Lesson-4

From the Diary of Anne Frank

By Anne Frank

“Laziness might be attractive, but work gives satisfaction.”

From the Diary of Anne Frank Introduction

This lesson is based on "Diary of a Young Girl" or "Anne Frank's Diary." It is an autobiography that was published for the first time in 1947. Anne expresses her thoughts in a diary that was given to her on her thirteenth birthday. She refers to the diary as "kitty," and considers it to be her only true friend. She talks about her childhood, her family, and a variety of other topics that she has never discussed with anyone else.

From the Diary of Anne Frank Summary

In this lesson, Anne discusses being lonely and having no one to talk to despite the fact that she was surrounded by family and around 30 people she referred to as "friends." As a result, she decides to keep a diary of her feelings. It is unusual for her to keep a diary, but she is in desperate need of a true friend. As a result, she decides to call her diary "kitty," and, unlike other people, she intends to include more than just facts in it. She begins by writing her background to make it easier for anyone who reads it later to understand. She talks about her family and her early childhood, when they all moved, as well as her early schooling.

After giving us a brief history of her life, she moves on to the present day and tells us about the result day. Everyone in the class is worried about their results, and some of the boys are even placing bets. Anne was certain of herself and her friends. Except for her maths professor, who was constantly annoyed by her talking habits, she got along well with all of the teachers. As a result, he began punishing her with essays on strange topics such as "Chatterbox," to which she responded with wit.

She wrote amusing essays in which she explained that this was a trait she inherited from her mother and that there was little she could do about it. He continued to give her essays until she wrote a satire. Mr Keesing never singled her out for talking after that third and final assignment.

From the Diary of Anne Frank Lesson Explanation

WRITING in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because I’ve never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year -old schoolgirl. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I feel like writing, and I have an even greater need to get all kinds of things off my chest.

• Musings- a period of reflection or thought

Because it was her first time writing in a diary about her feelings and experiences, the author considers it strange and unusual. She believes this because she believes that no one will be interested in reading about the past of a young schoolgirl in the future. She believes that she will not be interested in reading it later. But then she puts these thoughts aside and decides that if she feels like writing, she should do so. She feels compelled to write because she has been harbouring a lot of thoughts that she needs to get off her chest. It is well known that writing one's thoughts can be therapeutic; she decides to keep a diary.

‘Paper has more patience than people.’ I thought of this saying on one of those days when I was feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my hands, bored and listless, wondering whether to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I was, brooding: Yes, paper does have more patience, and since I’m not planning to let anyone else read this stiff-backed notebook grandly referred to as a ‘diary’, unless I should ever find a real friend, it probably won’t make a bit of difference. Now I’m back to the point that prompted me to keep a diary in the first place: I don’t have a friend.

• Listless- with no energy or interest
• Brooding- engaged in or showing deep thought about something that makes one sad, angry, or worried.
• Prompted- provoke

Paper, according to the author, has a much greater capacity to absorb thoughts than people. People have short attention spans, but a piece of paper, despite being a non-living thing, would not refuse to absorb her thoughts. This realisation struck her one day when she was feeling particularly depressed and perplexed. At the time, she couldn't decide whether to go out or stay at home. She sat depressed and in deep thought when she finally decided to stay at home. Again, she believed that paper had more patience, and she decided to write down everything that came to mind because she did not intend to make anyone read it unless she found a "real friend." She meant a "true friend" with whom she could share all her secrets. The author then returns to the point at which she considered starting to write. It's because she's lonely and doesn't have anyone to talk to.

