Anne of Green Gables Response

     When I first read Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, I was immediately interested by Anne’s unique personality. There are aspects of the character that I will never understand, which is part of the fun of reading, but there are also times when I know exactly what Anne is feeling. I think she is a character that understands me deeply, though she isn’t even real! This particularly stood out to me in chapter 20 of the book.

     Near the beginning of the chapter, Anne is walking through a beautiful place that she calls Violet Vale. She says that she doesn’t worry about school as much there. I can relate to this because I find nature very calming. Blooming flowers and gentle breezes seem to wash my worries away, even if they all come back in the rush of everyday life and schoolwork. I’m not concerned with staying ahead of an annoying boy in my class like Anne is, but I get the same feeling just competing with myself and the answer book.

    In this same passage Anne says, “There’s such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that’s why I’m such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn’t be half so interesting.” Sometimes I feel like I have too many different personalities, too. I’m calm and thoughtful but also fun and energetic. It’s definitely confusing and “troublesome”, as Anne puts it, but it does make things more colorful.

     Another thing I loved in this chapter was the description of Anne’s room. “It was as if all the dreams, sleeping and waking, of its vivid occupant had taken a visible though immaterial formand had tapestried the bare room with splendid filmy tissues of rainbow and moonshine.” My bedroom is a special place for me because, even beyond the decorations and posters, it is full of me. The walls are full of my hopes. The sentiment is even more powerful to Anne because this is her first real home. The thought makes me thankful for my special place.

     I can relate to the way Anne is a scatterbrain, too. I don’t starch handkerchiefs and forget to take pies out of the oven, but I do get distracted imagining like she does. Sometimes I decide to make up stories in my head about the people I see at the store. When I do this, I often get distracted from the rest of reality. It takes a moment to get a hold on what’s happening around me. Anne also mentions how she and Diana made up the Haunted Wood to add some excitement to their little world. I understand the urge for thrill. I try to invent interesting things, too.

     The most memorable part of the chapter was when Anne had to walk through the Haunted Wood at night. I had a similar feeling of senseless dread a few months ago when I decided I had to draw thirteen pictures for an art contest with a deadline two days away. I knew I didn’t have enough time, but I felt like I had to do it, so I felt anxious about the entire situation. It was a problem I created for myself, but I was still upset about it. This isn’t the same as the situation Anne put herself in, but I think the feeling is the same. It’s like when you’re in line for a scary roller coaster and all you want to do is run away.

     There are many scenes in just this one chapter that I can relate to deeply. This is mainly because of the character and her emotions, but setting also plays a part. Besides these, the way the author writes brings me even closer to the story.

Sections: Balance, Creative Essays, Excitement, For School, Happy, Nature, Nonfiction, Peace