Annie John Exploration Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

At recess, among the tombstones, I of course had to exhibit and demonstrate. None of the others were menstruating yet. I showed everything without the least bit of flourish, since my heart wasn't in it. I wished instead that one of the other girls were in my place and that I were just sitting there in amazement. (3.26)

After Annie starts menstruating, she shares what it's like with her buddies at the tombstones. The tombstones represent the main space for exploration and sharing secrets.

Quote #5

Then, after a proper time had passed, I would quietly unlatch the gate, creep back into the yard, and dive under the house to extract or hide some object that was forbidden me—usually some object that had come into my possession through my expert stealing. (4.1)

Stealing is a not-so-great aspect of Annie's exploration. She tests the boundaries of her relationship with her mother and the rules her mother enforces by stealing what are essentially useless pieces of junk.

Quote #6

Ruth I liked, because she was such a dunce and came from England and had yellow hair. When I first met her, I used to walk her home and sing bad songs to her just to see her turn pink, as if I had spilled hot water all over her. (5.2)

Annie loves the novelty of new things. That's why she takes an interest in Ruth who is from England with yellow hair: Ruth is a new character for Annie, and Annie is fascinated with both Ruth's life story and how best to mortify her.