Anne of Green Gables: Chapter 11: Anne’s Impressions of Sunday School Summary & Analysis

Marilla has made Anne three new dresses for Sunday school: a “serviceable” gingham, a black-and-white checked sateen, and an ugly, stiff blue. The dresses are very plain in all details. Marilla asks Anne how she likes the dresses, and Anne replies that she’ll imagine she likes them, but they aren’t pretty. Marilla is offended—dresses should be sensible, and Anne should be grateful. Anne says she is grateful—but fashionable puffed sleeves would make her more grateful.

The next day Marilla is too sick with a headache to go to church, so Anne heads off alone in her plain dress and hat. On her way, she picks some buttercups and roses to decorate her hat. Avonlea has already heard interesting rumors about Anne, so when she arrives at church in her festooned hat, she draws much curiosity from the other girls, but nobody approaches her. Anne is placed in Miss Rogerson’s Sunday school class. Miss Rogerson’s teaching method consists mostly of question-and-answer drills. Anne knows the answers, thanks to Marilla, but she doesn’t understand much—and she is the only girl who lacks puffed sleeves. She feels dreadful.

When Anne gets home, she tells Marilla that she hated Sunday school. Marilla is appalled. Anne explains that she behaved herself well during the opening part of the service, but she was bored—partly because Mr. Bell, the Sunday school superintendent, didn’t seem very interested in his own prayer. Then, in Sunday school, she was the only one of the 10 girls who didn’t have puffed sleeves. She also thought it was unfair that Miss Rogerson got to ask all the questions. Finally, church was difficult because the minister’s sermon was too long and lacked imagination. Marilla finds it hard to scold Anne, because she’s secretly had the same thoughts about both the minister and Mr. Bell.