Anne Frank
The
Diary of a
Young Girl
A Complete Solution of Book
for class
X
Session-1
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) What does Anne receive for her thirteenth birthday?
Ans. Anne receives a diary on her thirteenth birthday.
(b) What does Anne call her diary?
Ans. She wants her diary to be her real friend and fondly calls it 'Kitty'.
(c) What are Anne's reasons for starting the diary?
Ans. Anne wants to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried deep in her
heart. She wishes to be a writer and so starts writing her diary.
(d) How was the life of Jews affected when the Germans moved into
Holland?
Ans. The life of the Jews was affected adversely when the Germans moved
into Hollend. There were lots of laws restricting their freedom. They
had to wear a yellow star. They could not drive cars or bikes. They
could go shopping only during certain hours of the day. They were not
allowed to go to movies, not to use tennis courts. Their nights were
spent almost under curfew as they were not allowed to stay out after 8 in
the night.
(e) What groups are the franks hiding from?
Ans. The franks were hiding from the Nazi groups of Hitler.
(f) What does Anne want to be when she grows up?
Ans. She wants to be a writer in future.
Session-2
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) Who is Pim?
Ans. Anne's father is Pim. It is his nickname.
(b) Whom does Anne plan to marry actually?
Ans. Anne plans to marry Peter Schiff.
(c) Why did the family go into hiding?
Ans. Anne's dad told her that they might go into hiding soon. That very after
noon their family received "The call-up" from the SS and they had to go
to a concentration camp due to the fear of Nazis.
(d) Who accompanied franks into hiding?
Ans. The Van Danns accompanied them into the hiding.
(e) Why did the franks tell people that they were going to Switzerland?
Ans. It was necessary for their hiding to keep it a secret. So they told people
that they were going to Switzerland.
(f) Who was the person actually "called up" by SS?
Ans. Anne's father, Otto Frank was actually "called up" by SS.
(g) Summarize Anne's feelings towards her father.
Ans. Anne loves her father. She trusts him and his thoughts. When they were
going into hiding, Anne was upset to think of food, clothes and shelter.
His father suggested her not to worry but to enjoy her young life without
any care as all the arrangements had already been done. Anne seems to
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The Diary of a Young Girl
be very close to her father than any other member of his family.
(h) How were Anne and Margot different?
Ans. Margot is sixteen years old whereas Anne thirteen. Margot seems to be
serious and sober-natured whereas Anne is childish and playful but
caring to her father. Margot is brilliant at study whereas Anne is an
average student but has a great desire to become a writer. Anne is always
terrified that the neighbors might her them and discover them. She helps
her father in cleaning up their hiding place which was full of dust.
Session-3
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) What is Mrs Van Dann's opinion of Anne?
Ans. Mrs Van Dann treats Anne like a baby, which really bothers her. She is
always annoyed at Anne for talking so much. Mrs Van Dann Criticises
Anne, especially at the dinner table and opines that Anne is being raised
very poorly.
(b) What are Anne's feelings towards her mother?
Ans. Anne feels that her mother is very bad and quite careless about her. She
does not know her at all. Anne generally had fight with her mother and
she ends up crying.
(c) What are Anne's feelings towards Peter?
Ans. Anne feels that Peter is a shy, gawky and soft boy. She does not expect
much from him in term of friendship.
(d) What type of relationship do you think Anne and Margot share?
Ans. Anne and Margot are sisters. They share a relationship of friends but
not too closely. Margot's nature is completely strange to Anne.
(e) How are Anne's mom's feelings different towards Margot and Anne?
Ans. Anne's mom feels that there is a great difference between Margot and
Anne. Margot is a grown up girl, she has read a lot of serious books, she
reads nothing that is forbidden to her. She is more developed and
intelligent. She thinks that Anne is childish and talkative.
Session-4
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) Why is Anne no longer considered a German?
Ans. Earlier, the Jews were the nationals of Germany. But Hitler had taken
away their nationality long ago and as we know that Germans and Jews
are the greatest enemies in the world. Anne was a Jew and she is no
longer considered a German.
(b) Who are Mouschi and Boche?
Ans. Mouschi and Boche were two cats. Mousche belonged to Peter and he
took it to the hiding Annex from his house. Boche already living in the
warehouse of the hiding Annex.
(c) What sort of things were happening to the Jews who did not go into
hiding?
Ans. Jewish people were being taken away by loading into cattle trucks to
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The Diary of a Young Girl
(d)
Ans.
(e)
Ans.
(f)
Ans.
big Jewish camps in Drente. They were being treated without the least
bit of humanity and being gassed. They were imprisoned or sent to
concentration camps if found not hiding.
What is a Gestapo?
A Gestapo was a member of German secret police under Nazi rule. They
treated Jewish people brutally and took them to concentration camps.
How do you know that Franks were living with any luxuries in the
Annex?
The Franks were living in a hiding Annex but they seem to live a
luxurious life. They manage a birthday party for Mrs Van Daan. They
had a nice meal and presented her small presents and flowers. Mrs Van
Daan attempts to flirt with Pim and behaves lustily. Peter and Anne
manage to amuse them by dressing in clothes of opposite sexes. The
grownups are doubled up with laughter and they enjoyed to their full.
They read peacefully and admire one another's beauty. So we can say
they were living with luxuries.
What are your opinions about Mrs Van Daan?
Mrs Van Daan is a friendly, teasing woman. Later Anne calls her an
instigator. She is quite quarrel some. She frequently complains against
Anne and criticises her for her activities. She flirts with Anne's father,
Otto Frank, and behaves him lustily. But Mr Frank is not the least
interested in her. She is also eager to know what Anne has written about
her in her diary.
Session-5
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) What does Alfred Dussel do for a living before he goes into hiding?
Ans. Alfred Dussel had to bring his card index up to date first, see to a couple
of patients and settle his accounts before going into hiding.
(b) Why doesn't Mrs Dussel join them in hiding?
Ans. Dentist Albert Dussel's wife was out of the country when the war broke
out. So she could not join them in hiding.
(c) Why was Mr Dussel shocked to see the franks in hiding?
Ans. Mr Dussel was shocked to see the franks in hiding because earlier he
was told that they had gone to Belgium but he finds them there in the
hiding. When Miep told him about the franks Mr Dussel was surprised
to see them.
(d) Where did Mr Dussel find his place in the Annex?
Ans. The franks knew that Mr Dussel was a nice man. Mr Dussel also
thought it all right to share Anne's little room. So he found his place in
her room.
(e) How did Anne feel hearing about the Jews outside?
Ans. Anne often saw rows of good, innocent people accompanied by crying
children. German soldiers bullied and knocked them about until they
almost fell down, old people, babies, expectant mothers and the sick all
were taken out in the march of death. Anne feels it wicked and guilty to
sleep in a warm bed while her dearest friends (The Jews) were knocked
down or fallen into a gutter some where out in the cold night. She got
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The Diary of a Young Girl
frightened when she thought of her close friends who were delivered
into the hands of the crudest brutes is the German soldiers all because
they were Jews.
