Czech Translation of Anne of Green Gables: Translation Analysis
Hana Bartošová, 2003

	Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery has become a classic in the literature for children. It has been translated into fifteen languages (Prince Edward Island website), including Czech. The Czech translation may seem interesting due to the comment that the translator, Alena Benešová, not only translated the book but also adapted it. The sense of curiosity drove me to find out in what the adaptations grounded. However, I have not focused on the adaptations only, I have also looked at the translation as such, and have found several other areas to be discussed in the analysis: names, good attempts of the translator as well as the poor ones and various changes of meaning (caused probably by misunderstanding the text). The analysis is completed by a chapter in English and in Czech translation to illustrate the partial problems in a longer piece of text.
	Let us start with the translation of names, and first, with toponyms. The translated toponyms may be divided into several groups. The first group contains such expressions that might be translated into Czech but are not. The positive aspect is that the use is constant—they are all names of villages and towns.
Bright River (9)	Bright River (11)	
Newbridge (18)	Newbridge (17)	
White Sands (38)	White Sands (33)—this is explained by translation Bílé písky	
Lily Sands (122)	Lily Sands (97)	

The second group is constituted by adequate translations, from real names of places to the names invented by the main character, Anne.
Green Gables	Zelený dům	
Prince Edward Island (9)	ostrov Prince Edvarda (11)	
Nova Scotia (35)	Nové Skotsko (31)	
Dryad´s Bubble (88)	Rusalčina bublina (70)	
Willowmere (93)	Vrbové jezírko (74)	
Violet Vale (106)	údolí Fialek (84)	
Birch Path (106, 206)	Březová cesta (84); Březový lesík (146)	
The Haunted Wood (163)	Strašidelný les (126)	
Beechwood (232)	Bukový les (157)	

The translation of Green Gables is questionable, but it must be agreed that the Czech version seems rather good, though it is not precise. In the case of Birch Path, we can see that the translator did not check her previous translation of the expression.
	The last group of toponyms is formed by such translations that are understandable but could be improved—either they are not as ”romantic” as the English expressions, or they simply are not translated very well.
Lynde´s Hollow (1)	kotlina, kde bydlí Lyndovi (5); or it is omitted (20)	
Avenue (18)	Ulička (17)	
White Way of Delight (18)	alej Snů (17)	
Lake of Shining Waters (19)	Stříbrné jezírko (18)	
Orchard Slope (57)	dům Na stráni (47)	
Idlewild (91)	Divoký koutek (72)	
Lover´s Lane (105)	alej Milenců (83)	

It is surprising that Avenue is translated as Ulička and Lane as alej when it should actually be vice versa. White Way of Delight and Lake of Shining Waters are the best examples of those ”unromantic” translations. 
	One aspect that cannot be ignored is the use of Italics. It is interesting that it is not used in the English version so often as it is in the Czech translation. Benešová uses Italicised names very often: one use is to show the expressions are invented by Anne (graveyard full of buried hopes, 37—Hřbitov pohřbených nadějí, 32),  the other use concerns other names as well—clearly without any reason (Lily Sands, 97) because some expressions are in Italics and some are not. Except for these examples, the rest of the cases in Italics only show the citation of a certain expression and are used in this way by the author of the essay only.
	Translation of personal names is another category to be discussed. The translator used several ways: some names remain unchanged, some are Czech equivalents (most of them), some are changed without any reason, probably by mistake. The first group is formed by unchanged names, such as Walter, Carrie, Stella, Priscilla, Lily and John. The second group includes all the adequate Czech translations.
Anne Shirley 	Anna Shirleyová	
Peter Morrison (2)	Petr Morrison (6)	
Thomas Lynde (2)	Tomáš Lynde (6)	
Matthew (2)	Matěj (6)	
Rosalia (18)	Rozálie (17)	
Cordelia (24)	Kordélie (22)	
Bonny (35) - a geranium	Krasavec (30)	
Snow Queen (35) – a cherry tree	Sněhová královna (30)	
Bertha (38)	Berta (33)	
Jedediah (38)	Jedediáš (33)	
Violetta (59)	Viola (48)	
Sophia (108)	Žofie (86)	
Josephine (154)	Josefína (120)	
Susan (209)	Zuzana (147)	
Jane Andrews (210)	Jana Andrewsová (148)	
Clara Louisa MacPherson (234)	Klára Luisa MacPherson (157)	
Emily Clay	Emílie Clayová	

As shown in the table, all the female surnames have been modified into the Czech system with the suffix –ová. However, the translator was not sure what to do with the surnames ending in –e. Therefore, there are several variations: Mauriceová, Lyndová, Sloanová. Another problem with the English way of addressing people was solved very well: there are several women addressed as Mrs Alexander Spencer (6), Mrs Peter Blewett (49) and Mrs Superintendent Bell (90) and the Czech equivalents are paní Spencerová (9), paní Blewettová (38) a paní Bellová (72).
