Anne of Green Gables (1000) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

After Mr. Hammond dies of a heart attack, Mrs. Hammond is left to care for three young children on her own. Without a husband to provide for the family, she finds herself unable to keep Anne, who is not her biological child. She sends Anne back to the orphanage, ending the only stability Anne has known since becoming an orphan.

Foreshadowing: The story opens with Anne losing her first makeshift family, establishing the pattern of abandonment she fears throughout the film.

• Mrs Hammond
• orphanage
• Nova Scotia
• abandonment

Matthew Cuthbert is immediately charmed by Anne's spirited personality despite his initial shock that she's not the boy they requested. Marilla is more skeptical but agrees to give Anne a trial period. After observing Anne's unique spark and ability to bring life to Green Gables, Marilla decides the girl belongs there, choosing to keep her despite their original plans for farm help.

Foreshadowing: Matthew's gentle nature is shown from the moment he greets Anne at the station, foreshadowing his role as her champion.

• Matthew Cuthbert
• Marilla Cuthbert
• adoption
• Green Gables

Rachel Lynde criticizes Anne's red hair and plain looks in front of everyone at Green Gables. Anne, who is deeply self-conscious about her appearance and desperate for acceptance, loses her temper and tells Rachel she is rude and interfering. Anne's pride prevents her from apologizing initially, as she feels Rachel deserved the criticism.

Foreshadowing: This early conflict establishes Anne's fiery temper and sensitivity about her looks, themes that resurface throughout the story.

• Rachel Lynde
• apology
• pride
• red hair

Gilbert teases Anne about her red hair, calling her 'Carrots' and refusing to stop despite her protests. In a moment of heated anger, Anne smashes her slate over Gilbert's head in front of the class. This act stems from her deep-seated insecurity about her hair and her inability to tolerate mockery.

Foreshadowing: The slate incident creates lasting tension between Anne and Gilbert, though it eventually leads to their reconciliation and mutual respect.

• Gilbert Blythe
• slate
• school
• anger
• red hair

After the slate incident, Anne tries to use hair dye to change her red hair to black, hoping to improve her appearance. However, the dye reacts badly with her hair's natural chemistry and turns it green instead. This mishap, rather than discouraging Marilla, actually convinces her that Anne's unique spirit should be allowed to stay at Green Gables.

Foreshadowing: This comic disaster demonstrates Anne's tendency toward impulsive solutions and foreshadows her journey toward self-acceptance.

• hair dye
• green hair
• mishap
• appearance

At Anne's tea party, Anne mistakenly serves currant wine instead of the raspberry cordial the girls expected. Diana, unfamiliar with alcohol, becomes drunk. Mrs. Barry assumes Anne deliberately got her daughter drunk as a prank and forbids Diana from seeing Anne again, viewing it as a serious breach of trust.

Foreshadowing: This misunderstanding strains Anne's most important friendship, highlighting the consequences of her impulsive nature.

• Diana Barry
• Mrs Barry
• currant wine
• friendship ban

After winning the prestigious Avery scholarship worth $250 for four years of study at Redmond College, Anne learns that Marilla's eyesight is failing and Green Gables may have to be sold. Anne chooses to decline the scholarship and instead studies by correspondence while teaching in Carmody, keeping her close to home and able to care for Marilla.

Foreshadowing: Anne's sacrifice demonstrates her growth from a desperate orphan seeking escape to someone who values loyalty and family above personal ambition.

• Avery scholarship
• Redmond College
• sacrifice
• Marilla
• Green Gables

Matthew suffers a heart attack while helping Anne move a stubborn cow out of the field one evening. He dies with Anne by his side, having just told her how proud he is of her accomplishments. The sudden loss devastates both Anne and Marilla.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes hint at Matthew's age and frailty, making his passing feel tragically inevitable despite its shock.

• Matthew Cuthbert
• heart attack
• death
• farm

Marilla reveals that Gilbert's father, John Blythe, was once a beau of hers in their youth. They had a quarrel that ended their relationship, leaving lingering resentment. This backstory explains some of the complexity in their family dynamics and sets the stage for forgiveness.

Foreshadowing: This revelation comes after Matthew's death, encouraging both Marilla and the audience to consider the value of reconciliation.

• John Blythe
• Marilla
• past romance
• forgiveness

Gilbert asks the school trustees to let Anne take the Avonlea teaching position while he accepts a position in Carmody. This arrangement allows Anne to stay at Green Gables to support Marilla while Gilbert studies by correspondence. Both pursue further education together, signaling their renewed partnership.

Foreshadowing: Their final walk home together represents the culmination of their journey from rivals to supportive partners with shared futures.

• teaching
• Avonlea school
• Carmody
• correspondence studies
• Gilbert Blythe