(f) What do you know about Anne's attitude towards Mr Dussel?
Ans. Anne thinks that Mrs Dussel is a very nice man. But she finds him very
slow at understanding or grasping things. He asks everything twice
over and still does not seem to remember them. She thinks that his
behaviour will be normal soon as he was thoroughly upset by the
sudden change of living in Annexe. Mr Dussel has a wide knowledge of
the outer world. He has very sad news of countless friends and
acquaintances who have gone to a terrible facts.
Session-6
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) What is Anne's opinion about Mr Dussel as a dentist?
Ans. Mr Dussel was a dentist. He opened his dental practice in the hiding
Annexe. Anne says that Mrs Van Daan was his first Victim. The scene
of treatment of her aching teeth, Dussel scraping her teeth and Mrs Van
Daan crying with pain, throwing her arms and legs about widely in all
directions shows that Dr Dussel is an inexperienced doctor. In Anne's
opinion the whole scene looked like a picture from Middle Ages
entitled "A Quack at Work".
(b) Do you think Anne wants to become like Margot? Why? Why not?
Ans. Anne thinks about taking care of the children is slums. She thinks about
than, speaks of them and wants to do something good for them. When
she asked Margot about giving them a bath, wash and mend their
clothes and then to let them go again, Margot interrupted her by saying,
"By tomorrow they would look just as filthy and ragged as before."
This shows that Anne's feelings are quite different from Margot's. She
does not want to become like Margot. When she is constantly compared
to Margot, she detests it.
(c) In what way Anne thinks about the people suffering outside in the
world?
Ans. Anne is quite unhappy and disappointed to see that poor miserable
people are being dragged off by the German soldiers day and night.
They had nothing but a rucksack and a little money which they were
deprived of on the way. She saw that families were torn apart, the men,
women and children were being separated and murdered mercilessly.
Anne feels boiling with rage but avoids showing it. She feels it selfish
even to talk about "after the war" brighten up at the thought of having
new clothes and new shoes. Whereas she wants us to save every penny
to help those helpless people (the Jews). But meanwhile she feels
dejected as she can do nothing but wait as calmly as possible.
(d) Why do you think Anne spends her time sitting by the window?
Ans. Anne was always thinking about the troubles and miseries of the poor
Jewish people being trodden by the German soldiers. Most of the time
she sat by the window of her hiding Annexe and saw out side. She
watched the people walking by, it looked just as if they were all in a
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The Diary of a Young Girl
terrible hurry and nearly rushed over their own toes. Germans took
them to concentration camps, to prisons, beat them mercilessly only
because they were Jews. She saw the children run about in just a thin
blouse and clogs, no coat, no hat, no stockings and no one helped them.
Their tummies were empty, they chewed dried carrots to stay live. It
had got so bad in Holland that countless children stopped the passersby and begged for a piece of bread. Anne, thus, always kept on thinking
of the miseries caused by the war and the brutality of Hitler the German
dictator.
(e) What item do the eight people in the Annex receive as an extra for
Christmas?
Ans. The eight people in the "Secret Annexe" had heard the joyful news that
each person will receive an extra quarter of a pound of butter for
Christmas.
Session-7
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) Summarise the events of Thursday 25 March, 1943.
Ans. On 25 March, 1943 the members in the hiding Annex heard some noise
in the warehouse and they suspected there was a burglar. They heard
two loud bumps and all were frightened and dumbstruck. All the men
went here and there quietly and silently without making the least noise.
Anne, Margot and their mother waited in suspense. They searched all
over the hiding but could find none. They all concluded that the thieves
had run away hearing their footsteps in the house. Mr Van Daan
returned after five minutes and told them that all was quiet in the house.
They were surprised to think of a burglar so early in the evening. All of
them went to bed but none of them could go to sleep. Next morning they
again examined whether the outside door was still sheet. They felt
relieved of their fears when everything was found quite normal after
this nerve racking event. They all made fun of it as it was easy to laugh
at such things afterwards.
(b) Anne was cruel to her mother on April 2, 1943, what did she do?
Ans. Anne was lying in her bed in the evening waiting for her Daddy to come
and say her prayers with her and wish her good night. Her Mummy
came into the room, sat on her bed and asked very nicely, "Anne, Daddy
can't come yet, shall I say your prayers with you tonight?" Anne
answered rudely, "No Mummy." Her Mummy got up and went out but
suddenly she turned around, and with a distorted look on her face said
that she did not want to be cross, love cannot be forced. There were
tears in her eyes when she left the room. Anne felt that she had been
horrible to push her mother away so rudely. She felt sorry for her
Mummy for she had minded Anne's coldness for the first time in her
life. But Anne is firm to think that she spoke the truth.
(c) Who is "de Fuhrer" that Anne keeps referring to?
Ans. The "Fuhrer" is a leader or guide to the German armies. He was talking
to the wounded soldiers. Anne felt it pitiful to listen to it. This was
during the second world war. Anne had a radio and always heard news
of what was going on in the war. This conversation between the Fuhrer
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The Diary of a Young Girl
and the soldiers was being broadcast on the radio.
(d) Summarise how Anne reacts to the gunfire in the middle of the night.
Ans. Anne is not out of fear of shooting and planes. Frightened of the
gunfires she creeps into her Daddy's bed for comfort. She thinks it to be
childish but she cannot help doing it. The A. A. guns roar so loudly that
you cannot hear yourself speak. Mrs Van Daan also felt uneasy and
frightened when she says, "oh, it is so unpleasant! oh they are shooting
so hard." Anne felt it not so bed by candlelight as in the dark. She
shivered as if she had temperature. She begged her Daddy to light the
candle again. Suddenly there was a burst of machine-gun fire and it was
ten times worse than guns. Her Mummy was frightened and jumped out
of her bed and lit the candle but her Daddy was against it.
(e) What are the three teenagers doing?
Ans. The three teenagers have finished their shorthand course. Now they are
beginning to practise the speed. Anne feels that they are getting clever
to use their time in learning something useful.
(f) Which notes are no longer valid?
Ans. 500 and 1000-guilder notes were declared no longer valid.
(g) Why everybody is sick of eating beans?
Ans. For a long time they had been eating kidney beans and haricot beans.
They are now so fed with beans that they cannot bear even the sight of
them anymore. The mere thought of beans makes them feel quite sick.
Session-8
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) Why does Anne consider Mr Dussel to be selfish and ungreatful?
Ans. It is Mr Dussel's birthday on Ist May and he acts all childish, he is
excited about it. Mr Dussel turns to be pretty selfish. He hides all kinds
of good food (like bread and cheese) which he keeps for himself. Anne
thinks that he is selfish and also ungrateful. He gives no importance to
the fact that they have saved him by giving him place to live in the
hiding. He is also not generous to his protectors.
(b) Why can't the eight members of the Annex throw away all of their
garbage?