	The last group of personal names is constituted by translations that may be improved: either there is no reason to translate the names (as in case of Marilla) or there are small mistakes made inadvertently (in case of de Vere) or more significant problems, as changing names.
Marilla (3)	Marie (7)	
Jenkins (18)	Jankinsová (17)	
De Vere (18)	de Verne (17)	
Robert (28, 43)	Richard (26, 37)	
Flora Jane (43)	Flora (37)	
Andrew Bell (106)	Vilém Bell (84)	
William Bell (165)	Vilém Bell (128)	
Ella May MacPherson (133)	Ella MacPhersonová (105)	
Minnie May (141)	Minnie (110)	
Mr Silas Sloane´s place (160)	dům pana Silase (124)	
Bertram de Vere (208)	Bertram de Vera (147)	
Myrtle Bell (239)	Myrtha Bellová (161)	
Tremaine (287)	Tramain (186)	
Lewis Wilson (285)	Lauris Wilson (185)	

Alena Benešová sometimes omits the middle name, as seen above. On the other hand, she sometimes does use it and does not use the surname and then the text becomes dubious: Moody Spurgeon MacPherson (206) becomes Moody Spurgeon (145)—as Spurgeon is not a very common name, a Czech reader may try to find out who is this Spurgeon and he/she will find out: nine pages ahead, there is his full name: Moody Spurgeon MacPherson. A similar problem is Mr Silas Sloane´s place and its translation of dům pana Silase: Silas is not a common first name and therefore, it seems it is his surname but in fact, he is a father of Anne´s friends.
	One of the biggest translation problems in the book is the name Anne. The main character insists on spelling it with –e in the end. Benešová´s attempt to translate it as Hana seems good at first sight. But when you look closer, you will find some complications: Anna is written with double ”n”, whereas Hana with one (but this is a small problem, especially when we consider the pronunciation, not spelling); the more significant problem arises when we realise that the book is called Anne of Green Gables, not Ann and therefore, the Czech translation should be called Hana ze Zeleného domu, which is surely unacceptable. Another discrepancy is a character called Rachel. The Czech translation is Rachel (with English pronunciation?), not Ráchel. There is also one very clear misunderstanding and neglect: aunt over at Carmody (57) becomes u tety Charmody (47) and on pages 62 and 114 it is quite clear that Carmody is a town, not aunt (moreover, spelling is changed again).
	Let us focus on the adaptations mentioned at the beginning. These adaptations mean various omissions: from considerably small to significant ones. The most obvious omissions are connected to the topic of God and religion as such. There are several ways how to ”get rid” of God in the book: to omit the part or to change it. In this way, there are two whole chapters left out (chapters 21 and 22 in the original version): the first chapter deals with the arrival of a new pastor and his wife, the latter describes how Anna goes to see the new pastor. The biggest loss made by this omission is that we lose the end of school and thus the story does not seem to follow very clearly. Other smaller omissions include prayers and sermons (49-52/41-42, 76/60, 82/66, 88/71, 147/115, 234/158, 264/177, including the very end of the book 309/202). On the contrary, some remarks have remained in the book (246/165) while some remarks have been ”only” changed: I call it providential (202)—[”Určitě se mi to jen zdá.”] ”Ale nezdá” (142); minister (211-2) becomes učitel (149), Ben Hur is spoken of as a novel and a religious book (241), whereas in Czech it is obyčejný román and vážná kniha (163).
	Another subject of omitting is any remark on wealthy people (well, not ”any” because the translator was not able to leave out wealthy aunt Josephine: she was too essential for the book). We lose the information on the boarding house owner (279/181), on the rich man who founded the scholarship in Anne´s academy (281/182) as well as the original chapter 33. The only reason for leaving the whole chapter is that it describes a charity event connected to many wealthy and snobbish people.
