Oral Comprehension Check
1. What makes writing in a diary a strange experience for Anne Frank?
For Anne, writing in a diary is strange because she imagines herself interacting with a real person, Kitty. This creates a unique dynamic where she expresses her thoughts and feelings openly, knowing she won't receive immediate response or judgment.
2. Why does Anne want to keep a diary?
Anne desires a confidante, someone to share her innermost thoughts and experiences with. She feels she can't fully express herself to friends or family, hence her longing for a diary as a trusted companion.
3. Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people?
Anne confides in her diary because it offers a safe space without fear of judgment, misunderstanding, or interruption. She can be completely honest and vulnerable with Kitty, something she might not feel comfortable doing with others.
4. Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life?
Anne provides a life sketch to introduce herself to Kitty and establish context for her future entries. It helps the reader understand her background, personality, and circumstances, making her diary entries more relatable.
5. What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?
Anne describes her grandmother with warmth and affection, mentioning how she spent every Sunday with her and enjoyed their conversations. This suggests a close bond and loving relationship between them.
6. Why was Mr Keesing annoyed with Anne? What did he ask her to do?
Mr Keesing was annoyed by Anne's constant chattering in class, disrupting the learning environment. He asked her to write an essay explaining why she talks so much.
7. How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay?
Anne playfully defended her talkativeness by comparing it to a spring bubbling over and highlighting its positive aspects like sharing knowledge and keeping others entertained. She cleverly turned a negative into a positive attribute.
8. Do you think Mr Keesing was a strict teacher?
While Mr Keesing might seem strict through Anne's perspective, assigning an essay as punishment, his approach seems more curious than harsh. He encourages Anne to reflect on her behavior and express herself differently.
9. What made Mr Keesing allow Anne to talk in class?
Mr Keesing's essay assignment allowed Anne to channel her talkativeness into writing, potentially addressing the disruption while providing her an outlet for expression. This suggests his open-mindedness and willingness to understand her.
Thinking About the Text
1. Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old girl?
Anne initially underestimated the power of her words and experiences. Her diary, "The Diary of a Young Girl," became a global phenomenon, offering an intimate glimpse into the Holocaust through the eyes of a young girl. Her musings resonated with people across generations and cultures, proving her wrong.
2.There are some examples of diary or journal entries in the ‘Before You Read’ section. Compare these with what Anne writes in her diary. What language was the diary originally written in? In what way is Anne’s diary different?
Anne's writing is more personal and introspective compared to the other examples, which are more factual or report-like. She uses vivid descriptions, humor, and philosophical reflections, making her diary unique and engaging. The original language of the diary is Dutch, further adding to its cultural significance.
3.Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch about her family? Does she treat ‘Kitty’ as an insider or an outsider?
Anne needed to give a brief sketch about her family because it helped Anne introduce Kitty to her background and relationships, building context for future entries.She treats Kitty as a confidante and insider, sharing intimate details and seeking advice, suggesting an insider relationship.
4. How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs. Kuperus and Mr Keesing? What do these tell you about her?
For Anne her father is an affectionate and admiring person. She trusts him and considers him understanding. She has a warm and loving bond with her grandmother which is evident from their regular Sundays together. She dislikes and resents Mrs. Kuperus due to her perceived favoritism towards Margot. Anne is initially annoyed by Mr Keesing's strictness but later appreciates his unconventional approach. This shows that Anne is a very honest and loving child who has a sense of keen observation about people around her.
5. What does Anne write in her first essay?
She playfully defends her talkativeness, arguing that talking is the trait of students. Moreover she expresses her inability to cure her talkativeness because her mother was also very talkative and one cannot cure herself from a hereditary trait.
6. Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr Keesing unpredictable? How?
Mr Keesing instead of reprimanding Anne assigns an essay, encouraging introspection and self-expression. Moreover Mr Keesing doesn't get angry when she writes and compares him with a father duck who bits his ducklings to death because they quacked too much. Instead he allows her to talk. This shows Mr Keesing's unpredictability.
7.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.(ii) I don’t want to jot down the facts in this diary the way most people would, but I want the diary to be my friend.
(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.(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.(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.
ANSWER:
These statements tell us about Anne:(i) Desire for deeper connection and vulnerability, possibly hinting at loneliness.(ii) Longing for a genuine friend and confidante, valuing emotional connection.(iii) Self-deprecating humor and playful exaggeration.(iv) Sharp observations and critical thinking, combined with skepticism towards authority.(v) Witty and persuasive, able to defend her actions with clever arguments.These statements paint a picture of Anne as a thoughtful, insightful, and humorous young girl navigating life with intelligence, wit, and a yearning for deeper connection.
