James Baquet

People seem to love books about orphans: Oliver Twist, Harry Potter, even Superman and Batman! But one of the more popular early young adult novels about a plucky orphan who overcame trials by sheer gumption was the 1908 Canadian novel “Anne of Green Gables” by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Anne Shirley spends her childhood in orphanages and numerous homes, and finally comes to stay with an older, unmarried brother and sister, Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, in the fictional town of Avonlea.

The Cuthberts were disappointed with Anne, as they had intended to adopt a boy to help with work on their farm, Green Gables. Nevertheless, at Matthew’s quiet urging, Marilla agrees to give her a try around the house.

Anne is talkative, and highly imaginative, a poor fit for Marilla’s stern nature. But over time, Anne’s optimism begins to soften the older lady.

The book examines Anne’s growing friendships, her success at a small country school, her ambition to become a writer, and her complex relationship with classmate Gilbert Blythe, a rival in academic competition and a possible love-interest. (In later books, they marry.) This is the first real home Anne has ever known, and it brings out the best in her.

At 16, Anne and Gilbert, along with other friends, attend Queen’s Academy, where she will earn a teaching license. She finishes the course in one year instead of the usual two, and wins a scholarship to attend college, where she can take her Bachelor of Arts degree.

However, tragedy strikes: A bank failure causes the Cuthberts to lose all of their money. The news is too much for kindly old Matthew, who dies of a heart attack. Anne chooses to go home and help Marilla instead of going to the university. To earn money for the household, she agrees to teach at a school near enough to allow her to come home every weekend, but Gilbert gives up his new position at Avonlea School, which is even closer, so Anne can go home every night.

Anne’s story continues over a half-dozen books; she becomes a school principal, and Gilbert becomes a doctor. They have six children; three further sequels tell the stories of the Blythe children’s lives.

Vocabulary:

Which word above means:

1. person one competes with

2. six

3. young person whose parents have died

4. possible lover

5. brave, determined

6. positive outlook

7. money for attending school

8. strict, serious

9. initiative, resourcefulness

10. prevailed (over), succeeded in a conflict