Ans. Although it was fairly warm, all the members had to light their fire
every other day in order to burn the garbage. They could not put the
garbage in the pails because they were afraid of being discovered by the
warehouse boy. They could be easily betrayed by being a little careless.
(c) What does Anne receive on her 14th birthday from Pim?
Ans. As Pim (Anne's father) was fond of poetry and usually wrote verses in
German, he presented a birthday poem to Anne on her 14th birthday.
The sweet poem is given in this diary.
(d) How are Mr Dussel and Mrs Van Daan criticizing Anne continuously?
Ans. Anne simply could not swallow her rage at some injustice, so she was
continuously criticised by Mr Dussel and Mrs Van Daan by calling her
the cheekiest and most shameless girl on earth.
(e) What did the burglars steal from the office?
Ans. This time the burglars really came and they stole two cash boxes
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The Diary of a Young Girl
containing forty florins, postal orders and cheque books. Worst of all,
they stole all the coupons for 150 kilos of sugar.
(f) Who is suffering from cancer?
Ans. One of the protectors, Mr Vossen was suffering from cancer which was
in a stage too advanced to operate.
Session-9
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) What was the disadvantage of having a cat in the Annex?
Ans. Their cat, 'Mouschi' has proved to be a disadvantage for all of them. The
cat has brought fleas in the 'Secret Annex' and they are in increasing
everyday. Everyday in the house suffers because of them. Through Mr
Koophuis has scattered yellow power in every nook and corner, but the
fleas do not seem to mind it a bit. It is making them quite nervous. One
keeps imagining an itch on one's arms, legs and various parts of the
body due to their bites.
(b) Explain how Mr Dussel endangered the lives of everyone in the
Annex.
Ans. Dussel has indirectly endangered the lives of the members in the 'Secret
Annex'. He actually let Miep bring a forbidden book for him, one which
abuses Mussolini and Hitlar. On the way she happened to be run into by
an S. S. Car. She lost her temper, shouted, "Miserable wretches", and
rode on. We cannot imagine what might have happened if she had to go
to their headquarters.
(c) Explain what Anne means when she writes about "Freedom in the
Annex."
Ans. During office hours, from 8:30 to 5:30, all the members in the 'Secret
Annex' have to be extra cautious and vigilant for fear of being
discovered. They have to be silent and work quietly so that noon
outside might hear their voice or have a notice of them living there
secretly. They fear the warehouseman, V. M. is becoming suspicious
about the Secret Annexe. But after 5:30 in the evening they are free to
talk or move in the house as all the office workers go home and office is
closed. Thus the writer means the freedom they feel after office hours.
(d) Who has to go to the hospital for an operation?
Ans. Mr Koophuis has to go to the hospital for a very unpleasant abdominal
operation and will have to stay there for at least four weeks. Actually he
suffers from peptic ulcer.
(e) Analyse the importance of Mr Van Daan Selling his wife's for coat?
Ans. The Van Daans have run right out of money. They have no money left
with them. Koophuis told Mr Van Daan about a furrier Whom Mr Van
Daan wants to sell her wife's fur coat. It is a fur coat made from rabbit
skins, and she has worn it seventeen years. He sold it for 325 florins.
Mrs Van Daan wanted to keep the money to buy new clothes after the
war. But Mr Van Daan made it clear to her that the money was urgently
needed for the household.
(f) Why is Anne disappointed with her parents?
Ans. Anne feels sad and disappointed because her parents always take side
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The Diary of a Young Girl
of Margot during some disagreements. She is also jealous of her
father's affection for Margot. But she says that she is not jealous rather
she wants her father to love her equally. Anne is also irritated of her
mother. She thinks that her mother does not behave like a mom. She
believes that she has no good role model and that her parents have let
her down.
Session-10
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) How is the group of Annex becoming careless?
Ans. Anne feels that the group in the Annex is becoming careless. She feels
depressed when she finds that someone is lighting a fire during hours
when their neighbours can see the smoke and smell their presence. She
is afraid of being detected and caught when someone of the group
opens the curtains occasionally. They are also careless when they fight
and cry over these occurrences. Though she herself wishes to be free
and breathe fresh air, but for them, it is more important to keep on
hiding and never to act in a way so that they might be taken notice of.
(b) Analyse the reason why Anne keeps dreaming about her friend Lies.
Ans. When Anne was sleeping in the night, she met her friend lies in her
dream. Anne saw her in front of herself, clothed in rags, her face thin
and tired. Her eyes were very big and she looked so sadly and
reproachfully at her that Anne could read in her eyes, 'oh Anne, why
have you deserted me? Help Me, rescue me from this hell.' Actually lies
was attached to a new girl friend and she suspected as if Anne wanted to
take her away. But Anne cannot help her, she can only look on, how
others suffer and die. Anne feels terribly guilty to find herself safe and
her friend in suffering.
(c) What does Anne expect from her mother?
Ans. Anne expects love and kindness from her mother. She likes to have the
kind of real mother who is comforting to her, who understands her. That
is why with everything she does and write, she thinks of the 'Mumsie'
who cares for everything Anne says seriously. She expects her mother
to understand and admire her, to love her really. She wants such a caring
mother as she herself wants to be for her children later on.
(d) Who brought the cake for Christmas? What was special about the
cake?
Ans. On Friday evening for the first time in her life Anne received something
special for Christmas. Koophuis, Kraler and the girls had prepared a
lovely surprise for her. Miep had made a lovely Christmas cake, on
which was written "Peace 1944." The cake was special for Anne and
she, for the first time in her life, enjoyed and admired it.
(e) Why do you think Anne admires her father?
Ans. Anne is always attracted to her father and impressed by his behaviour
and thinking. She loves him more than anything in the world. She is
always thinking about her father-and what he told her about the love of
his youth. He never forgets or avoids her. Anne is very proud that her
father has become very tolerant. She wants to become like her fatherloving, kind, caring and tolerant.
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Session-11
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) What feelings of Anne emerge on re-reading her past diary entries?
Ans. One morning Anne had nothing to do. So she turned over some pages of
her diary. Several times she came across letter dealing with the subject
"Mummy" in a hotheaded way. She felt quite shocked to know how it
was possible for her to mention the word 'hate'. She was surprised to
think why she had been so full of rage against her Mummy, how she
was able to confide hateful thoughts in herself. She found a great
difference in the Anne of a year ago and the Anne now. She feels that
she often wrote when she was most emotional, So thinks that it is not
the accurate representation of her thoughts about her life and family.
She feels suffering from moods which kept her head under water,
unaware of the realities of life and thoughts of the other side.
(b) How do you know that Anne has become a lot mature in a short
period?
Ans. Anne read an article about blushing, how a girl in the years of puberty
becomes quiet within and begins to think about the wonders that are
happening to her body. She experienced a feeling of embarrassment
about Margot, her Mummy and Daddy. She discusses to none the inner
changes taking place in her body but she feels them happening. In spite
of all the pain, unpleasantness and nastiness of her periods, she longs
for the time that she should feel that secret within her again. She feels
that she has thoughts and ideas of her own. She also feels attracted to
her boyfriend-Peter. All these happenings show that Anne has become a
lot mature.
