Anne of the Island · Chapter
Full-Fledged B.A.'s explained
As examinations conclude and Convocation arrives, Anne and her friends reflect on their Redmond years.
What happens
As examinations conclude and Convocation arrives, Anne and her friends reflect on their Redmond years. Anne receives flowers from both Roy and Gilbert, choosing to wear Gilbert's lilies-of-the-valley. At the graduation dance, she learns of Gilbert's rumored engagement to Christine Stuart and breaks the gold chain he gave her. Despite inner turmoil, she remains outwardly cheerful.
Themes in this chapter
Ambition and Career
Anne and her friends achieve academic success, reflecting on the value of their college education and the wisdom gained.
Change and Loss
The end of Redmond life marks a significant transition, and Anne experiences a pang of loss upon hearing of Gilbert's rumored engagement.
Characters to notice
- Anne Shirley
Graduates with High Honours in English, reflects on her Redmond journey, and experiences emotional conflict over Gilbert's rumored engagement.
- Philippa Gordon
Takes Honours in Mathematics, worries about exams, and shares the news of Gilbert's rumored engagement with Anne.
- Gilbert Blythe
Sends Anne lilies-of-the-valley for Convocation; rumored to be engaged to Christine Stuart.
- Aunt Jamesina
Offers wisdom on gumption and experience, and comments on Moody Spurgeon MacPherson's ears.
- Priscilla Grant
Takes Honours in Classics and shares her reflections on what Redmond has taught her.
Key passages
“I think I really have learned to look upon each little hindrance as a jest and each great one as the foreshadowing of victory.”
Anne believes her college experience taught her to treat small obstacles humorously and larger ones as signs of eventual success.
Anne summarizes the personal growth she attributes to Redmond.
“There is so much in the world for us all if we only have the eyes to see it, and the heart to love it, and the hand to gather it to ourselves”
Priscilla quotes Professor Woodleigh, expressing that Redmond taught her to appreciate and embrace the richness of life.
Priscilla reflects on the broader lessons of her education.