	The fourth chapter that was omitted is the original chapter 38. So far, I have not found any good reason for doing this. It is an essential chapter, describing an event by the pond when Gilbert (Anne´s rival at school) saves Anne and she changes her opinion of him. Relating to this, there are several more parts left out—when there are some remarks related to the event by the pond (245/165 and 308/201). Also there are ends of several chapters left out: 29/26; 61/49; 194/136; 287/186; 293/190 (essential!) and 309/201. Some other information is also left out: German Jew (217)—starý Němec (152); lines of several poems (9/11; 229/155; 253/170); remarks on dreaming about Spain (238/161). Some of these omissions make me think if they were not made under influence of the original from which the book was translated (1935 edition)—there are no acceptable reasons for some changes.
	Another part to be analysed are various translation attempts. Benešová managed to translate very well many expressions, including the following:
orphan girl (e.g. 48)	sirotek, a ještě k tomu holka; děvče, sirotek	
a real nice little thing (e.g. 28)	příjemná dívenka (26); drobeček (40), drobek (80)	
apologize (71)	odprosit (57)	
Third Royal Reader (82)	Čítanka pro třetí ročník (66)	
Fifth Reader (41)	Čítanka pro pátou třídu (35)	
Nelly in the Hazel Dell (88) – a song	Holka modrooká (70)	
”Nonsense!” (116)	“Neplácej!” (92)	
concert (203)	besídka (143)	
she berried… (250)	sbírala jahody a brusinky	

The translator tried to adapt some of the information for the Czech region, such as the song title (it is mentioned several times in the book), concert as besídka (it is a more name for a concert of children), as well as the sentence ”Nonsense!” – a nominal sentence which is not so common in Czech and therefore, a more active expression is chosen.
	There are several expressions that could be translated in a bit different way because they shift the translated text from the original. These are some of the understatements in the translation:
weeny tweeny house (39)	domeček (33)	
scrumptious (103)	skvěle (81) (maybe prvotřídně?)	
”Carrots!”	“Zrzka! Zrzoun!” (88)	
Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves (195)	Matěj a nabírané rukávy (137)	

The last example, the title of chapter 25/23 is the very opposite of the situation discussed above. It is quite significant that in English there is this form of the title of the chapter and the Czech translation is rather weaker.
There are also several overstatements in the translation:
mother (39)	mami, maminko (33)	
”You mean, hateful boy!” (112)	“Ty ničemná zrůdo!” (89)	
”I hate you, I hate you—I hate you!” (65)	“Nenávidím vás. Protivná jste—protivná—protivná!” (52)	
orphans (66)	sirotci a přivandrovalci (53)	
that kind of a child (66)	fakan (53)	
bread and water (68)	okoralý chléb a zatuchlá voda (54)	

Some of the following translated expressions are quite correct, in spite of the fact that they do not often seem very Czech or very realistic:
cheerful light (76)	důvěrné světlo (60)	
broken pieces of china (87)	porcelánové střepy (70)	
patchwork (92)	šití (73); vyšívání (103)!	
”Such a nose as that man had!” (144)	“Nos má tedy důkladný!” (112)	
taffy (147)	karamelové kostky (115)	
white June lilies (74)	bílé narcisy (59)	

Especially the last translation may seem very bad. However, the original mentions a bit later the following: white June lilies she calls narcissus (249)—this being a kind of link to this wrong translation. There is also discrepancy in the translation of poems: ”Bingen on the Rhine” (41, 153) is once ”Bitva na Rýně” (35) and then dlouhá báseň o Rýnu (119). A helpful aid to identify the poems is a website called Anne´s History, including the whole list of literary works cited in the book. It is a pity that the translator did not use more colourful language: it is very standard Czech, but sometimes it seems too standard, perhaps even sterile. One way of improving it is a use of non-standard forms, as in the original (dunno, 13; prob´ly, 104; ´fore, 204); another way may be diminutive forms of the name Anna (an attempt to do this even in English may be seen in the expression Anne-girl).
	Another topic to be discussed is the system of units. Benešová is not very constant in using one system. She keeps miles, pounds are once translated as funty (198/140) and once given in kilograms (286/186), and the expression dozen boys (293) is translated as deset kluků (190), not tucet.
