From the Diary of Anne Frank

By Anne Frank

Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who hid with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. Her diary, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” documents her thoughts, fears, and daily life while hiding in a secret annex in Amsterdam from 1942 to 1944. The diary offers a powerful and personal account of the Holocaust, as Anne describes the challenges of living in hiding, her dreams, and her reflections on humanity. Tragically, she and her family were discovered, and Anne died in a concentration camp in 1945. Her diary survived and became a symbol of resilience and hope.

Q: What makes writing in a diary a strange experience for Anne Frank?

Ans. Writing in a diary is a strange experience for Anne Frank because she feels that no one will be interested in the musing of a young girl. Despite this, she feels a deep need to confide in something or someone, which leads her to treat her diary as a close confidant and friend. The act of writing personal thoughts and feelings to an inanimate object is initially peculiar to her, but she eventually finds comfort in it.

Q: Why does Anne want to keep a diary?

Ans. Anne wants to keep a diary for several reasons. Primarily, she feels a strong need to express her thoughts and emotions, especially given the stressful and confined circumstances of living in hiding during the Holocaust. The diary serves as an outlet for her creativity and a way to document her experiences and inner life.

Q: Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people?

Ans. Anne believed she could confide more in her diary than in people because she felt misunderstood and often lonely. The adults around her, including her family members, were also under immense stress and could not always provide the emotional support she needed. Her diary, which she named “Kitty” became a trusted confidant who would not judge or betray her. The sense of unconditional acceptance and privacy allowed her to express herself more freely and honestly than she felt she could with the people around her.

Q: Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life?

Ans. Anne provides a brief sketch of her life because she believes that without it, no one would understand her stories to “Kitty” her diary. She wants to ensure that readers have the necessary background information to follow her narrative, even though she dislikes summarizing her life.

Q: What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?

Ans. Anne’s love for her grandmother is evident from the way she writes about her. She mentions how she thinks of her grandmother and still loves her, even after her death. Her love is also manifested in her act of lighting a candle for her during her birthday celebration in 1942, indicating that her memory is cherished and honored.

Q: Why was Mr. Keesing annoyed with Anne? What did he ask her to do?

Ans. Mr. Keesing was annoyed with Anne because she talked too much in class. As a punishment, he assigned her extra homework, asking her to write an essay on the topic, “A Chatterbox”

Q: How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay?

Ans. Anne justified her being a chatterbox by arguing that talking is a student’s trait and that she inherited this habit from her mother, who also talked a lot. She mentioned that inherited traits are hard to change.

Q: Do you think Mr. Keesing was a strict teacher?

Ans. Mr. Keesing appeared to be a strict teacher about class discipline, as evidenced by his repeated punishment for Anne’s talking, but at the same time, he showed a sense of humor and flexibility. This is seen when he laughed at Anne’s essays and allowed her to talk after she wrote a creative poem.

Q: What made Mr. Keesing allow Anne to talk in class?

Ans. Mr. Keesing allowed Anne to talk in class after she handed in a clever and humorous poem about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings. He appreciated the joke and showed leniency by no longer assigning her extra homework.

Q: Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old girl?

Ans. Anne was not entirely right, as her diary has become one of the most famous personal accounts of World War II, providing valuable insights into the experiences of those hiding during the Holocaust. Her thoughts and reflections have resonated with millions of readers worldwide.

Q: What language was the diary originally written in? In what way is Anne’s diary different from common diary entries?

Ans. Anne’s diary was originally written in Dutch. Unlike typical diary entries that might focus on daily events or simple reflections, Anne’s diary provides a deeper and more personal insight into her thoughts, fears, and hopes. Her writing is introspective and often philosophical, which sets it apart from standard journal entries.

Q: Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch of her family? Does she treat “Kitty” as an insider or an outsider?

Ans. Anne gives a brief sketch of her family to provide context for her diary entries, helping readers understand her background and the people around her. She treats “Kitty”, her diary, as an insider, sharing her most personal thoughts and feelings with it as if confiding in a close friend.

Q: How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs. Kuperus, and Mr.
Keesing? What do these tell you about her?

Ans. Anne admires and loves her father, feels affectionate and respectful towards her grandmother, has fond memories of Mrs. Kuperus, and has a complex but ultimately positive relationship with Mr. Keesing. These feelings show that Anne is reflective, appreciative of her relationships, and capable of seeing the good in people even when they challenge her.

Q: What does Anne write in her first essay?

Ans. In her first essay, “A Chatterbox,” Anne argues that talking is a student’s trait and something she inherited from her mother. She humorously claims that it is a natural characteristic that she cannot change, providing a witty and thoughtful justification for her talkative nature.

Q: Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr. Keesing unpredictable? How?

Ans. Mr. Keesing is indeed unpredictable. Initially, he appears to be a strict and unyielding teacher who punishes Anne for talking, but he later shows a sense of humor and flexibility. After reading Anne’s creative poem, he appreciates her cleverness and stops assigning her extra homework, even making jokes in class.

Q: What do these statements tell you about Anne Frank as a person?

i. “We don’t seem to be able to get any closer, and that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other”

Ans. This shows Anne’s introspective nature and her desire for deeper connections with those around her, reflecting on her own role in her relationships.

ii. “I don’t want to jot down the fact in this diary the way most people would, but I want the diary to be my friend”

Ans. This indicates Anne’s creative and personal approach to writing, treating her diary as a confidante rather than a mere record of events.

iii. “Margot went to Holland in December, and I followed in February when I was plunked down on the table as a birthday present for Margot.”

Ans. This statement shows Anne’s sense of humor and her playful perspective on life events.

iv. “If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be kept back, but teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on earth.”

Ans. This reflects Anne’s candid and sometimes critical view of her peers and her acknowledgment of the unpredictability of adults.

v. “Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking.”

Ans. This demonstrates Anne’s intellectual approach to challenges and her ability to think critically and creatively.