(c) What are the signs of puberty as read by Anne in an article?
Ans. Blushing is a sign of puberty. A girl in the years of puberty becomes
quiet within and begins to think about the wonders and the changes
taking place in her body. The article Anne read also says that girls of
this age do not feel quite certain of themselves and that they have
thoughts and ideas of their own. During this period girls have a terrible
desire to feel their breasts and to listen to the quiet rhythmic beat of
their hearts as Anne feels herself.
(d) Who is Peter Schiff? What are Anne's feelings towards him?
Ans. Peter Schiff is Anne's love from the sixth grade. He is a boy one year
older than Anne. She dreams of him while in the Annex. Peter Schiff is
also referred to as Peter Wessel. Anne, now in the age of puberty, a
matured girl, feels attracted towards Peter. She wants to accompany
him most of the time. She dreams of him and wants to talk to him. She
gets a strange kind of feeling while looking into his eyes. She likes his
eyes, his figure and his habits. It seems to be an attraction of true love.
She feels of Peter, she dreams of Peter day and night.
(e) How is the relationship of Anne with Peter Van Daan growing?
Ans. The relationship between Anne and Peter is growing gradually. Anne
describes her dreams when Anne and Peter sat opposite one another
suddenly Peter's eyes met Anne's who looked into those fine, velvet
brown eyes for a long time. Then Peter said very softly, "If I had only
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known, I would have come to you long before!" she turned around
abruptly because the emotion was too much for her. And after that she
felt a soft and a cool kind cheek against hers and felt very good. She
recalls her memories of childhood with Peter and now again prays God
to let Peter cross her path. She longs for Peter. She cannot live without
him. She knows no way to free herself of his image. She loves him with
the depths of her heart. They read together, talk together and walk
together. This shows that their relationship is growing very deeply.
(f) What are Anne's views about their protectors?
Ans. Anne thinks about the unselfishness of their protectors. They never fear
to risk their own lives to save the franks, Van Daans and Mr Dussel.
They have never complained about the burden of managing things for
them. They never discussed about the fear of any danger they could
face in protecting them. They never worried about what would happen
to the 'Secret Annex' if discovered by the Germans. They only
performed their sacred duty of protecting them. In Anne's view they are
unselfish, industrious, generous, and vigilant towards the happenings
taking place in the outer world.
Session-12
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) Why is it important for the members of "Secret Annex" to know
what is happening in the war?
Ans. World War-II is going on. Jews are afraid of the Germans as they want to
drive the Jews out. There are news of German invasion. In the event of
the English landing in Holland, the Germans will do all they can to
defend the country. If necessary they will resort to flooding
Amsterdam. The Jews hiding in the 'Secret Annex' have to be cautious
of any danger from outside. In the event of any attack they have to
escape and save their lives. Therefore it is important for them to keep a
close watch on what is happening in the war.
(b) Which date did Margot celebrate her birthday?
Ans. Margot celebrated her birthday on 16 February.
(c) Do you think Anne needs Peter's friendship?
Ans. Anne is in love with Peter. She needs his friendship. But sometimes she
desperately wants to be alone. It was because of her Daddy who noticed
that Anne behaved in an unusual way. But Anne found it difficult to tell
her Daddy everything about her feelings. She wants to be left in peace,
to be left alone as she is anxious of the day when she would be left alone
to the extent she does not wish. Actually it is her love for Peter that she
is afraid of any misfortune in her life that might separate her from Peter.
(d) Do you think Anne realizes that her mother loves her?
Ans. Though, Anne had always been annoyed with her mother, she talked to
her and replied quite rudely, but later on she realizes that her mother
truly loves her. Anne feels shocked to have behaved her mother so
hatefully. But now she is aware of the unpleasant situations and worries
her mother had faced which made Anne feel so unpleasant with her
mother. She repents her views and now believes that her mother loves
her wholeheartedly.
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(e) How are the feelings of Anne changing towards Peter? What does
she think about the future of their friendship?
Ans. Anne loves Peter intensely. She finds no difference between their
views. But sometimes she feels that she herself is talkative, noisy and
boisterous whereas Peter, on the contrary, shuts himself up, hardly talks
at all, is quiet and seems carefully to conceal his true self. She suspects
that Peter is not so crazy about her as she is about him. Anne feels the
future of their friendship is uncertain. She says, "How and when will we
finally reach each other?" She is really in despair. She desperately longs
for Peter but she is quite uncertain about the success of their friendship.
(f) Is Anne an optimistic or a pessimistic? What reasons would you
give in support of your answer?
Ans. Anne is optimistic. She loves Peter with the inner core of her heart. She
writes a note for Peter about how happiness can not be destroyed by bad
circumstances. Sometimes, happiness can be reduced due to some sad
feeling, but it will always be able to return. As she looks into the depth
of Nature and God, she feels really happy. As long as she is happy with
nature, she has a firm belief that she can always recapture happiness.
Riches can be lost, happiness can only be veiled in heart, but as long as
we live happiness returns again. When we look fearlessly up into the
heavens. If we are pure within, we are sure to find happiness again.
Session-13
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) What are Peter's opinions about his parents?
Ans. Peter is frustrated with his parents. He is very shy and does not easily
speak of his opinion about his parents. He had the greatest difficulty in
saying anything about himself. But when Anne persuaded him, he told
her how often his parents quarrelled over politics, cigarettes, and all kinds
of things. In his opinion his parents were quarrel some over petty things.
(b) How has Anne's personality changed from her carefree days to the
days in Annex?
Ans. Before coming in the 'Secret Annex', Anne had many friends but she
never felt so excited about her friendship as she now feels with Peter.
She reviews all of her growth in the past two years. She finds it to be a
great part of her life. She is in deep love with Peter. She feels definitely
happy. She finds the world full of beauty. She feels everything to be
beautiful and everyone to be happy. The reason of all her happiness is
Peter. Now she craves for Peter. It is impossible for her to live without
him. She shares her feelings and happiness with Peter. Though forced
to live in the hiding place full of so many restrictions, she feels quite
happy and energetic in the company of her friend-Peter. Her
personality is now totally changed.
(c) Why do you think Anne needs Peter's friendship?
Ans. Anne is now in the puberty zone of her life. Female properties have
begun to develop in her body with a maturity of her mind. In such an
age attraction to opposite sex is natural in humans. Moreover Peter is
shy and a good-natured boy. Anne describes that it is his clumsiness
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The Diary of a Young Girl
(d)
Ans.
(e)
Ans.
(f)
Ans.
that attracts her. She longs to be a better friend to Peter and soothe him
in his loneliness. She wants desperately for him to be happy. She
attributes a lot of thoughts and feelings to him. She needs his friendship
so that she may share her happiness and sorrows with him.
Do you think Margot or Peter can replace the importance of
"Kitty" in Anne's life? Give reasons.
