Anne of Green Gables: Genre 1 key example

Written at the end of the Victorian period, this novel also contains many depictions of strict moral lessons. Not all of these lessons are true or necessary; for example, Anne feels stifled by the repetitive maxim that "children should be seen and not heard." But other lessons are more helpful. For instance, in the first part of the novel, Marilla considers sending Anne back to the orphanage before having an empathetic change of heart. And in the novel's final chapters, Gilbert Blythe relinquishes his seat at the local school so that Anne can teach in Avonlea. This particular pattern of moral conflict and resolution helps readers understand how empathy and self-sacrifice enhance the characters' lives. It also makes the novel ideal for young people because it is both entertaining and instructive.