Anne walking the ridgepole and breaking her ankle

Anne walking the ridgepole and breaking her ankle is a pivotal event in Anne of Green Gables, a dramatic fall that transforms a childish game of daring into a serious injury and a turning point in Anne's life. The accident, which occurs at a small and select party given by Diana Barry, not only tests Anne's reckless courage but also exposes the fierce loyalty of her friendships and, most importantly, reveals the profound, unspoken love that Marilla Cuthbert has come to feel for her adopted daughter. The ensuing seven weeks of confinement mark a period of growth and reflection, during which Anne discovers the strength of her social bonds and the exciting promise of a new teacher, Miss Stacy, whose arrival will redirect her ambitions toward scholarship and teaching.

The Dare and the Fall

The incident unfolds at Diana Barry's party, a gathering of the girls in their class, held in the Barry garden after tea. The amusement of the hour is "daring," a fashionable game among the Avonlea children that summer, which had begun among the boys and spread to the girls. The game escalates as Carrie Sloane dares Ruby Gillis to climb a willow tree, and Josie Pye dares Jane Andrews to hop on one leg around the garden. When Josie Pye, flushed with victory after Jane's defeat, walks the board fence with an airy unconcern, Anne dismisses the feat, boasting that she knew a girl in Marysville who could walk the ridgepole of a roof. Josie flatly disbelieves her and, with a defiant dare, challenges Anne to walk the ridgepole of Mr. Barry's kitchen roof.

Anne turns pale at the challenge, but she feels there is only one thing to be done. Despite Diana's entreaties not to risk her life for Josie's sake, Anne declares, "I must do it. My honor is at stake," and solemnly promises Diana her pearl bead ring if she is killed. She climbs the ladder amid breathless silence, gains the ridgepole, and balances herself on the precarious footing. She manages to take several steps before she sways, loses her balance, and falls, sliding down the sun-baked roof and crashing through the tangle of Virginia creeper below. The girls below are frozen with horror, and Ruby Gillis goes into hysterics.

The Aftermath and the Revelation of Marilla's Love

Fortunately, Anne falls on the side of the roof that extends over the porch, so the fall is less serious than it might have been. Diana and the other girls rush around the house to find Anne lying white and limp among the wreckage. When Diana shrieks, "Anne, are you killed?", Anne sits up dizzily and answers, "No, Diana, I am not killed, but I think I am rendered unconscious." Mrs. Barry appears, and Anne, trying to scramble to her feet, sinks back with a cry of pain, revealing that she has hurt her ankle. Mr. Barry carries her home to Green Gables, followed by a procession of little girls.

At that moment, Marilla, who is out in the orchard picking apples, has a revelation. The sudden stab of fear that pierces her heart makes her realize what Anne has come to mean to her. She had admitted to liking Anne, even to being very fond of her, but now she knows that Anne is dearer to her than anything else on earth. The doctor is summoned, and it is discovered that Anne's ankle is broken. That night, when Marilla goes up to the east gable, Anne asks plaintively, "Aren't you very sorry for me, Marilla?" Marilla replies that it was her own fault, but Anne points out that this makes it harder, and she reflects that she has been punished enough. Marilla softens, saying, "There, there, I'm not cross," and acknowledges that Anne is an unlucky child.

The Seven Weeks of Convalescence

Anne is confined to bed for six or seven weeks, a period she endures with the help of her imagination, which she blesses for its ability to carry her through. She receives many visitors, with not a day passing without one or more of the schoolgirls dropping in to bring flowers and books and tell her the news of Avonlea. Even Superintendent Bell comes to see her, and Anne, in a moment of reflection, tells him how hard she tries to make her own private prayers interesting. Mrs. Allan, the minister's wife, visits her fourteen times, a fact Anne proudly reports to Marilla. Diana is a faithful friend, coming over every day to cheer her lonely pillow. Even Josie Pye comes to see her, and Anne receives her politely, believing that Josie is sorry for daring her to walk the ridgepole.

During this time, Anne hears exciting things about the new teacher, Miss Stacy, who has replaced Mr. Phillips. The girls all think she is perfectly sweet, with lovely fair curly hair and fascinating eyes. Miss Stacy dresses beautifully, with bigger sleeve puffs than anyone else in Avonlea, and she has introduced recitations on Friday afternoons and field days in the woods for nature study. Anne is eager to return to school and meet this kindred spirit, and her anticipation helps her endure the long weeks of recovery.

The Significance of the Accident

The ridgepole accident serves as a crucial test of Anne's character and a catalyst for her development. It demonstrates her impulsive nature and her susceptibility to the pressure of a dare, as well as her fierce sense of honor, which compels her to risk injury rather than face Josie Pye's scorn. The fall also reveals the depth of Marilla's love for Anne, a love that Marilla herself had not fully recognized until the moment of crisis. The accident further cements Anne's place in the Avonlea community, as her many visitors show how much she is valued and loved. Finally, the convalescence period introduces Miss Stacy, whose influence will prove transformative, steering Anne toward academic excellence and the ambition to become a teacher, thus setting the stage for her future triumphs at Queen's Academy.