Have fun thinking about and/or writing out your answers to the following questions:
1) Anne is one of the most
well known Canadian characters. How does she represent Canadian culture
to Canadians and to the world?
2) L. M. Montgomery's novels
are often classified as "children's" literature and/or "young
adult" literature. In
contrast, Mark Twain, another writer during this period, has books classified
as "fiction" or "classics" on top of the children's/young
adult classification. Why do you think this difference exists?
3) L. M. Montgomery's stories
invariably end happily. Do you find the endings to her stories contrived?
Do you think she gave in to audience pressures by writing her tales to please
them? What alternate endings can you envision for her writings?
4) Compare and contrast the
friendship of Anne and Diana Barry in the Anne of Green Gables series
and the friendship of Emily and Ilse Burnley in Emily of New Moon series. Is
one more realistic and natural in nature than the other?
5) Anne holds a distinctive
draw for children as well as adults? How do you characterize the
power she holds over the reader? Why, if Anne was created for adolescents,
does she continue to appeal strongly to adults?
6) An early review of "Anne" by the New York Times criticized it,
saying "The author's probable intention was to exhibit a unique development
in this little asylum waif, but there is no real difference between the girl
at the end of the story and the one at the beginning of it. All the other characters
in the book are human enough." Is Anne a unique and lasting work because
her surroundings conform more to her than she does to them by the end of the
story?
7) LMM created Anne as different, but not radical. How did she balance her
desire for a unique heroine, while still placing Anne within the cultural and
societal boundaries required for a child?
8) Though it may be obvious to the reader that Anne belongs with Gilbert, she
continues to deny this throughout the story. Instead their relationship is
based on competition. How does this differ from the romances of other heroines
of children's stories?
9) L. M. Montgomery's male characters may be considered "stock" characters,
considering the fact that they are oftentimes one-dimensional and not fully
characterized. What characteristics does she consistently give suitors
in her novels? Do Gilbert, Walter, Jingle, Barney and Teddy etc. have
similarities? Do you think they accurately represent male characteristics
or did Montgomery design them as prototypic men?
10) In Kilmeny of the Orchard, Eric falls in love with Kilmeny upon
sight, after hearing her music. Was this portrayal of love at first sight
(sound) realistic? Was this really love, or just attraction and infatuation?
11) In Montgomery's The Blue Castle, all of the main characters challenge
conformity in some way or another: Valancy and Barney in particular. Do you
think the book's ending ruined this central theme?
12) Do you think Pat Gardiner's love of her home and family and fear of change
makes Pat a weak character in Pat of Silver Bush? Are there also strengths
in this type of absolute loyalty?
13) The Blue Castle and Mistress Pat have far-fetched and unnatural
conclusions, which have been called "deus ex machina" endings ("miraculous
surprise endings"). Do you think L. M. Montgomery used these twists
to give the reader what they wanted from the story? Did these endings
detract from the stories themselves?
14) In The Road to Yesterday, how did you perceive the Blythe family
upon hearing what others in Glen St. Mary thought of them? Did you think
they were subjected to heavy scrutiny and criticism due to jealousy? Do
you think Montgomery was tired of her most famous family, and was trying to
find a way to release her negative feelings?
15) How did L. M. Montgomery use her real life experiences in her fiction writing? What
aspects of Anne and Emily remind you of experiences in her life? What
differences do you see in L. M. Montgomery's life and personality and her portrayals
of Anne and Emily?
16) Of L. M. Montgomery's heroines (Jane, Anne, Pat, Valancy, Emily, the Story
Girl etc.), who do you most relate to? Who has the most realistic characterization?
17) What do you consider
Anne's definition of a "kindred spirit"? Do you have a
different definition? Do you have a "kindred spirit" in
your life?
18)
How does L.M. Montgomery depict divisions between upper and lower classes,
and characters of different religions or cultures? What aspects of these divisions
are present today? In what ways has society changed?
19) How does L.M. Montgomery both portray childhood eloquently and ridicule
children from the perspective of an adult?
20) The publication of Anne of Green Gables was in 1908. As Anne
nears 100,
do you think Anne's appeal will continue another 100 years? Is the character
timeless?
Last Updated 05.18.06
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