Final answer:
The narrative technique in the excerpt from Anne of Green Gables is third-person narration with an ironic narrative voice, used by the author to create interest in what kind of story will feature such an unlikely heroine as Catherine Morland.
Step-by-step explanation:
The narrative technique found in the bolded text from the excerpt from Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery is third-person narration with a detached and ironic narrative voice. The narrator remains outside of the character's perspective, offering descriptions of physical appearance, social status, relationships, and in the case of Catherine Morland, her likes and dislikes.
This ironic narrative voice is a subtle device employed by the author to deepen the reader's interest. Describing Catherine as apparently unsuitable heroine material prompts readers to question what kind of unique narrative might revolve around such an unlikely central character.
The use of narrative voice is a key distinguishing factor in writing and it ranges from distant to personable. The opening to Northanger Abbey uses this tone to establish Catherine's importance to the story and sets the stage for an unconventional narrative.