Anne of Green Gables

Anne is an orphan living with the Hammond family in Nova Scotia. After Mr. Hammond dies of a heart attack, Anne is sent back to the orphanage, leaving her brief time of stability behind. This event sets the stage for her later journey to Green Gables.

Matthew Cuthbert and his sister Marilla travel to the train station to fetch a helper for their farm. They discover Anne is a girl, not the boy they expected, and decide to bring her home to Green Gables. This accidental adoption changes Anne's life forever.

Marilla puts Anne to a quick test to see if she can fit into life at Green Gables. Anne loses her temper with Marilla's friend Rachel Lynde and refuses to apologize at first. Matthew persuades her to apologize so she can stay.

At a Sunday School picnic, Anne meets Diana Barry from across the pond and the two girls become close friends. The friendship marks a new circle for Anne in Avonlea. They share plans and adventures that stretch Anne's possibilities.

Gilbert Blythe teases Anne at school, prompting her to smash a slate over his head. She vows to forgive him later but then tries to dye her hair black to salvage pride, only for it to turn green. The rivalry foreshadows future tension and eventual reconciliation.

Anne invites Diana to a tea party and accidentally serves currant wine instead of raspberry cordial, getting Diana drunk. Diana's mother, Mrs. Barry, takes offense and forbids the girls from seeing each other again. The incident strains their friendship but does not end it.

Miss Muriel Stacey arrives as Avonlea's new schoolteacher and urges Anne to join a special class for the Queen's Academy entrance. The path promises a future beyond their small town. Anne weighs this opportunity against staying at Green Gables.

Diana's little sister Minnie May falls ill with croup while Marilla is away at a political event. Anne treats the child with ipecac and saves her life. Mrs. Barry is grateful and invites Anne to a Christmas ball in Carmody as an apology for forbidding their friendship.

At the Christmas ball in Carmody, Anne sees Gilbert but remains guarded and unwilling to forgive him for the earlier insult. The ball deepens their complicated relationship and sets up a later reconciliation. Anne also meets Josephine Barry, who invites her and Diana to visit a mansion in Charlottetown later that season.

Anne travels to Charlottetown to continue her education by taking the Queen's entrance exam. The results reveal she wins the Avery scholarship, securing funds for four years of study. She envisions pursuing an arts degree at Redmond College while staying connected to Green Gables.

One evening at dusk, Matthew helps with a stubborn cow and suffers a heart attack, dying after telling Anne how proud he is of her. Anne is devastated, and Marilla must confront an uncertain future for Green Gables. The death solidifies the need for new plans and resilience.

Following Matthew's funeral, Marilla comforts Anne and admits she loves her as Matthew did. She also worries about losing Green Gables due to her failing eyesight. Anne reveals she declined the Avery scholarship to study by correspondence while teaching in Carmody.

Gilbert explains that he has asked the trustees to let Anne hold the Avonlea school so he can teach there and study by correspondence. He plans to study and support Anne, and she agrees to help him prepare. They reconcile and walk home together, signaling a hopeful partnership for the future.