	The following table includes translations Benešová did not manage to translate very well. Nevertheless, these minor mistakes do not change the intention of the author greatly. It is interesting that food represents a considerable part.
crab apple preserve (4, 26)	zavařené švestky (4), zavařenina (24)	
wiry (47)	svalnatý (39)	
”Here is something for you to notice, Anne.” (55)	“Já ti řeknu, čeho si máš všímat.” (46)	
buttercup (80, 85)	divoké lilie (64), byliny (68)	
on the Monday evening (96)	v úterý, večer před výletem (76)	
rosebud spray tea set (121)	servis s růžovými puntíky (96)	
raspberry cordial (124)	rybízový mošt (98)	
plum pudding (125)	švestkový pudink (98)	
currant wine (127)	bezinkové víno	
sugar: white or brown (298)	cukr: homole nebo prášek (140)	
(then you seem) all red (280) – to Anne	(budeš vypadat) pod obraz (182)	

As in every book, there is something that gets lost by the translation. In this book, one of such situations is the word swear in the following dialogue:
”Will you swear to be my friend for ever and ever?"
”Why, it´s dreadfully wicked to swear.”
”Oh no, not my kind of swearing. There are two types, you know.” (87)	“Odpřísáhneš mi, že budeš mou přítelkyní navěky věkův?”
“Ale—přísahat se nemá. To je špatné.”
“Ale ne. Alespoň ne tak, jak si to myslím. Jsou dva druhy přísahy, abys věděla.” (69)	

	This leads us to the final part analysed in the paper. There are several instances when the meaning is slightly changed. The following table shows such situations.
The way Anne and Diana went to school was a pretty one. Anne thought those walks to and from school with Diana couldn´t be improved upon even by imagination. (105)	Cesta, po níž Anna s Dianou chodily do školy, byla opravdu kouzelná. Anna byla přesvědčená, že ani její obrazotvornost by nedokázala vymyslit něco krásnějšího než společné cesty do školy a zpátky domů ve společnosti Diany. (83)	
He´d never have got the school for another year if his uncle hadn´t been a trustee…(118)	Neučil by u nás ani rok, kdyby jeho strýc nebyl předsedou správní rady. (93)	
”Oh, Mar—Marilla, I´ll b-b-be cont-t-tented with c-c-commonplace places after this.” (166)	“Ach, Marie… Marie, po-po-po dneš-ku u-u-už bu-budu spo-kojená…, i když to bude…obyčejné…” (128) [co?]	
Reading stories is bad enough but writing them is worse. (211)	Člověku je špatně, když takové nesmysly někde v kalendáři čte, natož aby je psal.” (149)	
…the old rivalry could still be carried on, and Anne would hardly have known what to do if it had been lacking.
”I wouldn´t feel comfortable without it.” (278)	…a že tedy stará rivality může pokračovat. Kdyby toho nebylo, připadala by si úplně opuštěná a bezradná.
Opravdu bych si bez něj nevěděla rady. (181)	
”Three cheers for Miss Shirley, winner of the Avery!” (289)	“Ať žije Anna Shirleyová!”
A vzápětí se dozvěděla, že získala stipendium. (187)	
”Oh, Marilla, I don´t think—we can do anything for him.” (294)	“Buď statečná, Marie…Myslím, že mu už není pomoci!” (191)	

	As stated at the beginning of the analysis, none of the changes and mistakes are so great that the translation could be considered as bad. There are minor (as seen in the translated chapter given) which can be realised only when compared with the original, because—although Benešová changed even expressions that are rather clear—the final text is quite cohesive and realistic and does not change the work significantly. The Czech version reads very well, with slight discrepancies (mainly the event by the pond), of course. The mystery hanging over the omission of remarks on God becomes even more ”mysterious”: the book was published in second edition in 1993 (the first edition probably in the sixties—according to the illustrations). It will remain an open question why the publisher did not bother to make such changes to the book.
Works Cited
Montgomery, L. M. Anne of Green Gables. Toronto: Seal books, 1983.
Montgomeryová, L. M. Anna ze Zeleného domu. Praha: Albatros, 1993.
”Prince Edward Island: Anne of Green Gables.” 11 Apr 2003. <http://www.gov.pe.ca/lmm/ index.php3>.
