The Ridgepole Fall

The Ridgepole Fall is a pivotal event in Anne Shirley's early life at Green Gables, a moment when her fierce sense of personal honor and her susceptibility to the social pressure of a "dare" collide with disastrous physical consequences. The fall, which results in a broken ankle and weeks of confinement, not only teaches Anne a painful lesson about the limits of bravado but also unexpectedly reveals the depth of Marilla Cuthbert's affection for the girl she has come to love as a daughter.

The Dare and the Decision

The incident occurs during a party at Diana Barry's home, Orchard Slope, where the fashionable amusement among the Avonlea girls is "daring." After Ruby Gillis and Jane Andrews successfully complete their dares, Josie Pye, whose triumph is more pronounced than good taste permits, is dared by Anne to walk the top of the board fence. Josie performs the feat with an airy unconcern, and then, flushed with victory, darts a defiant glance at Anne. Anne, tossing her red braids, dismisses the accomplishment, claiming she knew a girl who could walk a ridgepole. When Josie flatly declares she does not believe it and dares Anne to walk the ridgepole of Mr. Barry's kitchen roof, Anne turns pale. Despite Diana's entreaties not to do something so dangerous, Anne feels she has no choice. "I must do it," she says solemnly. "My honor is at stake. I shall walk that ridgepole, Diana, or perish in the attempt." She adds that if she is killed, Diana is to have her pearl bead ring.

The Fall and Its Immediate Aftermath

Anne climbs the ladder amid breathless silence, balances herself on the precarious footing, and starts to walk. She manages several steps before the catastrophe comes. She sways, loses her balance, stumbles, staggers, and falls, sliding down over the sun-baked roof and crashing off it through the tangle of Virginia creeper. Fortunately, she falls on the side where the roof extends down over the porch, making the fall less severe than it might have been. The other girls rush around the house to find Anne lying white and limp among the wreckage. Diana, throwing herself on her knees, shrieks, "Anne, are you killed?" Anne sits dizzily up and answers, "No, Diana, I am not killed, but I think I am rendered unconscious." When Mrs. Barry appears, Anne tries to scramble to her feet but sinks back with a sharp cry of pain, gasping that her ankle is hurt. Mr. Barry carries Anne home, with a whole procession of little girls trailing behind.

Marilla's Revelation and the Consequence

When Marilla sees Mr. Barry approaching with Anne limp in his arms, she has a revelation. In the sudden stab of fear that pierces her very heart, she realizes what Anne has come to mean to her. She hurries wildly down the slope, more white and shaken than she has been for many years. The doctor is summoned and discovers that the injury is more serious than they had supposed: Anne's ankle is broken. Anne will be unable to go around for six or seven weeks, missing the new lady teacher and falling behind in her class. That night, Anne asks Marilla if she is sorry for her, and Marilla replies that it was her own fault. Anne argues that the thought that it is all her own fault is what makes it so hard, and asks what Marilla would have done if she had been dared. Marilla says she would have stayed on good firm ground. Anne sighs, acknowledging Marilla's strength of mind, and says she just could not bear Josie Pye's scorn. She then asks Marilla not to be cross with her, noting that the doctor hurt her dreadfully when setting her ankle. Marilla softens, saying, "There, there, I'm not cross. You're an unlucky child, there's no doubt about that; but as you say, you'll have the suffering of it."