Unit 5, Task 2—Thinking Critically
Analyzing how lines of dialogue or incidents propel actions, reveal character, or provoke a decision (RL 8.3)
Directions: “Closely” reread passage to analyze characters.
Text Dialogue or Incident
What does the dialogue or incident reveal
about the character or characters?
Act 1, Scene 2 (454):
“Mrs. Frank (To Mr. Kraler). It’s illegal, then,
the ration books? We’ve never done anything
illegal.”
Act 1, Scene 2 (457, right column):
Beginning with lines
“Anne (unabashed). Then I’ll have to stop
being a stranger, won’t I? Is he fixed?”
Ending with lines
“Peter. I’m sort of a lone wolf. (He starts to rip
off his Star of David.)
Act 1, Scene 2 (458, bottom right column):
Anne is going to think of her hiding place as a
summer boardinghouse.
Act 1, Scene 3 (463, left column and some of
right):
Beginning with line…
“Peter. I heard about you…How you talked so
much in class…”
Ending with line…
“Peter. Quack, quack, quack, and from now on
stay out of my room!”
This statement suggests that Mrs. Frank is a
law-abiding citizen. She is not rebellious and is
uncomfortable breaking the law, even in a
difficult and unjust situation. It also reveals
that Mr. Kraler is courageous enough to risk
his life for others.
Will this dialogue or incident propel an
action in the plot or provoke a character
decision?
Mrs. Frank decides to let go of her ethical code
in order to survive. Mr. Kraler decides to
continue to assist the families survive, which
puts himself and others at risk.
Act 1, Scene 2 (464):
Mrs. Van Daan (Good-humored). Shut up!
(Without a pause, to Anne. Mr. Van Dann
mimics Mrs. Van Daan…”
Act 2, Scene 2 (469-top of 470):
Reread this section to characterize Mr. Frank,
Mrs. Van Daan, and Mr. Van Daan.
Use textual evidence to support your analysis.
Mrs. Van Daan’s characterization:
Mr. Frank’s characterization:
Textual evidence:
Mr. Van Daan’s characterization:
Textual evidence:
Textual evidence:
Text Dialogue or Incident
Act 1, Scene 4 (476):
“A match suddenly flares up in the attic. We
dimly see Mr. Van Daan. He is getting his
bearings. He comes quickly down the stairs,
and goes to the cupboard where the food is
stored. Again the match flares up, and is as
quickly blown out.” What is Mr. Van Daan
doing in the middle of the night? What do his
actions reveal about his character? How might
this event effect the plot?
Act 1, Scene 4 (478):
“I can stand off and look at myself doing it and
know it’s cruel and yet I can’t stop doing it.”
“I’m afraid that people are going to laugh at me
if I’m serious.” Consider whether Anne’s
feelings are typical of a teenager or are specific
to this situation.
Act 1, Scene 5:
For Hanukkah, Anne has a present for each of
the members in the “family.” What does this
reveal about Anne’s character?
Act 1 Scene 5 (485):
“No. I think they’ve gone. It’s the Green
Police. They’ve found us…There isn’t
anything to do. Just wait.” At the end of the
scene, the characters (Mr. Van Daan, Mrs. Van
Daan, and Mr. Frank) try to cope with the
uncertainty of who was downstairs. What does
the reactions of each reveal about his or her
character?
What does the dialogue or incident reveal
about the character or characters?
Will this dialogue or incident propel an
action in the plot or provoke a character
decision?
Directions: Reread Act 2, Scene 1, p. 491. Analyze the dialogue and incidents on this page. What is revealed about Miep, Mr. Van
Daan, Mr. Dussel, and Anne’s character through this dialogue? Support your inferences and analyses with evidence from the text.
Character
Inference/Analysis
Evidence
Miep
Mr. Van Daan
Mr. Dussel
Anne
Reread Act 2, Scene 2, p. 499. Analyze the dialogue and incidents on this page. What does this incident reveal about Anne and
Margot?
Character
Inference/Analysis
Evidence
Anne
Margot