”Anne´s Anthology.” 11 Apr 2003. <http://www.sn.rim.or.ip/~osawa/A66/prog/ AnnesAnthology.txt>.
Other websites
”Carnegie Mellon University.” 11 Apr 2003. <http://www.cs.cmu. edu/People/rgs/>.
	After clicking ”Literature”, there are several full-text books, including the series about Anne.

The Winter at Queen´s (Chapter 35)	Zima ve městě (Kapitola 32)	
Anne´s homesickness wore off, greatly helped in the wearing by her weekend visits home. As long as the open weather lasted the Avolea students went out to Carmody on the new branch railway every Friday night. Diana and several other Avonlea young folks were generally on hand to meet them and they all walked over to Avonlea in a merry party. Anne thought those Friday evenings gypsyings over the autumnal hills in the crisp golden air, with the homelights of Avonlea twinkling beyond, were the best and dearest hours in the whole week.	Annin stesk po domově se zvolna ztrácel. Hodně jí při tom pomáhaly cesty domů. Vracela se do Zeleného domu koncem každého týdne. Dokud bylo pěkné počasí, jezdili avonleaští studenti do Carmody novou lokálkou. Diana a několikk bývalých spolužáků je už obyčejně čekali a do Avonlea pak přicházeli z nádraží všichni společně. Pro Annu byly tyhle cesty po úbočích, zbarvených podzimem, nejhezčími hodinami celého týdne.	
Gilbert Blythe nearly always walked with Ruby Gillis and carried her satchel for her. Ruby was a very handsome young lady, now thinking herself quite as grown up as she really was; she wore her skirts as long as her mother would let her and did her hair up in town, though she had to take it down when she went home. She had large, bright-blue eyes, a brilliant complexion, and a plump showy figure. She laughed a great deal, was cheerful and good-tempered, and enjoyed the pleasant things of life frankly.	Gilbert chodíval obyčejně s Ruby Gillisovou a nesl jí aktovku. Ruby vypadala dospěleji než ostatní spolužačky, a také se za dospělou pokládala. Nosila co nejdelší sukně, vlasy si česala do uzlu—ale jen ve městě, na cestu domů si zase upletla obyčejný cop..měla velké světle modré oči, hebkou pleť a pěknou postavu. Ráda se smála, byla dobrosrdečná a radostně přijímala od života všechno, co jí nabízel.	
”But I shouldn´t think she was the sort of girl Gilbert would like,” whispered Jane to Anne. Anne did not think so either, but she would not have said so for the Avery scholarship. She could not help thinking, too, that it would be very pleasant to have such a friend as Gilbert to jest and chatter with and exchange ideas about books and studies and ambitions. Gilbert had ambitions, she knew, and Ruby Gillis did not seem the sort of person with whom such could be profitably discussed.	“Myslím si, že Ruby se pro Gilberta Blytha zrovna moc nehodí,” svěřila se Jana Anně. Anna s ní souhlasila, ale nebyla by to nahlas přiznala, ani kdyby za to dostala medaili nebo stipendium. Neustále odháněla představu, jak by bylo hezké, kdyby měla takového přítele, jako je Gilbert, mohli by si spolu o lecčems vyprávět—o knihách, o učení, o plánech do budoucnosti. Gilbert byl také ctižádostivý, to o něm věděla, a Ruby Gillisová nebyla z těch, s nimiž by se o takových věcech dalo mluvit.	
There was no silly sentiment in Anne´s ideas concerning Gilbert. Boys were to her, when she thought about them at all, merely possible good comrades. If she and Gilbert had been friends she would not have cared how many other friends he had not with whom he walked. She had a genius for friendship; girl friends she had in plenty; but she had a vague consciousness that masculine friendship might also be a good thing to round out one´s conceptions of companionship and furnish broader standpoints of judgement and comparison. Not that Anne could have put her feelings on the matter into just such clear definition. But she thought that if Gilbert had ever walked home with her from the train, over the crisp fields and along the ferny byways, they might have had many and merry and interesting conversations about the new world that was opening around them and their hopes and ambitions therein. Gilbert was a clever young fellow, with his own thoughts about things and a determination to get the best out of life and put the best into it. Ruby Gillis told Jane Andrews that she didn´t understand half the things Gilbert Blythe said; he talked just like Anne Shirley did when she had a thoughtful fit on and for her part she didn´t think it any fun to be bothering about books and that sort of thing when you didn´t have to. Frank Stockley had lots more dash and go, but then he wasn´t half as good-looking as Gilbert and she really couldn´t decide which she liked best!	V Anniných představách o Gilbertovi nebylo nic sentimentálního. Chlapce, když na ně sem tam myslela, měla jen za dobré kamarády—nic víc. Kdyby se spřátelila s Gilbertem, nezáleželo by jí na tom, kolik má jiných kamarádů anebo s kým chodí. Snadno uzavírala přátelství a měla hodně přítelkyň, ale uvědomovala si stále víc, že by ji přátelství s chlapcem obohatilo, že kluci dovedou být opravdovější i přímější, ale i neústupnější.
