The Queen's Class Is Organized explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Growth and Education

  Anne and her classmates prepare for the Entrance exam under Miss Stacy's guidance, marking a pivotal step toward adulthood and academic achievement.

• Identity and Self-Acceptance

  Anne grapples with her changing self—feeling 'almost fourteen,' hiding her regret over Gilbert, and planning to indulge her imagination one last summer before adopting longer skirts and dignity.

• Imagination and Creativity

  Anne's lively fancy builds 'glittering castles in Spain' as she dreams by the fire, and she vows to let her imagination 'run riot' during vacation before she must leave childhood behind.

Characters to notice

• Anne Shirley

  Dreams by the fire, feels the solemnity of turning fourteen, struggles with hidden regret over her rift with Gilbert, and resolves to enjoy one last summer of childhood imagination.

• Marilla Cuthbert

  Reflects on her deep but undemonstrative love for Anne, worries about being too indulgent, and learns of Miss Stacy's visit and the Queen's class.

• Diana Barry

  Anne's bosom friend who is not studying for the Entrance exam, causing Anne to feel the 'bitterness of death' at their separation in studies.

• Gilbert Blythe

  Anne's rival in class; he ignores her completely after her refusal to forgive him, and Anne secretly regrets her pride.

• Miss Muriel Stacy

  Organizes the Queen's class, advises the girls on forming good habits in their teens, and decides to stay another year at Avonlea.

• Josie Pye

  Boldly asks Miss Stacy if she will return next year; plans to attend college for education's sake and makes a snide remark about orphans.

• Jane Andrews

  Studies to be a teacher and vows never to marry, citing a husband's unwillingness to share egg and butter money.

• Ruby Gillis

  Studies to be a teacher for two years before planning to marry; thinks constantly of young men.

Key passages

• “Glittering castles in Spain were shaping themselves out of the mists and rainbows of her lively fancy; adventures wonderful and enthralling were happening to her in cloudland—adventures that always turned out triumphantly and never involved her in scrapes like those of actual life.”

  Anne's vivid imagination conjured perfect, trouble-free adventures in her daydreams, unlike her real-life mishaps.

  Highlights Anne's imaginative escape and the contrast between fantasy and reality.

• “She had an uneasy feeling that it was rather sinful to set one's heart so intensely on any human creature as she had set hers on Anne, and perhaps she performed a sort of unconscious penance for this by being stricter and more critical than if the girl had been less dear to her.”

  Marilla worried that loving Anne so deeply was almost wrong, so she compensated by being extra strict and critical.

  Reveals Marilla's internal conflict between her deep affection and her strict upbringing.

• “I think we're going to have a very gay vacation. Vale, it was all the former could do to keep her seat and refrain from rushing impulsively after her chum.”

  Anne thought they would have a happy vacation, but she struggled to stay seated and not run after Diana when she left.

  Shows Anne's emotional turmoil at being separated from Diana in their academic paths.

• “Deep down in her wayward, feminine little heart she knew that she did care, and that if she had that chance of the Lake of Shining Waters again she would answer very differently.”

  In her heart, Anne admitted she cared about Gilbert's attention and regretted her proud refusal of his apology by the lake.

  Captures Anne's hidden regret and emotional growth regarding her rift with Gilbert.