Margot is Anne's sister. She is a pretty, smart and emotional girl but she
is quite simple and less active than Anne.
Peter is Van Daans' son and a boy friend of Anne. Anne loves him whole
heartedly in spite of his clumsiness.
"Kitty" is the name of her diary as she calls it, a very close friend of
Anne. Anne wants to be a writer. During her days in the 'Secret Annex',
her diary-"Kitty" was a great source of pleasure for her. It was a means
of expressing her joys and sorrows. It is "Kitty" that produced the
characters of Margot and Peter. Kitty, though an imaginary friend of
Anne, has its own importance. Whatever Anne Writes, Kitty is there to
talk with her and to listen to her. Peter and Margot, though very
important characters may not replace the importance of kitty in Anne's
life.
What negative is happening around for the members of "Secret
Annex"?
By the time, lots of negative events and bad things begin to happen to
the members of the 'Secret Annex'. Miep is sick, the person who used to
deliver their food got arrested. They were worried when someone
knocked at the wall from the building next door. Food is so scarce that
the members have to resort to eating rotten food. Bep cannot keep up
with the necessary grocery shopping since all the other protectors are
sick. Mr Kugler has been called up by the Germans for digging, but he
is tired and sick. Mr Kleiman's gastrointestinal problem are even
worse. Anne needs some solitude but cannot find it as all are there.
Thus the members are feeling depressed due to these new problems.
How are the protectors of members of "Secret Annex" Suffering?
Miep is sick, Koophuis is ill too. Elli hasn't time for shopping. The
atmosphere is dreary and dejected. The people from whom they
obtained food coupons have been caught. So they are not in a position
to get more coupons. Now they shall not have a scrap of fat, butter or
margarine left. They can not have even fried potatoes for breakfast any
longer rather they have to be satisfied with porridge only. The members
consider that they are suffering from cancer and smallpox to measles.
Mr Van Daan has nothing to smoke so he is getting ill. Mrs Frank loves
to have a slice of rye bread because she is terribly hungry.
Session-14
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) What topics do Anne and Peter often talk about?
Ans. Anne and Peter talk open-heartedly on several topics: the ways how
they can deal with stress, what they thought of each other in 1942, the
loneliness, the inner soft and honestly.
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The Diary of a Young Girl
(b) Do you think Anne and Peter's friendship somewhere satisfies
Anne's loneliness?
Ans. Anne and Peter love each other very much. They always look for
opportunities of their meeting and having talks on different topics.
Anne has a feeling of loneliness in the absence of Peter. Peter also
mentioned how much isolated he feels without her. He feels Anne
always helps him by her cheerfulness. Anne feels that was certainly the
loveliest thing he said. She is so grateful and happy that she just cannot
find words. When Peter looks at her with his eyes that laugh and wink,
Anne feels a little light goes on inside her. She hopes they will remain
together and have glorious times. They miss no opportunity to meet and
talk about their friendship and even about adult matters. Anne's
loneliness is thus taken away and she feels satisfied. In the company of
Peter she no more feels loneliness.
(c) How does Margot think about Peter?
Ans. Anne suspects that Margot likes Peter and loves him. But through their
letters Anne and Margot expressed their views about Peter. Margot told
Anne that she regarded Peter as her younger brother. She says that they
have the affection of a brother and sister and that it might grow if they
touched. Perhaps her relationship with Peter will never reach the stage
of lovers. She advises Anne not to take pity on her and to enjoy her
companionship with Peter.
(d) How do other members of the Annex take the friendship of Anne
and Peter?
Ans. The members of the Annex gradually have a feeling that Anne and Peter
are in love with each other. Their suspicion comes forth through their
talks. The Van Daans and Dussel make very feeble remarks when Anne
disappears into Peter's room, "Anne's second home", or they say, "Is it
suitable for young gentlemen to receive young girls in semidarkness?"
Anne's mummy is also curious when she babbles 'what they talk about'.
Anne says that she hears a lot from all sides about the sudden
friendship. But they both do not take much notice of all this parental
chatter, their remarks are so feeble. It seems that they (her parents) take
it seriously. Anne says that they (Anne and Peter) make jokes, and
laugh only when they are actually serious.
(e) What is the importance of the diary Anne is keeping after the war?
Ans. There was a news on radio from London which suggested to make a
collection of diaries and letters after the war. Anne was surprised to
hear that after the war, people will be quite interested in reading diaries
about how people lived during the war. Anne thought it to be quite
funny as she already had been maintaining a diary faithfully. She was
excited about the idea of publishing her journal. She starts describing
those events of war she thought readers would be interested in. The
diary would become an important source of information about the
people and events during war. Thus Anne thinks her diary to be an
important document for times to come.
(f) Why do you think the adults wage so much on politics?
Ans. The adults in the Secret Annex are constantly listening to news about
politics throughout the day. Henk, Miep, Koophuis, Elli and Kraler all
show ups and downs in their political moods. They give countless
arguments over invasion, air raids and speeches, etc. There can be
heard the countless cries of "impossible" or "Urn Gottes willen, if they
are going to start now however long is it going to lost," and "It is going
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splendidly, first class, good, etc. Some of them talk optimistically
whereas others are pessimists. Some pretend to be realists who give
their opinions with untiring energy, each one thinking he is right. Thus
adults are all quarrelling with each other on politics and they never
seem to tire of it.
(g) How do you know that Anne is developing as sexual desire towards
Peter?
Ans. Anne and Peter are in love with one another. They both crave for an
opportunity to meet and talk about their feelings as well as about their
sexual organs. They talk about blood and they begin talking about
menstruation. Peter thinks that women are pretty tough, why should
that be on earth. But Anne is not least worried about the difficulties of a
woman, rather she feels her life, on earth, has improved greatly. She
thanks God for not leaving her alone. Peter is with her and she wishes
him to accompany her. She hopes God will never leave her alone. All
this shows that Anne is developing a desire to have sex with Peter.
Session-15
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) How does the food come to the members of "Secret Annex"?
Ans. The writer writes more fully, about food because it has become a very
difficult and important matter, not only in the 'Secret Annex', but in the
whole of Holland and all Europe. She has spent twenty one months in
the Annex. Mostly the food came in 'food cycles'. The writer means
period in which she had nothing else to eat but one particular dish or
kind of vegetable. They had nothing but endive for a long time-endive
and lettuce then spinach and after that Kohlrabi, salsify, cucumbers,
tomatoes, etc. They had to eat a single food for weeks, that is why she
called it a 'food cycle'.
(b) What does Anne want to do after the war is over?
Ans. After the war is over, Anne wants to go to her school and continue her
studies. But she thinks that the end of the war was so terribly far away
and so unreal like a fairy tale. If the war was not over by September, she
should not go to school any more because she did not want to be two
years behind other students. For a long time, she had no idea of what
she was working for any more there in the 'Secret Annex'.
(c) List some of Anne's hobbies.
