Anne Of Green Gables

5 Pages 1371 Words

Since the creation of film and cinema in the twentieth century, novels of all genres have been adapted in to movies. Children’s literature is no exception. For more than fifty years, children have had the opportunity to visually experience many classic stories. Although films are able to compliment many elements of novel-based stories, it is felt by many that “there is nothing more interactive than a book since it leaves our imagination and creativity free… and does not confine the narration to one form of description or imagery” (Vivienne Barry p. 33). A novel offers the reader free reign of their imagination because mental images are created by the individual to accompany the text that they are reading, whereas film is much more limiting of the audience’s capacity of imagination as visual images are presented for them.
Both narrative similarities and differences can be found in comparing the novel with the film adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s classic tale Anne of Green Gables. More specifically, the development of characters and their relationships with others, as well as the intensity of emotions are all elements of the plot depicted in the film which are either enhanced or limited, in varying degrees, in comparison to the novel. Although the film closely follows the novel it is essential to remember that “a film (based on a novel) is always a re-interpretation” (John Lye Fiction into Film, 1), and therefore should contain at least some creative variation from the novel. Furthermore, Whyte asserts that the “adaptation of novels to the film form does not have to be a simplification of the original source, but can also be used to heighten and develop aspects of the original narrative” (Pádraic Whyte 1). The film version of Anne of Green Gables is remarkably
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similar to its written counterpart. The use of camera angles produces many dramatic insights for the audience in order to develop charact...