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Copywork
About This Passage
Montgomery renders Marilla's emotional life through a precise inversion: the more pleased she feels, the more brusquely she speaks. The narrator's omniscience — revealing that the rejection IS the pleasure — teaches the reader to decode Marilla's emotional language: harshness means tenderness. The phrase 'startling sweetness' captures a woman encountering physical affection for the first time at approximately sixty years old.
It was the first time in her whole life that childish lips had voluntarily touched Marilla's face. Again that sudden sensation of startling sweetness thrilled her. She was secretly vastly pleased at A...
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Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
In your own words, tell the story of this chapter. What were the most important moments? What made them important — and how do you know?
Discussion Questions
- Anne says 'looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them.' Mrs. Lynde says 'Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.' Anne responds that expecting nothing would be WORSE than being disappointed. Which philosophy serves a person better — enjoying anticipation or protecting yourself from disappointment? What in Anne's life across thirteen chapters helps you decide?
- Anne kisses Marilla and the narrator tells us Marilla was 'secretly vastly pleased' but said 'never mind your kissing nonsense.' Why does Marilla push away the very thing she secretly wants? How does this connect to the pattern we have seen across the novel — the rusty smile (Ch3), the smothered laugh (Ch9), and now the rejected kiss?
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Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
To talk at length about something, explaining and discussing
Item 2
A powerful attraction that draws you in and holds your attention
Item 3
Troubling your mind constantly, like a worry that will not go away
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Critical Thinking
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