S24 Performance of Children's Literature

CASD 1717 – Spring 2024

Anne of Green Gables

black and white illustration of a girl in long sleeve dress walking along the peak of a rooftop
Plate facing p. 256 of the 1908 first edition of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, Public Domain.

Read

Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables. First published in Canada in 1908.

This is the first of a series of novels that follow the heroine, Anne, through childhood and into adulthood, where she eventually pursues a career.

Read chapters 1-12; additional is optional

Get text at Project Gutenberg

 If you want an audiobook version, you can access a Librevox recording.

How Anne Evolved

Explore Anne the Tourist Attraction

Anne of Green Gables takes place in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, a small island on the eastern coast. Tourism is one of the province’s main industries and tends to center around Anne.

Explore Official Prince Edward Island Anne of Green Gables Information and Facts
Sign with photo of building near a white picket fence
Museum sign for the Post Office; jockrutherford from Owen Sound, ON, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
White house with green roof, gables, and shutters. A lawn in front and roses in the corner. People stand in line to the right or sit in front of the house
Green Gables House, Peter Broster, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
glass bottle of red liquid with a yellow label with a picture of a girl with red braids and a straw hat.
Branded raspberry cordial, Peakes Warf, Great George St, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Watch: Anne Performed

Early Anne – 1919 Silent Film

This film has been lost (as have many films) but still images exist from its marketing.

Ad for Anne of Green Gables, 1919; Film Daily (New York, Wid’s Films and Film Folks, Inc.) Vol. 9 & 10 1919 (scanned for Archive.org)
Image of a girl with long yellowish corkscrew curls placed a top an image of a the green gables house.
Sheet Music Cover, Albert Wilfred Barbelle, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Anne in 1934

Anne of the 1980s and 90s.

This film spawned a television series featuring other characters living in Avonlea aired through the early 90s.

Optional Video

Anne With an E

A new television series based on Anne was released on Netflix in 2015. Take a look at a few scenes:

What do you think of Anne as she is Written? In what ways does or doesn’t Anne feel contemporary? Does the book feel dated? What do these various filmed versions capture about her character and story?

Go back to Overview
Go on to American Pioneer Myths

Comments

21 responses to “Anne of Green Gables”

  1. Vanessa Alamo Avatar
    Vanessa Alamo

    From what I watched and reads about Anne Shirley, is a classic character who connects to readers of all ages. She portrays herself as an energetic, creative, independent young lady who enjoys reading and has a soft spot for romance. Anne does feel contemporary because her issues with self-acceptance, identity, and belonging are things we all deal with now. I think there are some references in the book that can make the story feel outdated, Anne as a character feels very much up to date with today’s readers, we can all relate to her in one way or another. I believe these films captures something different in every film, maybe one film focuses on romance and love, while a different film can focus on friendships and society, but I think it still captures Anne.

    Reply
  2. Cheyenne La Fritz Avatar
    Cheyenne La Fritz

    Anne of Green Gables is a coming-of-age story about Anne Shirley, an eleven-year-old orphan girl. She’s insecure, impulsive, and a bit mischievous. She’s also adventurous, honest, and optimistic. The vocabulary in the reading can be a bit difficult for children to understand. The language in the text might not be considered contemporary. The definition I am referring to when I use the word contemporary is modern. The themes and lessons can be considered contemporary because they are timeless. To me, I think the book feels dated however, the plot itself is from a time in the past so it is for a reason. If the book used more modern phrases or vocabulary, it wouldn’t appropriately reflect the text. The dialogue isn’t modern but it’s not supposed to be. I think the filmed versions captured her character and story slightly different from the novel. The films focus more on the romance of the story which strays from the plot of the text which focuses more on her misadventures. Except for the latest adaptation, which was a dramatized version of the novel incorporating real-life themes of trauma, racism, misogyny, and grief.