Ans. Anne says that she had a heap of hobbies. She warns us not to get
shocked because of the list of her hobbies. First of all: writing, but she
does not count it as a hobby. She finds that she has made a great
progress in family trees of French, German, Spanish, English,
Austrian, Russian, Norwegian and Dutch royal families in all the news
papers, books and pamphlets she could find. She has made great
progress with a lot of them for a long time already. She has taken down
notes from all the biographies and history books that she has read and
copied many passages of history. She has a great interest in history,
Greek and Roman mythology, movies and movie stars. She has a great
liking of history of art, poets and painters. She craves for music, algebra
geometry and figures. She is mad on books and reading.
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The Diary of a Young Girl
(d) What happened on April 11, 1944? How did the incidence bring
changes in the behaviour of Annex members?
Ans. On April 11, 1944, somebody tries to break into the office and the men
go downstairs to investigate. A plank of door of the secret hiding gets
busted by the intruder. Then a married couple comes along and throws
a light inside and the men are mistaken for burglars. The men come
upstairs to wait, assuming that the married couple will call the police.
snooping some fear the burglars disappear. Finally a carpenter is called
to fix the broken plank. All the members of the 'Secret Annex' are so
terrified of the event that they could not sleep the whole night. The
behaviour of all the members got changed after this incident. Mr
Dussel left sitting downstairs in Kraler's office, Peter takes two rounds
daily for checkup. Peter as well as others is not allowed to open the
windows at nights, no one is allowed to pull the plug of the toilet after
9:30. Henk suggested that they were Jews in Chains, hiding there
without rights, so they must not grumble but accept all inconveniences,
must do what is within their power and trust in God. The terrible war
will be over and time come when they will be people again and not just
Jews. He encouraged them to be brave.
(e) What weaknesses in Peter's character does Anne recognize now?
Ans. Though Anne loves Peter deeply, but sometimes she feels that Peter has
some weaknesses. She recognizes that Peter is emotionally younger
than his age, he lacks courage, he has not enough character, not enough
will power, too little courage and strength. He is still a child in his heart
of hearts, he is no older than Anne is, he is only searching for
tranquillity and happiness, whereas Anne does not want simply the
physical but also emotional low and intimacy.
(f) Do you think Anne feels guilty on having developed her relation
with Peter?
Ans. Anne sighs, "oh Peter, what have you done to me? What do you want of
me? Where will this lead us?...... If I were older and he should ask me to
marry him, what should I answer?" Anne is confused. She advises
herself to be honest, she would not be able to marry him, but yet it would
be hard to let him go. She thinks deep and hard about what she is doing
with Peter, whether it is right or not. She is utterly torn. She desires his
closeness desperately but she is confused whether he would be the right
man to marry. She does not feel guilty on her relations with Peter rather
she is perplexed about the future of her relationship with him.
(g) Do you think Anne wants to marry Peter after the war is over?
Ans. After the war is over, Anne feels it difficult to go to school again. After
getting out of their 'Secret Annex', Anne would like to marry Peter who
filled her days with happiness. She dreams of nothing except Peter. She
felt it was Peter who made an end to her loneliness. She did not want to
be late for two years rather to marry Peter as soon as the war is over.
Session-16
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) Why does Mr Frank dislike Anne's relationship with Peter?
Ans. One day Anne talked to her father about her relationship with Peter. She
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The Diary of a Young Girl
(b)
Ans.
(c)
Ans.
(d)
Ans.
(e)
Ans.
(f)
Ans.
wanted to know whether she was right or not Mr Frank told her that she
must be careful because she was in such a confined space in the 'Secret
Annex'. He warned her to hold back from Peter. He told her not to go
upstairs so often and not to encourage Peter more than she could help.
Mr Frank knew their closeness so he warned her not to proceed further
in her relationship. If she remained with Peter for a long time, it would
not be possible to get away even when she wants so. According to him
Peter was not a strong character, he could be easily influenced for good
and also for bad. So Mr Frank did not like her relationship with Peter.
Do you think Anne seas her future with Peter after the war?
Anne felt that her parents, especially her mother had no time to care for
her, no time to talk and love her. She felt lonely and dejected. She finds
Peter a good companion, a great source of love to avoid her loneliness.
She also feels sometimes that Peter was not a strong character, his
thoughts were less mature than hers. Still she believes in him. She
believed that Peter had good qualities and that he would get on in the
world. When Mr Frank talked to Peter in this connection, Peter assured
him that they would keep them selves under control in the relationship
and not be too serious. Anne too, thinks so and sees her future with
Peter after the war.
How has the letter written by Anne hurt her father?
Anne wrote a letter to her father about how her life has not been easy,
shut up away from normal life. But she never felt disappointed rather
she became matured and independent. Anne rebuked her parents by
saying that when she was in difficulties they all closed their eyes and
stopped up their ears and did not help her instead they warned her not to
be boisterous. Mr Franks and Anne had a talk on the letter and both of
them cried. Mr Frank was disappointed to receive that letter the most
unpleasant one. His father told her that they always loved her, defended
her every time, but that she has done them a great injustice. He told her
that they did not deserve such insult from her. Her father felt hurt
because of her insulting views about her parents.
What types of books is Anne writing?
Anne wants to be a writer. She is very fond of reading and writing
stories. She wrote her story of Ellen the fairly. She wants to publish a
book entitled. "The Secret Annex" and she is sure that her diary will be
a great help in the eventual writing of the book.
Anne feels sorry for her father but not for her mother. Why?
When Anne talked to her father about the contents of her letter, her
father felt too much insulted. He felt he and Mrs Frank did not deserve
such a harsh insult from her. His heart was broken as he always loved
and cared for Anne. Now Anne feels sorry for her father and regrets for
having written them such an insulting letter. But she feels sorry only for
her father who always loved and cared for her. She is not in a mood to
excuse her mother whom she thinks to be so selfish and careless as to
leave as to leave her lonely and dejected. She feels that her mother
never cared for her, never supported her rather remained busy only with
her own interests.
How do you find that Anne is grateful towards their protectors?
Now and then, Anne reminds herself of the responsibility and tension
their protectors are taking. Anne give a brief account of their protectors.
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The Diary of a Young Girl
Koophuis and Elli look after them very well. They have their own
worries, Koophuis over his health and Elli over her engagement. They
have to go out, visit their friends and arrange supplies for them. Anne
feels grateful to them for their help in almost unbeareble conditions and
increasing pressure. It was due to their protectors that they have lived
for two years in the hiding place. Anne feels that it would have been
better to die rather to run their protectors into dager.
Session-17
Study Questions
Answer these questions:(a) Discuss the qualities of Peter that Anne dislikes.
Ans. Peter loves Anne not as a lover but as a friend and grows more
affectionate everyday. She likes him but there is a lot about him that
disappoints her- Anne feels that Peter dislikes religion and talks about
food and various other things that do not appeal to her. Anne does not
understand why he keeps his innermost self to himself and why does he
not have a place for her in his heart. By nature he is more closed-up than
Anne is. She dislikes that Peter is not religious rather he ridicules it.