   Anna ani sama nevěděla, co vlastně chce. Ale napadlo ji, že by ji někdy mohl Gilbert doprovázet z vlaku po kamenité polní cestě a že by si mohli povídat o všelijakých zajímavých věcech, o novém prostředí a třeba i o škole a o svých nadějích a touhách. Gilbert byl bystrý chlapec, měl vyhraněné názory na život a věděl také, co od života chce. A chtěl toho, co nejvíc. Ruby Gillisová se Anně přiznala, že nerozumí, že nerozumí ani polovině z toho, o čem s ní Gilbert mluvívá. Je prý zrovna takový jako Anna, když se ocitne ve své přemýšlivé náladě. Podle ní není moc zábavné lámat si hlavu nad knihami nebo podobnými věcmi, když to není nutné. Frank Stockney je prý mnohem podnikavější a zábavnější, ale zase ani zdaleka tak hezký jako Gilbert, takže vážně neví, který z nich se jí líbí víc.	
In the Academy Anne gradually drew a little circle of friends about her, thoughtful, imaginative, ambitious students like herself. With the ”rose-red” girl, Stella Maynard, and the ”dream girl,” Priscilla Grant, she soon became intimate, finding the latter pale spiritual-looking maiden to be full to the brim of mischief and pranks and fun, while the vivid, black-eyed Stella had a heartful of wistful dreams and fancies, as aerial and rainbow-like as Anne´s own.	Na akademii přibyli Anně noví přátelé. Nejdříve obě děvčata, kterých si všimla už prvního dne—bystrá temnooká a růžolící Stella Maynardová a zasněná plavovláska Priscilla Grantová. Anna zjistila, že ta pobledlá a pořád jakoby zadumaná dívka překypuje šibalstvím a humorem, zatímco živá, tmavovlasá Stella je plná snů a fantazie.	
After the Christmas holidays, the Avonlea students gave up going home on Fridays and settle down to hard work. By this time all the Queen´s scholars had gravitated into their own places in the ranks and the various classes had assumed distinct and settled shadings of individuality. Certain facts had become generally accepted. It was admitted that the medal contestants had practically narrowed down to three—Gilbert Blythe, Anne Shirley, and Lewis Wilson; the Avery scholarship was more doubtful, any one of a certain six being a possible winner. The bronze medal for mathematics was considered as good as won by a fat, funny little up-country boy with a bumpy forehead and a patched coat.	Po vánocích přestali studenti jezdi domů každou sobotu, začalo období tvrdé práce. V té době si už každý z nich vybojoval svoje místo ve třídě. Počet uchazečů o medaili se postupně zúžil na tři—Gilberta Blytha, Annu Shirleyovou a Laurise Wilsona. Se stipendiem to bylo ještě nejasnější, protože je mohl získat kdokoli z dalších šesti studentů.	
Ruby Gillis was the handsomest girl of the year at the Academy; in the Second Year classes Stella Maynard carried off the palm for beauty, with small but critical minority in of Anne Shirley. Ethel Marr was admitted by all competent judges to have the most stylish modes of hairdressing, and Jane Andrews—plain, plodding, conscientious Jane—carried off the honors in the domestic science course. Even Josie Pye attained a certain preeminence as the sharpest-tongued young lady in attendance at Queen´s. So it may be fairly stated that Miss Stacy´s old pupils held their own in the wider arena of the academical course.	Ruby Gillisová byla pokládána  za nejhezčí dívku akademie. Ve druhém ročníku získala prvenství Stella Maynardová, i když se našla menšina, která dávala přednost Anně Shirleyová. Ethel Marrová—podle znalce—měla nejmódnější účes a Jana Andrewsová, svědomitá, solidní, pracovitá Jana, byla nejlepší v domácích naukách. Dokonce i Josie Pyeová si vydobyla jisté prvenství—jako největší klepna v celé akademii. Bylo tedy možno bez nadsázky konstatovat, že všichni žáci slečny Stacyové se statečně drželi v urputném zápolení mezi žáky Královské akademie, a že se dokonce dostali na špičku bitevního pole.	
