Preview
Copywork
About This Passage
This is Anne's most psychologically complex speech act in the novel so far. The repeated phrase 'meant to be' does triple duty: it defends her foster families, reveals the gap between intention and reality, and demonstrates Anne's learned habit of protecting adults from accountability. The pause before 'always' — 'not quite — always' — is devastating in its restraint. Montgomery achieves maximum emotional impact through understatement: what Anne does NOT say is louder than what she does.
Oh, they meant to be — I know they meant to be just as good and kind as possible. And when people mean to be good to you, you don't mind very much when they're not quite — always. They had a good deal...
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Summarize this chapter, then explain what you think the author most wanted the reader to notice or feel. What techniques did the author use?
Discussion Questions
- Anne defends Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Hammond by saying 'they meant to be good.' But the narrator tells us Marilla was 'shrewd enough to read between the lines and divine the truth.' What truth is Marilla divining — and is Anne's defense of her foster families a form of generosity, self-protection, or denial? What would someone who disagreed with you argue?
- Anne says 'what I KNOW about myself isn't really worth telling' but 'what I IMAGINE about myself' would be 'ever so much more interesting.' Evaluate this as an epistemological claim: is Anne arguing that imagined identity is more authentic than factual identity, or is she revealing that her facts are too painful to inhabit?
+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide
Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
To instill a principle through persistent instruction — Marilla felt 'called upon to inculcate a good and useful moral,' revealing her default mode of engagement with children
Item 2
With the intimacy of shared secrets — Anne's opening word positions Marilla as a trusted confidante before Marilla has consented to the role
Item 3
With attention withdrawn from the immediate environment into private thought — Marilla drives 'abstractedly' because Anne's story has invaded her consciousness
+ 5 more vocabulary words in the complete study guide
Critical Thinking
+ 6 more questions in the complete study guide
Get the complete study guide — free
Sign up and get your first book with every chapter included. Copywork, discussion questions, vocabulary, and critical thinking.
Sign up free