    Reply
  3. Natasha Marques Avatar
    Natasha Marques

    Anne Shirley, the main character in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s novel “Anne of Green Gables,” is an imaginative, spirited, and charming young girl. Anne Shirley is a complex and multifaceted character who resonates with readers for her passion, creativity, and zest for life. Her journey of growth, self-discovery, and resilience makes her a timeless and beloved literary figure. All the remakes have keep her charatcer in tact. She is strong minded and likes to speak her mind and you can see that through out all the series remakes. I don’t feel the book is outdated maybe just the language used since it was written feels more old fashioned and the gender roles and expectations depicted in the novel may feel outdated in today’s more progressive and gender-equal society.

    Reply
  4. Juliana Moreno Duran Avatar
    Juliana Moreno Duran

    Anne Shirley, the protagonist of “Anne of Green Gables,” is characterized by her vivid imagination, strong will, and zest for life, qualities that make her timeless and relatable across generations. While the language and gender roles in the book reflect its early 20th-century setting and may seem outdated, Anne’s spirit and growth remain contemporary. Film and TV adaptations have successfully preserved her essence, capturing her resilience and her journey of self-discovery, which continue to resonate with audiences, ensuring her story’s relevance and appeal despite the dated elements of its original context.

    Reply
  5. Badra Ahmad Avatar
    Badra Ahmad

    Anne of Green Gables presents Anne Shirley as a spirited and independent young girl whose struggles and aspirations feel contemporary despite the book’s setting in the late 19th century. While certain aspects may feel dated, Anne’s resilience and journey of self-discovery remain timeless themes. Various filmed adaptations, from the classic miniseries to more recent interpretations, capture Anne’s essence as a fiercely independent and imaginative character, resonating with audiences across generations.

    Reply
  6. Basamat Hamdan Avatar
    Basamat Hamdan

    Anne Shirley is first written as a desperate, struggling child. As an orphan, she just wanted a place to call home, and immediately broke into tears when she realized that being a girl is unwanted. However, she later shows that she is curious, a nature lover, intelligent in her speech, and speaks her mind. I especially like that she stood up for herself when Mrs. Rachel Lynde insulted her looks.

    I believe Anne is written in a contemporary way because she isn’t this perfect girl. She struggles with her self-image and family issues. She also depicts her intelligence and speaks quite a lot, which is not the norm for girls in past centuries. The language used in the book is easy to understand, but the dialogue is definitely much more formal than how people speak today.

    The film versions really show how she looks different from her peers. She is still quite talkative. She seems like the odd one out amongst her fellow girl classmates, such as how she doesn’t understand why periods are shameful.

    Reply
  7. Ekaterini Fasarakis Avatar
    Ekaterini Fasarakis

    I enjoyed exploring the story of Anne Shirley. She is an orphan and is looking for a home. Anne Shirley is an independent, spirited, broad, and imaginative character. I am not familiar with the story previously but I truly love how she is relatable throughout multiple generations as a classic story.

    Reply
  8. Obeed Ahmed Avatar
    Obeed Ahmed

    Anne Shirley is portrayed in “Anne of Green Gables” as someone who is both classic and modern. Even though Anne was written more than a century ago, readers still find herself drawn to her vivid imagination, unwavering energy, and search for her own identity. Even if the book’s depiction of gender roles and societal expectations feels a little out of date, Anne’s journey toward empowerment and belonging is still relevant to readers of all ages. The story’s several cinematic renditions depict distinct aspects of Anne’s persona and narrative, ranging from her fanciful disposition to the historical social milieu. Though her interpretations have changed over time, Anne Shirley remains a famous literary character whose successes and universal difficulties continue to inspire people all across the world.

    Reply
  9. Milen Bekis Avatar
    Milen Bekis

    Anne Shirley is a young girl who is not afraid to step out of the norms that society has created for a girl. She is not your typical good little daughter. She doesn’t have your perfect image of a little young girl who mesmerizes a doll. Her image tells other girls that its oaky not to look like a Barbie or always be so perfect. Also that you have to always listen to men and do do what they say.

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  10. Hasiena Madramootoo Avatar
    Hasiena Madramootoo

    Despite being written a very long time ago, readers are still drawn to Anne’s vivid imagination, energy, and search for identity. While the book’s may feel outdated, Anne’s journey towards coming of age and belonging is still care for to readers of all ages. these various film have highlighted different aspects of Anne’s character and story, from her whimsical nature to the historical context. .

