Anne of Avonlea · Chapter
XV: The Beginning of Vacation explained
Anne Shirley closes the schoolhouse for the summer, feeling satisfied with her year and reengaged to teach.
What happens
Anne Shirley closes the schoolhouse for the summer, feeling satisfied with her year and reengaged to teach. She walks to Matthew's grave, joined by Paul Irving, who shares his grief for his mother and his excitement for his upcoming birthday. Anne later visits Mrs. Allan, discussing friendship, gratitude, and her uncertain plans for college.
Themes in this chapter
Imagination and Idealism
Anne and Paul share a deep imaginative connection, seeing rock people and valuing the realm of imagination as a priceless gift.
Love and Friendship
Anne and Mrs. Allan discuss the beauty and ideals of true friendship, contrasting it with superficial intimacy.
Growth and Maturation
Anne reflects on her teaching year, her uncertain college plans, and her growing understanding of life's richness beyond formal education.
Characters to notice
- Anne Shirley
Anne closes the school year, visits Matthew's grave, and walks with Paul Irving, discussing his mother and birthday. Later, she visits Mrs. Allan, reflecting on friendship and her future.
- Paul Irving
Paul waits for Anne at the hill, shares his grief for his mother, talks about his birthday and his father, and discusses his rock people and porridge struggles.
- Marilla Cuthbert
Mentioned as having eye troubles that prevent Anne from considering college; she is also the only one besides Anne who remembers Matthew.
- Gilbert Blythe
Briefly mentioned by Mrs. Allan as riding home for vacation and studying Virgil with Anne.
- Mrs. Allan
Anne visits Mrs. Allan, who offers wisdom on making life rich and full, and discusses friendship and Anne's future.
- Matthew Cuthbert
Anne visits his grave, remembering his kindness and love; he is largely forgotten by others in Avonlea.
Key passages
“Anne locked the schoolhouse door on a still, yellow evening, when the winds were purring in the spruces around the playground, and the shadows were long and lazy by the edge of the woods.”
Anne closed the school for the summer on a calm, golden evening, with gentle winds in the trees and long shadows near the woods.
Describes the peaceful end of the school year.
“We make our own lives wherever we are, after all … college can only help us to do it more easily. They are broad or narrow according to what we put into them, not what we get out.”
We create our own lives no matter where we are; college just makes it easier. Our lives are shaped by what we contribute, not what we take.
Mrs. Allan's advice to Anne about contentment and self-determination.
“If we have friends we should look only for the best in them and give them the best that is in us, don't you think? Then friendship would be the most beautiful thing in the world.”
In friendship, we should see the best in others and offer our best selves; that would make friendship truly beautiful.
Anne's idealistic view of friendship shared with Mrs. Allan.