Anne worked hard and steadily. Her rivalry with Gilbert was as intense as it had ever been in Avonlea school, although it was not known in the class at large, but somehow the bitterness had gone out of it. Anne no longer wished to win for the sake of defeating Gilbert; rather, for the proud consciousness of a well-won victory over a worthy foeman. It would be worth while to win, but she no longer thought life would be insupportable if she did not.	Anna se učila tvrdě a soustavně. Její soupeření s Gilbertem bylo stejně silné a urputné jako v avonleaské škole, třebaže tady o něm nikdo ve třídě nevěděl. Bývalá trpkost však Annu opouštěla. Už netoužila vyhrát nad Gilbertem jen proto, aby ho pokořila, ale spíš z potřeby dokázat sama sobě, že dovede překonat dobrého soka. Takový pocit stál za vynaložené úsilí a námahu, ale teť si už dávno nemyslela, že by svět pro ni ztratil cenu, kdyby nevyhrála.	
In spite of lessons the students found opportunities for pleasant times. Anne spent many of her spare hours at Beechwood and generally ate her Sunday dinners there and went to church with Miss Barry. The latter was, as she admitted, growing old, but her black eyes were not dim not the vigor of her tongue in the least abated. But she never sharpened the latter on Anne, who continued to be a prime favorite with the critical old lady.	I když učení opravdu bylo hodně, našlo se i dost příležitosti, jak si zpříjemnit život ve městě. Anna chodívala často do Bukového lesa, často tam zůstávala v neděli na oběd. Teta Josefína očividně stárla, ale její oči zůstávaly bystré a plné života. Také jazyk měla dále stejně břitký. Na Annu však pohlížela se shovívavým, laskavým úsměvem.	
”That Anne-girl improves all the time,” she said. ”I get tired of other girls—there is such a provoking and eternal sameness about them. Anne has as many shades as a rainbow and every shade is the prettiest while it lasts. I don’t know that she is as amusing as she was when she was a child, but she makes me love her and I like people who make me love them. It saves me so much trouble in making myself love them.”	“Anna dělá opravdu pokroky,” říkávala. “Jiná děvčata mě brzo unaví—jsou tak trapně nudná. Anna je každou chvíli jiná, má v sobě tolik odstínů, jako je v duze barev, a každý z nich je hezký. Neříkám, že je tak svérázná a osobitá, jako byla v dětství—tehdy byla přece jen zábavnější. Ale dovede mě pobavit i teď a já mám ráda lidi, kterým se to podaří. Ušetří mi námahu, co bych musela vynaložit, abych si našla zábavu sama.”	
The, almost before anybody realized it, spring had come; out in Avonlea the Mayflowers were peeping pinkly out on the sere barrens where snow-wreaths lingered; and the ”mist of green” was on the woods and in the valleys. But in Charlottetown harassed Queen’s students thought and talked only of examinations.	Jaro přišlo dřív, než si to kdo uvědomil. V Avonlea se už na úvozových cestách draly pupence z haluzí růžových keřů, někde se sice ještě opozdily ostrůvky sněhu, ale v lesích a na lukách se již objevil zelený nádech jara. Jenom studenti v Charlottetownu neměli smysl pro nic jiného než pro zkoušky a kolem nich se také točily všechny rozhovory.	
”It doesn’t seem possible that the term is nearly over,” said Anne. ”Why, last fall it seemed so long to look forward to—a whole winter of studies and classes. And here we are, with the exams looming up next week. Girls, sometimes I feel as if those exams meant everything, but when I look at the big buds swelling on those chestnut trees and the misty blue air at the end of the streets they don’t seem half so important.”	“Ani se mi nechce věřit, že už bude konec školního roku,” vzdychla si Anna. “Na podzim se ten rok zdál k nepřečkání, celá zima před námi, co přednášek a úkolů! A najednou se blíží konec! Holky, mám někdy doje, že zkoušky jsou celou mou náplní života, ale když vidím, jak se na kaštanech nalévají pupence, na konci ulic mezi domy jak prosvítá modrá mlha, najednou se mi přestávají zdát tak důležité.”	