Though she is not extremely religious, but she values religion as it
encourages people to live a better life. Moreover Peter depends on
Anne too much, which she does not like at all.
(b) What all did Anne receive on her fifteenth birthday?
Ans. Anne now turned fifteen. She received all five parts of Sprenger's
History of Art, a set of underwear, a handkerchief, two bottles of
yoghourt, a pot of jam, a spiced gingerbread cake on her birthday. She
received a book on botany from her Mummy and Daddy, a double
bracelet from Margot, a book from the Van Daans, sweet peas from
Dussel, sweets and exercise books from Miep and Elli, the book Maria
Theresa and three slices of full-cream cheese from Kraler. She also
received a lovely bunch of peomies from Peter on her birthday.
(c) Is Anne hopeful to survive after the war?
Ans. Anne is hopeful to survive after the war. There are instances that show
her zeal and courage to be free and live without fear. All the members in
the 'Secret Annex' are eager to know whether they could be granted
victory this year. They do not know yet, but hope is revived within them.
It gives them fresh courage and makes them strong again. The invasion
has begun and Anne has the feeling that the friend armies are
approaching. The thought of friends and liberty fills them with
confidence. When Margot says that she (Anne) would soon be able to go
back to school in September or October, Anne becomes hopeful of an
end to the war, her release from the 'Secret Annex' and a peaceful life.
(d) What is Anne's philosophy on inequality between men and women?
Ans. Anne shows the traits of being an early feminist. She wonders why
women have always been considered inferior to men and why women
have gone along with these sufferings for so long. Anne's father warns
her to be careful while with Peter. He is of the opinion that girls should
be restricted from free wandering. He seems to be in favour of
providing full freedom to boys. But as Anne talks about her outstanding
trait of her character i.e. her knowledge of herself, she feels she is a
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(e)
Ans.
(f)
Ans.
strong character unlike boys. Still women are suppressed and men are
left free to do what ever they like. Thus Anne's philosophy is to give
equal freedom and rights to women and men as they are human beings
of equal status.
What quality of Anne is she herself aware of?
Anne is herself aware of her quality of knowledge of herself. Anne
speaks of one of her outstanding qualities and that is– her knowledge of
herself. She can watch herself and her actions, just like an outsider. She
can face the Anne of every day entirely without any prejudice. Without
making any excuses for her, she could watch what was good and what
was bad about her. This 'self-consciousness' haunts her, every time she
opens her mouth to speak, she knows whether 'that ought to have been
different' or 'that was right as it was'. It means that she weighs every word
she speaks about herself in order to have a real knowledge of herself.
Why does Anne refer to herself as "A little bundle of contradictions"?
Anne reflects on the fact that her personality is 'a little bundle of
contradictions'. She has a dual personality but she never tries to show
her nicer, softer and gentler inside to the people. That is why they only
see her frolicsome, flirty and easy-going outside qualities. She says that
when she tries to show her quiet and serious side, everyone thinks that
she is either in a sour mood or sick and pumps her full with medicine.
One must realize that no one knows Anne's better side and that is why
most people find her so insufferable. She is afraid of people who might
know her ridiculous and sentimental side and take her not seriously that
is why she never tries to show softer and gentler side of her innerself.
Essay Type Questions
1. What role does the diary play in Anne's life?
Ans. Anne was a Jewish girl born on 12th June, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany.
In 1933, Anne, her sister Margot and Franks, their parents, fled from
Germany to Amsterdam in order to escape persecution by the Nazis. At
the break of world war II, all the Jews were forced to go into hiding
otherwise to be carried to concentration camps to be killed. The Frank
family, with an another family, were taken to a 'Secret Annex' in the
warehouse of an office where Anne lived for two years with their
protectors. Anne was given a diary on her thirteenth birthday. Anne, a
very intelligent and perceptive girl, wanted to become a writer so she
began writing her diary the next day.
written by a passionate young girl, it is one of the wisest and most
moving commentary on war. The fears of war and difficulties of life in a
secret hiding really move the human beings.
Anne's diary was her constant companion. She called it 'Kitty', her most
confidant friend. Cut off from the outside world, she faced hunger,
boredom, cruelties of confined life and the constant threat of discovery
and death. Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences
during that period. It was her diary with which she could talk, amuse
and encourage her skills. The diary was a great source of expressing her
thoughts and experiences which became a world classic– a powerful
reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human
spirit. Anne loved her diary more than her life. She treated it as her most
trust worthy friend.
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2. How does Anne feel about the laws that restrict the Jews' freedom?
Ans. The life of the Jewish people became difficult since the Germans
moved into Holland. There were lots of laws restricting the freedom of
Jews. They have to wear a yellow star so that they could be detected
easily. They are not allowed to drive cars or bikes, can go for shopping
only during certain hours of the day. They are not allowed to come out
of their houses after 8 in the evening. They cannot go to movies, cannot
use tennis courts and so many more. Anne thinks: 'who has inflicted
this upon us? Who has made us Jews different from all other people?
Who has allowed us to suffer so terribly?' She thinks that Jews are also
human beings. God has made them like other people. Then why all
restrictions were made only for Jews. Anne is hopeful: If they bear all
this suffering and if there are still Jews left, when the war was over, then
Jews, instead of being doomed, will be held up as an example. It might
be their religion from which the world and all people would learn good.
3. Does Anne consider her family lucky or unfortunate to be living in
the Annex?
Ans. Anne, while living in the 'Secret Annex', considers her family lucky as
they are safe there undetected by the German forces. She thinks,
though their life was full of difficulties; they faced hunger and fear of
being discovered, yet her family was more lucky and fortunate than
those Jews who had no place to hide or who were caught and sent to
concentration camps to die by the German police.
4. Why do you think Hanneli appears is Anne's dreams?
Ans. The writer describes the story of Lies Henneli, Anne's school friend,
who appears in Anne's dreams. Anne tries to show the differences in the
lives of those who were safe in hiding places and those who were not
able to hide but caught and taken to concentration camps by the Nazis
and tortured. Anne, in her dreams, finds her standing in front of her,
clothed in rags, her face thin and worn with eyes that said, "oh Anne,
why have you deserted me? Help, oh, help me, rescue me from this
hell!" Actually Lies Hanneli was caught by the Germans whereas Anne
is safe in the 'Secret Annex'. Anne feels terribly guilty for she is safe
and her friend was suffering. Anne could not help her. She regrets why
she was chosen to live and she (Hanneli) probably to die. The anguish
of the writer for the sufferings of her friend has been brought out
through her dreams.
5. Is Anne in love with Peter Van Daan? Why does she feel she can
confide in him?
Ans. Anne is in love with Peter Van Daan. She craves for him, never misses
any opportunity to talk to him. She wants to spend most of her time in
his company. She believed that she could confide in him because she
trusted him. She shared her joys and sorrows with Peter. She poured out
her heart to Peter because she believed that he would not make it open
to anybody else. She thinks nothing but Peter and only Peter who
proves to be a true companion in her loneliness.
