Anne of Green Gables: Chapter – The Winter at Queen’s - Study Guide
This study guide will help you understand the key themes, vocabulary, and important quotes from Chapter 8 of Anne of Green Gables, “The Winter at Queen’s.”
Themes / Big Ideas
- Homesickness & Adaptation: The chapter focuses on Anne’s gradual adjustment to life at Queen's Academy. It explores how weekend visits and finding a routine help her overcome initial homesickness. This ties into the larger theme of belonging and creating a home wherever you are.
- The Value of Friendship: Anne’s evolving understanding of friendship is central. She recognizes the importance of intellectual companionship alongside emotional connection, and her openness to different types of friendships (girls vs. boys).
- Ambition & Competition: The chapter highlights the competitive atmosphere at Queen’s, particularly surrounding scholarships and medals. However, it also shows Anne's shift in perspective – from wanting to defeat Gilbert to striving for personal achievement.
- Finding Joy in Simple Things: Despite the pressure of studies, Anne maintains her ability to find beauty and joy in nature. This reinforces the theme of appreciating life’s small pleasures, even amidst challenges.
- Individual Identity & Growth: The students at Queen’s are finding their place and defining themselves. The chapter shows how they each excel in different areas, highlighting the importance of recognizing and celebrating individual strengths.
- Optimism & Hope for the Future: Anne’s unwavering optimism and belief in possibilities are prominent. She envisions a bright future, even while facing immediate anxieties about exams.
Vocabulary List
| Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| autumnal | adjective | relating to autumn; of or like autumn |
| gypsyings | noun | a journey, especially one undertaken by Romani people; here refers to a fun outing |
| profitably | adverb | in a way that results in success or benefit |
| foeman | noun | an enemy; opponent |
| insupportable | adjective | unable to be endured or tolerated |
| masculine | adjective | relating to men or boys |
| conceptions | noun | an idea or belief |
| gravitate | verb | to move towards something |
| shadings | noun | subtle differences in color or tone; distinctions |
| preeminence | noun | the state of being superior or outstanding |
| conscientious | adjective | wishing to do one’s work or duty well and thoroughly |
| belittling | verb | to make someone or something seem unimportant |
| philosophical | adjective | relating to the study of fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence |
| eddy | noun | a swirling current |
| dome | noun | a rounded roof resembling half of a sphere |
| tissue | noun | interwoven fabric; here used metaphorically to describe optimism |
Quotes to Look For & Analyze
- “Anne’s homesickness wore off, greatly helped in the wearing by her weekend visits home.” – This establishes the initial challenge Anne faces and how she begins to overcome it. Consider what this says about her character.
- “But I shouldn’t think she was the sort of girl Gilbert would like,” whispered Jane to Anne. Anne did not think so either, but she would not have said so for the Avery scholarship. – This quote reveals Anne’s subtle competitiveness and her willingness to prioritize her own goals. What does this say about her character?
- “Boys were to her, when she thought about them at all, merely possible good comrades.” – This is a key statement about Anne’s perspective on relationships. How does this differ from the typical expectations of girls at that time?
- “She had a genius for friendship; girl friends she had in plenty; but she had a vague consciousness that masculine friendship might also be a good thing to round out one’s conceptions of companionship and furnish broader standpoints of judgment and comparison.” – This quote highlights Anne’s intellectual curiosity and her desire for well-rounded experiences.
- “Anne no longer wished to win for the sake of defeating Gilbert; rather, for the proud consciousness of a well-won victory over a worthy foeman.” – This demonstrates Anne’s growth in maturity and her changing motivations.
- “That Anne-girl improves all the time,” she said. “I get tired of other girls—there is such a provoking and eternal sameness about them. Anne has as many shades as a rainbow and every shade is the prettiest while it lasts.” – Miss Barry’s observation reveals Anne's unique personality and her ability to captivate others.
- “I’ve done my best and I begin to understand what is meant by the ‘joy of the strife.’ Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.” – This quote encapsulates Anne’s optimistic outlook on life and her appreciation for the process of learning.
- “All the Beyond was hers with its possibilities lurking rosily in the oncoming years—each year a rose of promise to be woven into an immortal chaplet.” – This final image symbolizes Anne’s hopeful vision of the future.