Anne of Green Gables — Chapter 9

About This Passage

This passage captures a character acting AGAINST her own intentions — Marilla plans to apologize for Anne but instead defends her. Montgomery renders the disconnect between intention and action in a single sentence: Marilla opens her mouth to say one thing and says another. 'A surprise to herself then and ever afterwards' marks this as a watershed moment — Marilla will never be able to un-say this sentence or forget that she said it. The passage models how moral courage can emerge unbidden, bypassing the will.

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

1. Mrs. Rachel 'prides herself on speaking her mind without fear or favor.' Anne does the same thing — she speaks her mind to Mrs. Rachel with passionate directness. Montgomery constructs a mirror: both characters do identical things, but only Anne is punished. What argument about power, age, and the right to speak is Montgomery making through this structural parallel?
2. Marilla's defense of Anne — 'You shouldn't have twitted her about her looks, Rachel' — surprises Marilla herself. Montgomery writes that it was 'a surprise to herself then and ever afterwards.' What does it mean for a character to discover her own moral position through an involuntary speech act — and how does this connect to Marilla's pattern of involuntary responses (rusty smile, smothered smile, reprehensible desire to laugh)?

+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide