Anne Of Green Gables
"Well, I’m ready. What am I to say?” Marilla felt more embarrassed than ever. She had intended to teach Anne the childish classic, “Now I lay me down to sleep.” But she had, as I have told you, the glimmerings of a sense of humor—which is simply another name for a sense of the fitness of things; and it suddenly occurred to her that that simple little prayer, sacred to white-robed childhood lisping at motherly knees, was entirely unsuited to this freckled witch of a girl who knew and cared nothing about God’s love, since she had never had it translated to her through the medium of human love. “You’re old enough to pray for yourself, Anne,” she said finally. “Just thank God for your blessings and ask Him humbly for the things you want.” “Well, I’ll do my best,” promised Anne, burying her face in Marilla’s lap. “Gracious heavenly Father—that’s the way the ministers say it in church, so I suppose it’s all right in private prayer, isn’t it?” she interjected, lifting her head for a moment. “Gracious heavenly Father, I thank Thee for the White Way of Delight and the Lake of Shining Waters and Bonny and the Snow Queen. I’m really extremely grateful for them. And that’s all the blessings I can think of just now to thank Thee for. As for the things I want, they’re so numerous that it would take a great deal of time to name them all, so I will only mention the two most important. Please let me stay at Green Gables; and please let me be good-looking when I grow up. I remain, “Yours respectfully, Anne Shirley. “There, did I do all right?” she asked eagerly, getting up. “I could have made it much more flowery if I’d had a little more time to think it over.” Poor Marilla was only preserved from complete collapse by remembering that it was not irreverence, but simply spiritual ignorance on the part of Anne that was responsible for this extraordinary petition. She tucked the child up in bed, mentally vowing that she should be taught a prayer the very next day, and was leaving the room with the light when Anne called her back. “I’ve just thought of it now. I should have said ‘Amen’ in place of ‘yours respectfully,’ shouldn’t I?—the way the ministers do. I’d forgotten it, but I felt a prayer should be finished off in some way, so I put in the other. Do you suppose it will make any difference?” “I—I don’t suppose it will,” said Marilla. “Go to sleep now like a good child. Good night.”
Analyse how Anne’s prayer, and Marilla’s internal thoughts and reactions to it, reveal their distinct characters. Comment on the writer's use of language to highlight these differences.
To write a strong analysis, you should:
- Discuss what Anne's unique prayer reveals about her personality, imagination, and background.
- Explore Marilla's internal thoughts and how her reaction shows her practical yet understanding nature.
- Analyze specific words and phrases used by L.M. Montgomery to emphasize the contrast between the two characters.
💡 Writing Tips
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When analysing character, look for specific actions, dialogue, and internal thoughts. For Anne, consider her words, her choices of things to be grateful for, and her eager questions afterwards. For Marilla, focus on her initial intentions, her 'embarrassment,' her 'glimmerings of a sense of humor,' and her final, measured response. How does the author's choice of adjectives and descriptive phrases for each character (e.g., 'freckled witch of a girl' for Anne, 'glimmerings of a sense of humor' for Marilla) underscore their individuality? Show how these elements create a contrast, demonstrating Anne's imaginative, spirited nature against Marilla's more practical, reserved, but ultimately caring personality.
📝 Sample Answer
Anne's prayer immediately reveals her vivid imagination and uninhibited personality. Her spontaneous thanks for 'the White Way of Delight and the Lake of Shining Waters and Bonny and the Snow Queen' showcases her poetic and fanciful view of the world, valuing beauty and imaginative concepts over conventional blessings. Her interjection asking if 'Gracious heavenly Father' is appropriate, and her conclusion 'Yours respectfully, Anne Shirley,' followed by her eagerness to have done 'much more flowery' with more time, highlights her earnestness, her desire to do well, and her charmingly unique interpretation of instruction. The writer's use of Anne's direct, conversational tone ("There, did I do all right?") captures her innocence and lack of inhibition.
In contrast, Marilla's character is revealed through her internal struggle and more conventional, practical approach. She initially intends to teach Anne a traditional, "childish classic" prayer, demonstrating her adherence to societal norms and expectations. Her "embarrassment" at Anne's unconventional prayer shows her discomfort with anything out of the ordinary, and her internal debate (noting Anne as a 'freckled witch of a girl' yet having 'glimmerings of a sense of humor') reveals a pragmatic woman with a softening core. The writer highlights her shift from near 'complete collapse' to understanding Anne's 'spiritual ignorance,' which speaks to her developing capacity for empathy. Marilla's final, brief response to Anne's 'Amen' query – "I—I don’t suppose it will" – shows her typical terse manner, but also a growing tolerance and perhaps a glimmer of appreciation for Anne's individuality, despite her conventional facade. The contrast is brilliantly drawn through Anne's unrestrained spirit versus Marilla's stern yet awakening kindness.
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