As Anne adapts to her new life at Green Gables, she experiences both the joys of close friendship and the bitter sting of rivalry at school. In this episode we see how L.M. Montgomery uses the school setting as a microcosm for societal expectations and the challenges of growing up.
This chapter beautifully contrasts Anne's imaginative and romantic nature with the practical realities of school life, highlighting her conflict with the overly strict and somewhat unfair schoolmaster Mr. Phillips, and the handsome, teasing Gilbert Blythe. The tension culminates in a dramatic classroom incident where personal hurt and embarrassment push Anne to a breaking point, leading to her infamous slate-breaking moment with Gilbert.