6. How is Anne affected by the various break-ins? How is her
response connected to her general mood while in hiding?
Ans. Anne had to live in the 'Secret Annex' because of the fear of being
discovered by the Nazis. They had to keep quiet, never to open doors or
curtains, not to flush their lavatory after 8:30 in the morning. They had
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7.
Ans.
8.
Ans.
scarcity of food, drinks and clothes. Anne kept herself busy in writing
her diary, still she is affected several times by various interruptions. She
is annoyed with her mother. She thinks her mother does not care for her,
never loves her. She is confused whether Margot is in love with Peter.
She comes in contact with Peter and loves him. Sometimes she thinks
Peter is not a strong character. She also does not like Mrs Van Daan for
her flirts with her father. At another times she feels regretted on her rude
behaviour with her mother and starts believing that she loves her very
much. Anne is also thoughtful of the difficulties their protectors are
facing in supplying them with necessities of life. This she responds to
every incident that takes place in the 'Secret Annex'. Her general mood
is never stable. Sometimes she feels very happy when in the company
of Peter, whereas she feels dejected while thinking about the sufferings
of the Jews of the outer world. Thus we see that her character is a 'little
bundle of contradictions' as she herself calls it.
Do you feel that Anne believes she is going to survive the war? Why
or Why not?
Anne believes she is going to survive the war. For a long time she had
not any idea of what she was working for any more. She felt the end of
the war was terribly far away, unreal like a fairy-tale. If the war was not
over by September, she wanted not be able to go to school any more,
because she wanted not to be two years behind. She felt utterly
miserable as it was terrible to think so. But when she was with Peter and
laughed with Van Daan over a lemon punch, she was cheerful and
excited. But the moment she was alone, she thought she would cry her
heart out. But then she began trying to talk some courage into herself.
She could only say: "I must, I must, I must... completely stiff from the
unnatural position......." Her dejection was over. She resolved to work
so as not to be a fool but to get on, to become a journalist, because that
was what she wanted. Again she becomes hopeful to live, to live unto
the last and even after the war.
How does Anne mature and develop through the course of her diary?
Anne began to write her diary on 14 June, 1942 at the age of thirteen.
She wrote her last commentary entry on 1 August, 1944. As soon as we
read her diary, gradually we come to know that the Anne at fifteen is
totally different from the Anne at thirteen. Anne is very intelligent and
perceptive. She wants to become a writer. She is very fond of reading
books on different subjects. She read so many books on language,
literature, history, mythology, music, biographies, movies, algebra,
geometry and figures. She is brave and courageous. She reads the
intellect of the minds of others. Cut off from the outside world, she
faced hunger, boredom, constant cruelties of living in confinement and
the ever-present threat of being discovered and taken to death. She
learnt to criticize, to oppose unjustice, to love and to hate during her
stay of two years in the 'Secret Annex'. She grows from an innocent and
pretty teenager to an emphatic and sensitive thinker at the age of
fifteen. She analyses everybody in the 'Secret Annex', all ups and
downs, all cheers and fears, gets deeply into the human instincts and
feels all types of physical temptations. Thus the innocent Anne of
thirteen matures and develops into a sophisticated writer, a sensitive
human being and a genies through the course of two years of her diary.
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Quiz on the Text
1. What does Anne receive for her thirteenth birthday?
(a) A pony
(b) A fountain pen
(c) A bicycle
(d) A diary
2. What does Anne call her diary?
(a) Margot
(b) Ms
(c) Beatrice
(d) Kitty
3. What does Anne want to be when she grows up?
(a) A dentist
(b) President
(c) A doctor
(d) A writer
4. Who is Margot?
(a) Anne's sister
3 (b) Anne's mother
(c) Anne's cat
(d) Anne's best friend
5. What symbol was required to wear during the Nazi occupation?
(a) The Star of David
(b) The letter J
(c) A Yellow Star
3 (d) The German flag
6. Why does Anne not ride any streetcars?
(a) They are too hot
(b) They are too crowded
(c) Jews are forbidden on streetcars
(d) She dislikes them
7. Where was Anne born?
(a) London, England
(b) Frankfurt, Germany
(c) Amsterdam, the Netherlands
(d) Paris, France
8. Who is Pim?
(a) Anne's father
3 (b) The cat
(c) Peter
(d) Mr Van Daan
9. What group are the Franks hiding from?
(a) The Nazis
3 (b) The Belgian Army
(c) The Allies
(d) The French
10. What is the Gestapo?
(a) The German secret police 3 (b) The Dutch Army
(c) A concentration camp
(d) A law preventing the Jews from holding jobs
11. What does Albert Dussel do for a living before he goes into hiding?
(a) He is a doctor
(b) He is a dentist
(c) He writes books
(d) He sells pharmaceuticals
12. Why doesn't Mr Dussel's wife join them in hiding?
(a) She is not Jewish
(b) They were recently divorced
(c) The Gestapo have already captured her
(d) She wants to emigrate to France
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13. Who is Peter's mother?
(a) Bep
(b) Mrs Dussel
(c) Mrs Van Daan
(d)
Miep Gies
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14. What friend of Anne's shows up in one of her dreams?
(a) Peter
(b) Hanneli 3 (c) Margot
(d) Bep
15. Who is Bep?
(a) A secretary who helped to hide the Franks
(b) Anne's sister
(c) Anne's cat
(d) A teacher who gave Anne the Diary
16. Why did the Franks tell people they were going to Switzerland?
(a) To confuse Mr Frank's creditors
(b) To make the Nazis think they were in Switzerland
(c) They planned on going to Switzerland but had to stay in the
Annex instead
(d) They wanted Mr Frank's sister to think they were in Switzerland
17. How many people ultimately live in the Annex?
(a) Four
(b) Five
(c) Eight
3 (d) Ten
18. Who gives Anne her first kiss?
(a) Jan
(b) Peter Van Daan
(c) Albert
(d) Peter Schiff
19. What are ration coupons used for?
(a) Buying food
3 (b) Distributing weapons
(c) Receiving messages about the war
(d) Identifying Jews
20. What does Anne hope to ask Peter about?
(a) The meaning of life
(b) The songs on the radio
(c) The fate of the Jews
(d) The female genitalia
21. By the conclusion of the diary, Anne believes that people
fundamentally:
(a) Good
(b) Evil
(c) Greedy
(d) Jealous
22. What is D-Day?
(a) The day the Allied troops land in France
(b) The first day of the war
(c) The last day of the war
(d) The day Auschwitz opens
23. Who eventually publishes Anne's diary?
(a) Bep
(b) Her father
(c) Miep
(d) Peter
24. To which concentration camp was Anne sent?
(a) Auschwitz
3 (b) Dachau
(c) Bergen-Belsen
(d) Goebbels
25. Which of Anne's relatives survived the Holocaust?
(a) Her mother
(b) Her grandmother
(c) Her father
3 (d) Her sister
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