Anne of Green Gables
At the turn of the century on Prince Edward Island, Matthew Cuthbert and his sister Marilla decide to take on an orphan boy as help for their farm. But they get an unexpected jolt when they're mistakenly sent a girl instead: Anne Shirley. Anne's a dreamer with an unusual point of view, far removed from Marilla's pragmatic ways, and it's only on trial that Marilla agrees to keep Anne...if Anne can keep out of trouble, only Anne has a positive genius for it. As Anne falls into a series of scrapes (and off a roof), makes a bosom friend, searches (and finds) several kindred spirits, Matthew and Marilla discover that their lives have become a great deal richer, now that Anne is at Green Gables.
1 Primetime Emmy. 12 wins & 6 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Anne of Green Gables (1985) exemplifies strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Kevin Sullivan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 3 hours and 19 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Anne Shirley
Marilla Cuthbert
Matthew Cuthbert
Gilbert Blythe
Diana Barry
Rachel Lynde
Main Cast & Characters
Anne Shirley
Played by Megan Follows
An imaginative, talkative orphan girl sent to Green Gables who transforms the lives of those around her with her spirit and determination.
Marilla Cuthbert
Played by Colleen Dewhurst
A stern, practical spinster who initially resists Anne but grows to love her deeply, learning to express warmth and affection.
Matthew Cuthbert
Played by Richard Farnsworth
Marilla's gentle, shy brother who instantly loves Anne and becomes her strongest advocate and friend.
Gilbert Blythe
Played by Jonathan Crombie
A smart, charming boy who teases Anne about her red hair, sparking a rivalry that evolves into mutual respect and romance.
Diana Barry
Played by Schuyler Grant
Anne's kindred spirit and bosom friend, a sweet and loyal girl who becomes her closest companion.
Rachel Lynde
Played by Patricia Hamilton
The town busybody and gossip who eventually becomes one of Anne's supporters despite initial skepticism.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Anne, a spirited orphan girl, waits anxiously at the train station, clutching her worn carpetbag, hoping to finally find a home after years of mistreatment and rejection.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 25 minutes when Marilla decides to send Anne back to the orphanage, crushing Anne's hopes of finally having a real home and family. Anne pleads to stay but Marilla insists they need a boy.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 50 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Marilla decides to keep Anne permanently, telling her she can stay at Green Gables. Anne's joy is overwhelming as she finally has a real home and family for the first time in her life., moving from reaction to action.
At 100 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Anne accidentally gets Diana drunk on currant wine, leading to a catastrophic falling out. Mrs. Barry forbids Diana from seeing Anne again, destroying Anne's most precious friendship and raising stakes about her acceptance in the community., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 149 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Matthew suffers a fatal heart attack and dies. Anne loses her beloved father figure and champion, the person who first saw her worth and fought for her to stay at Green Gables., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 159 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Anne decides to sacrifice her scholarship and teaching position in the city to stay in Avonlea and help Marilla keep Green Gables. She realizes that home and family matter more than personal ambition., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Anne of Green Gables's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Anne of Green Gables against these established plot points, we can identify how Kevin Sullivan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Anne of Green Gables within the drama genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Anne, a spirited orphan girl, waits anxiously at the train station, clutching her worn carpetbag, hoping to finally find a home after years of mistreatment and rejection.
Theme
Marilla tells Matthew that people who are different or unconventional often don't fit into society's expectations, foreshadowing Anne's struggle to belong and the need to embrace individuality.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Avonlea, Green Gables farm, and the Cuthbert siblings Matthew and Marilla who requested a boy orphan to help with farm work but received Anne by mistake. Anne's imaginative nature and desperate desire for belonging are established.
Disruption
Marilla decides to send Anne back to the orphanage, crushing Anne's hopes of finally having a real home and family. Anne pleads to stay but Marilla insists they need a boy.
Resistance
Matthew advocates for keeping Anne, seeing her potential and kind heart. Marilla wrestles with the decision, observing Anne's behavior and spirit. Anne tries to prove her worth through helpfulness and charm despite her fear of rejection.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Marilla decides to keep Anne permanently, telling her she can stay at Green Gables. Anne's joy is overwhelming as she finally has a real home and family for the first time in her life.
Mirror World
Anne meets Diana Barry and they become "bosom friends" and kindred spirits. Diana represents the loving friendship and acceptance Anne has always craved, embodying the theme of finding where you truly belong.
Premise
Anne navigates school life, makes friends and rivals (especially with Gilbert Blythe), excels academically, gets into humorous scrapes due to her imagination and temper, and gradually finds her place in Avonlea society despite occasional missteps.
Midpoint
Anne accidentally gets Diana drunk on currant wine, leading to a catastrophic falling out. Mrs. Barry forbids Diana from seeing Anne again, destroying Anne's most precious friendship and raising stakes about her acceptance in the community.
Opposition
Anne faces increasing pressure to conform and prove herself worthy. She endures separation from Diana, rivalry with Gilbert, vanity-driven mistakes (green hair dye incident), and the challenge of competing for the Avery scholarship while dealing with social ostracism.
Collapse
Matthew suffers a fatal heart attack and dies. Anne loses her beloved father figure and champion, the person who first saw her worth and fought for her to stay at Green Gables.
Crisis
Anne and Marilla grieve Matthew's death. Marilla reveals she may lose Green Gables due to financial troubles and failing eyesight. Anne faces losing everything she has built—her home, her future, and her chance to attend college.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Anne decides to sacrifice her scholarship and teaching position in the city to stay in Avonlea and help Marilla keep Green Gables. She realizes that home and family matter more than personal ambition.
Synthesis
Anne secures a teaching position at the Avonlea school, reconciles with Gilbert who gave up the job for her, and makes peace with her life path. She embraces her role in the community and commits to caring for Marilla and preserving Green Gables.
Transformation
Anne stands at Green Gables, no longer the desperate orphan seeking acceptance but a confident young woman who has found her true home and purpose. She reflects on her "bend in the road" with hope and belonging, fully transformed and rooted in her community.