    Reply
  11. Quesia Cruz Avatar
    Quesia Cruz

    I think that Anne is described as a smart orphan, a young child full of knowledge even if others want to make her feel worthless. I don’t think Anne is outdated, maybe the way it’s written is different but it is a great story and I kind of like the adaptations, and over the summer I will watch it it looks interesting. Anne is someone who shows empowerment.

    Reply
  12. Revette Hinkson Avatar
    Revette Hinkson

    Lucy Maud Montgomery’s character Anne Shirley in story ‘Anne of Green Gables’ was written as a complex character. She stated off as a desperate and struggling child yearning for a place to call home while facing society’s prejudices because she was an orphan. However, Anne’s character evolves to show her curiosity, love for nature and her ability to be outspoken and stand up for herself.

    The story can be considered contemporary because some of the issues Anne’s struggle with are issues that we still see happening, but the book does feel dated based on the language that is used.

    The various film versions of the story reveal Anne’s resilience and ability to adapt.

    Reply
  13. Martina Arriola Avatar
    Martina Arriola

    What do you think of Anne as she is Written?
    Anne of Green Gables is a beloved and super cool character, also known for her vivid imagination, strong-willed nature, and independent spirit. She’s always daydreaming and getting into funny situations. I like how she’s not afraid to be herself and speak her mind. It’s awesome how she grows and learns throughout the story. Her development throughout the series has resonated with readers for generations, making her a timeless and enduring literary figure.

    In what ways does or doesn’t Anne feel contemporary?
    Anne still feels relatable today because Anne’s struggles with fitting in, finding her place in the world, and pursuing her dreams are things many of us can understand. Her strong-willed personality and determination to be herself are qualities that people still admire. The book is set in a time when gender roles and societal expectations were different, so some aspects might not match up with how things are today. Despite that, Anne’s story of overcoming challenges and staying true to herself continues to inspire readers of all ages.

    Does the book feel dated?
    The book does feel a little old-fashioned because it’s set in a time when things were different, like how girls and boys were expected to act in a certain manner or role. Some parts might seem old, but Anne’s feelings and experiences are still easy to understand. Even though the story happened a long time ago, people can still connect with Anne and her adventures today. Overall, it’s kind of old-fashioned, but the main character is still someone lots of people can relate to.

    What do these various filmed versions capture about her character and story?
    The various filmed versions capture Anne’s vibrant personality and her unwavering spirit as she navigates the challenges of growing up. They showcase her imaginative nature and her determination to carve out her own path in life, resonating with audiences through different times to connect with that generations. Also in the films the colorful landscapes of Prince Edward Island, creating a vivid backdrop for Anne’s adventures. The different movies creates adaptations effectively bring to life the timeless themes of friendship, resilience, and the pursuit of one’s dreams that define Anne’s character and story, that part never grows old.

    Reply
  14. Katherine Abalonski Avatar
    Katherine Abalonski

    Anne is a very imaginative child in her growing years who always loves learning and always finds a way to speak her mind. I do think Annes character seems contemporary even though this was written in 1908, because of how independent and how she is always able to challenge the “norms”. I do think the book feels a bit dated based on the language but Annes character does make up for it. I think the film adaptations each show her same interests and character.

    Reply
  15. Aya Ibrahim Avatar
    Aya Ibrahim

    I really like Anne despite not having been originally familiar with her due to the way her character is portrayed. I believe that her timelessness comes from her being depicted as someone with a “can do” attitude, despite the various challenges she faces and the obstacles that stand before her. I would say that her belief that she can overcome all is what makes her contemporary, and although some of the historical context and dialogue confirms that the text is a little antiquated, overall her message is one that transcends generations and is a great part of what makes a story a classic. I would also add that although the versions of her differ slightly, they all are sure to capture and retain her liveliness and perseverance.