Jane and Ruby and Josie, who had dropped in, did not take this view of it. To them the coming examinations were constantly very important indeed—far more important than chestnut buds or Maytime hazes. It was all very well for Anne, who was sure of passing at least, to have her moments of belittling them, but when your whole future depended on them—as the girls truly thought theirs did—you could not regard them philosophically.	Jana, Ruby a Josie, které ji přišly navštívit, měly jiný názor. Zkoušky jim připadaly mnohem důležitější než pupence na větvích i než namodralý jarní soumrak. Anna si podle nich nemusela dělat starosti, mohly si být jistá, že zkoušky složí a mohla si dovolit je podceňovat.	
”I’ve lost seven pounds in the last two weeks,” sighed Jane. It’s no use to say don’t worry. I will worry. Worrying helps you some—it seems as if you were doing something when you’re worrying. It would be dreadful if I failed to get my license after going to Queen’s all winter and spending so much money.”	“Za poslední čtrnáct dní jsem zhubla o tři kila,” ujišťovala Jana, “a pořád se přesvědčuju, že je zbytečné se tolik dřít. Dřu se a dřu. Ale člověk má aspoň pocit, že něco dělá, i když to asi k ničemu není. Ale stejně si nedovedu představit, co bych dělala, kdybych nakonec nedostala diplom—když to stálo tolik peněz a práce.”	
”I don’t care,” said Josie Pye. ”If I don’t pass this year I’m coming back next. My father can afford to send me. Anne, Frank Stockley says that Professor Tremaine said Gilbert Blythe was sure to get the medal and that Emily Clay would likely win the Avery scholarship.”	“Mně je to jedno,” pohrdavě mávla rukou Josie Pyeová. “Když letos neprojdu, budu příští rok opakovat. Můj otec si to může dovolit. Jo, abych nezapomněla, Anno, Frank Stockney mi říkal, že profesor Tramain mu povídal, že Gilbert Blythe určitě získá zlatou medaili a stipendium že dostane Emilie Clayová.”	
”That may make me feel badly tomorrow, Josie,” laughed Anne, ”but just now I honestly feel that as long as I know the violets are coming out all purple down in the hollow below Green Gables and that little ferns are poking their heads up in Lovers´ Lane, it’s not a great deal of difference whether I win the Avery or not. I’ve done my best and I begin to understand what is meant by the 'joy of the strife.' Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing. Girls, don’t talk about exams! Look at that arch of pale green sky over those houses and picture to yourselves what it must look like over the puply-dark beechwoods back of Avonlea.”	“Z toho mě začne bolet hlava až zítra,” zasmála se Anna. “Můžu ti docela upřímně říct, že teď, když v údolí pod Zeleným domem kvetou fialky a v aleji Milenců se klube mladé kapradí, vůbec mi nezáleží na tom, jestli získám stipendium nebo medaili. Udělala jsem, co bylo v mých silách, a pochopila jsem, co je to radost z boje. Neboj se, budu se s tím umět smířit! A zbytečně se netěš, že mě uvidíš brečet! Holky, přestaňte věčně mlít o zkouškách! Koukněte radši na modrou oblohu tam nad tím domem a představte si, jak to vypadá teď u nás v Avonlea!”	
”What are you going to wear for commencement, Jane?” asked Ruby practically.	“Co si vezmeš na sebe na ukončení školního roku, Jano?” zeptala se Ruby věcně.	
Jane and Josie both answered at once and the chatter drifted into a side eddy of fashions. But Anne, with her elbows on the window sill, her soft cheek laid against her clasped hands, and her eyes filled with visions, looked out unheedingly across city roof and spire to that glorious dome of sunset sky and wove her dreams of a possible future from the golden tissue of youth’s own optimism. All the Beyond was hers with its possibilities lurking rosily in the oncoming years—each year a rose of promise to be woven into an immortal chaplet.	Jana i Josie odpověděly najednou a tím převedly řeč na jinou kolej. Anna se opřela lokty o okenní rám, tvář přitiskla k dlaním a zasněně se zahleděla nad střechy a věže města, na zapadající slunce.