The scope of Anne's imagination: gift or defense?

Well, it's both, plain and simple. A body can't deny the hardships that child has seen, bouncing from one place to the next, never truly wanted. It's no wonder she'd retreat into a world of her own making. But that imagination of hers, it's also what makes her special, isn't it? It's what makes her Anne, and it's brought a spark to Green Gables and Avonlea that we didn't even know we were missing. A bit much at times, mind you, but a gift nonetheless.

I... I agree with Mrs. Lynde. It's been a hard life for her, no doubt. A body can see it in her eyes sometimes, a sadness. But that imagination... it's a powerful thing. It helps her, and it helps us too, see the beauty in things. Like Diana said, even a pond can be special.

Indeed, as Mrs. Lynde noted, Anne's had a tough go of it before coming to Avonlea. It's easy to see how imagining things differently, like calling the Barry's pond "Lake of Shining Waters," helps her cope, you know? (giggles) But it's more than just a shield, I think. It makes everything more exciting! Remember when we pretended the woods were haunted? A plain old walk would be so boring otherwise!

Oh, I do love how you both touched on the beauty Anne brings into the world, Mrs. Lynde and Matthew! It reminds me of when I first read *The Secret Garden* - Mary Lennox used imagination to transform a whole garden. I think for Anne, it's similar. It's a way to cope, as Diana noted so wonderfully, but it blossoms into something more, doesn't it? It paints Avonlea with new colors, transforming ordinary things into pure magic. Do you think that ability to make the ordinary extraordinary is what draws people to her?