Anne Shirley

Anne Blythe (nee Shirley) was the daughter of Walter and Bertha Shirley, the wife of Gilbert Blythe, and the mother of Joyce (dec.), Jem (James Matthew), Walter (dec.), Nan, Di, Shirley, and Rilla Blythe.

Anne was teacher for a little while before she became a B.A., rooming with her friends Philippa Gordon, Stella Maynard, Priscilla Grant, and Priscilla's Aunt Jamesina. She also went to Redmond, rooming with Rebecca Dew, and two widows. When she married Gilbert, they moved to the House of Dreams, where she befriened Captain Jim, Miss Cornelia Bryant, and Leslie Moore, the last of whom who was trapped by her mentally insecure husband, who was discovered to have died, and she been living with his cousin who looked just like him.

Early life
Anne's mother was Bertha Shirley, and her father was Walter Shirley, a schoolteacher. They both died 6 months after Anne's birth, and Anne was tossed from diffrent households, enventully ending up in an orphanage. Later, she was adopted by the Cuthberts. 11 is an important year for her, because it contains her...

Arrival at Green Gables
Anne is now eleven years old and is first adopted by Marilla and Matthew. She grows to hate Gilbert Blythe for insulting her red hair, which she dislikes. She also becomes best friends with Diana Barry. Miss Rachel Lynde also insults her red hair, and she snaps at her. Anne is grown to be loved by the people of Green Gables.

Teaching school
Anne is a teacher. Her life is not much different, but she finally stops hating Gilbert Blythe and they become friends.

Marriage
Anne realizes she loves Gilbert after he undergoes a near-death experience. He proposes and she happily accepts!

Life at the House of Dreams
Gilbert and Anne move into the "House of Dreams" by Four Winds Harbor. There, Anne meets Leslie Moore (nee West), Corneila Bryant, Captain James "Jim" Boyd, Dick Moore, and Susan Baker. She gives birth to her first child, Joyce Blythe, who dies shortly after. Her second child, James Matthew Blythe, is born there too, and he lives. She, Gilbert, and James Matthew deciede to move into the Morgan place, and leave the House of Dreams at the end of Book Five.

Behind the scenes
In the 1985 film, Anne is played by Megan Follows.

Etymology
"I would love to be called Cordelia. It's such a perfectly elegant name."

- Anne to Marilla Cuthbert when asked her name

The name Anne means "gracious". Anne's last name, Shirley, means "bright clearing".

Anne's name is pronounced Ann, but if it is spelled without the E she gets very angry as she dislikes the name Ann but loves the name Anne, similar to how she dislikes Catherine but likes Katherine.

Appearances

 * Anne of Green Gables
 * Anne of Green Gables (1985 film)
 * Anne of Avonlea
 * Anne of Avonlea (film)
 * Anne of the Island
 * Anne of Windy Poplars
 * Anne's House of Dreams
 * Anne of Ingleside
 * Rainbow Valley
 * Rilla of Ingleside
 * Chronicles of Avonlea
 * Further Chronicles of Avonlea
 * The Blythes Are Quoted