Anne of Avonlea · Chapter
Facts and Fancies explained
Anne writes to a friend about the humorous and touching moments of teaching at Avonlea School.
What happens
Anne writes to a friend about the humorous and touching moments of teaching at Avonlea School. She shares amusing anecdotes about her students' spelling, arithmetic, and compositions, including a letter from Annetta Bell that turns out to be copied from her mother's old love letters, and other students' charmingly naive writings.
Themes in this chapter
Education and Influence
Anne's teaching style emphasizes understanding and humor, as she encourages students to express themselves freely in compositions and letters.
Love and Friendship
Annetta Bell's copied love letter and her genuine affection for Anne highlight the theme of love, albeit in a childlike and misguided form.
Imagination and Idealism
The students' imaginative and idealistic responses, such as wanting a 'honeymoon' or being a widow, showcase their creative thinking.
Characters to notice
- Anne Shirley
Narrates the chapter through a letter to a Queen's Academy chum, reflecting on the joys and challenges of teaching.
- Marilla Cuthbert
Mentioned as being nervous about Anne's fits of laughter at home.
- St. Clair Donnell
A student whose freckled face is compared to the spelling of 'speckled'; writes a terse composition about the Avonlea Hall.
- Anthony Pye
Mentioned in Annetta Bell's letter as saying Anne looks cross, and for claiming her hair is red.
- Gilbert Blythe
Not directly mentioned in the excerpts, but included as a canonical character; no significant role in this chapter.
Key passages
“Teaching is really very interesting work... Something funny is almost sure to happen every day, and the children say such amusing things.”
Anne finds teaching engaging because of the daily humorous incidents and the children's witty remarks.
Anne's positive outlook on teaching contrasts with Jane Andrews' more rigid approach.
“I told Annetta it was very wrong to copy another person's letter and pass it off as her own. But I'm afraid that all Annetta repented of was being found out.”
Anne scolds Annetta for plagiarism, but suspects the girl is only sorry she got caught.
Annetta's copied love letter reveals her admiration for Anne and her lack of originality.
“I wish you could see some of their compositions... Those compositions would atone for much.”
Anne finds the students' letters so charming that they make up for the difficulties of teaching.
The compositions provide a window into the children's minds and bring Anne joy.