gilbert in the road that evening, they form a lasting friendship after many years of rivalry. That night, alone in the east gable sitting by her window, Anne is content that whatever may await her in that bend in the road, the rewards of hard work and valued friendships will always be hers.