    Reply
  16. Hanan Almoflihi Avatar
    Hanan Almoflihi

    Anne is an energetic, impulsive yet independent young girl. She is contemporary in my opinion due to these traits, which are more common in today’s time and less frowned upon. The story felt slightly outdated because of the language. Lines such as “Mrs. Rachel rapped smartly at the kitchen door and stepped in when bidden to do so”, make it seem that way. The different versions of the stories highlight different aspects of the tale. For example one might focus on capturing her ambitious personality, while another focuses on the plot.

    Reply
  17. Jennifer F. Angel Avatar
    Jennifer F. Angel

    Anne of Green Gables is written as a coming of age story, the author writes about her as an imperfect child. As all children are taught to be good and well behaved in certain settings. This story reveals that as a girl that is not always the case. Anne is different from typical stories, she fits outside the norm. I think that is why people come back to this story because everyone could relate feeling different and imperfect as they discover their role and identity in the world. Anne in the beginning of the book is desperate to call a place home and be wanted. Towards the end she finds herself and begins to venture out and begins to flourish in her world. She is intelligent and creative. For the time the story was written that was not the norm for women. They could not just show their intelligence or else they would be seen as bossy or rude. They had to be complicit with whatever was said and done to them in order to avoid controversy. The Netflix discusses the theme of gender inequality. These shows and films always capture the essence of Anne as a girl who was hopeless to then becoming hopeful. Through a series of events she no longer struggles with her identity and her roles in different dynamics, family, friends and even in one movie partner.

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  18. Dionisia Payamps Avatar
    Dionisia Payamps

    to me People of all ages can relate to her writing because it has a lot of meaning. People today can relate to Anne’s free spirit and her ability to get through tough situations. The book takes place in a different time, but Anne’s battles with identity, connection, and self-discovery are topics that will always be important, so her story feels fresh. The different movies of “Anne of Green Gables” show different sides of her personality, highlighting her creativity, drive, and determination. They bring the magical world of Avonlea and Anne’s ties with the people around her to life, showing how she changes and grows over the course of the series. Overall, the book may feel a little out of date because it is set in the past, but Anne is still a timeless and inspiring figure for people of all ages.

    Reply
  19. hannah xhani Avatar
    hannah xhani

    Anne Shirley is a lively girl full of imagination and charm. it seems as though readers are drawn to her complexity and enthusiasm for life. Her journey of discovery and resilience makes her a loved character. I didn’t know that there existed this many versions, yet Anne stays true to herself, always speaking her mind. However, the book’s language has an l old-fashioned feel , and its portrayal of gender roles might not fit today’s writing style.

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  20. Renee Montperous Avatar
    Renee Montperous

    When Anne Shirley is initially written, she is a helpless, suffering young girl. She was an orphan who only wanted a place to call home. When she learned that being a girl is unpleasant, she started crying and felt like she didn’t matter. Later on she demonstrates her curiosity, love of the outdoors, spoken intelligence, and ability to express her opinions. I admired the way she defended herself against Ms. Rachel’s attempts to draw attention to her physical attributes. Although the language and traditional gender norms make the novel appear timeless, the subject matter of fitting in, finding one’s place in the world, and achieving her goals make it seem somewhat relevant to modern readers.

    Reply
  21. Crisbely Inoa Veras Avatar
    Crisbely Inoa Veras

    What do you think of Anne as she is Written? In what ways does or doesn’t Anne feel contemporary? Does the book feel dated? What do these various filmed versions capture about her character and story?

    From the beginning I found Anne to be a delight of a character. Although she has had a difficult upbringing as an orphan she finds a way to connect with everyday things that other people didn’t even pay attention to, and I feel like that was what grabbed Matthews attention. To a certain extent Anne feels contemporary, we know that the foster care system in America isn’t the best and many children are struggling to find a loving home so to that extent, I’d say it contemporary, but there the timer period in which this book was written societal expectations were so different that I don’t think our generation would find any similarities. This book feels 75% outdates because of the societal roles presented, there has been so much progress for women that it doesn’t feel right. As for the other various filmed versions, I think they bring out Anne’s character but they each highlight a different aspect of her.

    Reply

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