Anne of Green Gables · Chapter
XV: A Tempest in the School Teapot explained
Anne and Diana enjoy their picturesque walk to school through Lover's Lane, Willowmere, Violet Vale, and the Birch Path.
What happens
Anne and Diana enjoy their picturesque walk to school through Lover's Lane, Willowmere, Violet Vale, and the Birch Path. At school, Anne meets Gilbert Blythe for the first time. After Gilbert teases her by calling her 'Carrots' and pulling her hair, Anne breaks her slate over his head. Mr. Phillips punishes Anne by making her sit next to Gilbert, which she finds deeply humiliating. Gilbert tries to make amends with a candy heart, but Anne crushes it. She vows never to return to school, despite Diana's pleas and Marilla's initial resistance.
Themes in this chapter
Friendship and Community
Diana's loyalty to Anne is evident as she tries to convince her to return to school, highlighting the importance of their bond.
Identity and Self-Acceptance
Anne's fierce reaction to Gilbert's teasing about her red hair reflects her struggle with self-image and her desire to be accepted for who she is.
Characters to notice
- Anne Shirley
Feels deeply insulted and humiliated after being forced to sit beside Gilbert Blythe as punishment; stubbornly refuses to return to school.
- Diana Barry
Anne's best friend who walks to school with her and tries to persuade her to come back after the incident.
- Gilbert Blythe
Teases Anne by calling her 'Carrots,' leading to a confrontation; later attempts to apologize with a candy heart but is rebuffed.
- Marilla Cuthbert
Dismisses Anne's claims of insult as 'fiddlesticks' but recognizes Anne's stubbornness and plans to consult Mrs. Lynde.
- Mr. Phillips
Punishes Anne by making her sit with Gilbert Blythe, showing favoritism toward Prissy Andrews and poor classroom management.
Key passages
“To Anne, this was as the end of all things. It was bad enough to be singled out for punishment from among a dozen equally guilty ones; it was worse still to be sent to sit with a boy; but that that boy should be Gilbert Blythe was heaping insult on injury to a degree utterly unbearable.”
Anne felt that being punished alone was terrible, but being forced to sit next to Gilbert Blythe—the very boy who had teased her—was the ultimate humiliation.
Captures Anne's intense emotional reaction to the punishment.
“Whereupon Anne arose, took the pink heart gingerly between the tips of her fingers, dropped it on the floor, ground it to powder beneath her heel, and resumed her position without deigning to bestow a glance on Gilbert.”
Anne stood up, delicately picked up the candy heart, dropped it, crushed it under her shoe, and sat back down without looking at Gilbert.
Illustrates Anne's dramatic rejection of Gilbert's peace offering.
“I'd do almost anything in the world for you, Diana,' said Anne sadly. 'I'd let myself be torn limb from limb if it would do you any good. But I can't do this, so please don't ask it. You harrow up my very soul.”
Anne told Diana she would sacrifice anything for her, but returning to school was something she simply could not do, and Diana's pleas were deeply upsetting.
Shows Anne's deep loyalty to Diana alongside her stubborn resolve.