Let me put it more clearly, since no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old girl is completely alone in the world. And I’m not. I have loving parents and a sixteen-year-old sister, and there are about thirty people I can call friends. I have a family, loving aunts and a good home. No, on the surface I seem to have everything, except my one true friend. All I think about when I’m with friends is having a good time. I can’t bring myself to talk about anything but ordinary everyday things. 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. In any case, that’s just how things are, and unfortunately, they’re not liable to change. This is why I’ve started the diary

• Confide- to tell personal things privately to a person that one trusts
• Liable- likely (here)

She then goes on to explain why she is in need of a friend. She believes that no one will believe that a young girl like her is so alone, which she is not because she has a loving family, about 30 people she can call "friends," loving aunts, and a safe place to stay. This portrays a clear picture of a happy family, but one thing is missing in her life: the presence of a true friend with whom she can share everything. She has a good time with her friends; they talk about things, but not real things that are going on in their lives. Despite their best efforts, they are unable to get any closer. She believes that it is because she is unable to trust anyone with her personal information that she is unable to connect with her friends. She believes that the current situation cannot be changed and, as a result, she feels compelled to record her thoughts in a diary.

To enhance the image of this long-awaited friend in my imagination, I don’t want to jot down the facts in this diary the way most people would do, but I want the diary to be my friend, and I’m going to call this friend ‘Kitty’. Since no one would understand a word of my stories to Kitty if I were to plunge right in, I’d better provide a brief sketch of my life, much as I dislike doing so.

• Enhance- intensify, increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of.
• Plunge- jump or dive quickly

When someone writes in a diary, they usually list all of their personal information in a formal manner, which the author does not want to do. This is because she wanted to give her need for a friend a shape, so she names the diary "kitty." She believes that writing without providing details about the background storey would be ineffective if she hopes that someone will read her diary one day. So, despite her reluctance, she shares some details about her life.

My father, the most adorable father I’ve ever seen, didn’t marry my mother until he was thirty-six and she was twenty-five. My sister, Margot, was born in Frankfurt in Germany in 1926. I was born on 12 June 1929. I lived in Frankfurt until I was four. My father emigrated to Holland in 1933. My mother, Edith Hollander Frank, went with him to Holland in September, while Margot and I were sent to Aachen to stay with our grandmother. 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.

• Adorable- lovable, cute
• Emigrated- leave one’s own country in order to settle permanently in another.
• Plunked- to put down

She describes her father as the most lovable father imaginable. He father married her mother when he was 36 years old and she was 25 years old. Her sister Margot and she were both born in Frankfurt. Anne's father moved to Holland when she was four years old, followed by her mother in September, while both sisters stayed with their grandmother in Aachen. Margot was also sent to Holland in December, and Anne arrived in February as a birthday present for Margot.

I started right away at the Montessori nursery school. I stayed there until I was six, at which time I started in the first form. In the sixth form my teacher was Mrs Kuperus, the headmistress. At the end of the year we were both in tears as we said a heartbreaking farewell. In the summer of 1941 Grandma fell ill and had to have an operation, so my birthday passed with little celebration.

• Farewell- an act of parting or of making someone’s departure

Anne was sent to a Montessori nursery school in Holland. (It was her first school.) She began in first form. Mrs Kuperus, the headmistress, was her sixth-form teacher, and she even cried at the end of the year. The author's birthday could not be properly celebrated in 1941 because her grandmother became ill and had to undergo surgery.

Grandma died in January 1942. No one knows how often I think of her and still love her. This birthday celebration in 1942 was intended to make up for the other, and Grandma’s candle was lit along with the rest. The four of us are still doing well, and that brings me to the present date of 20 June 1942, and the solemn dedication of my diary.

• Intended- planned
• Solemn- characterized by deep sincerity
• Dedication- commitment

Sadly, her grandmother abandoned them in January 1942. Anne misses her grandmother more than anyone else realises. This year's birthday was to be celebrated with zeal in order to make up for last year's. She then mentions how well her family is doing, which summarises her background and brings her to the present date of June 20, 1942, when she is writing her diary.

                                                  Saturday, 20 June 1942

Dearest Kitty,

Our entire class is quaking in its boots. The reason, of course, is the forthcoming meeting in which the teachers decide who’ll move up to the next form and who’ll be kept back. Half the class is making bets. G.N. and I laugh ourselves silly at the two boys behind us, C.N. and Jacques, who have staked their entire holiday savings on their bet. From morning to night, it’s “You’re going to pass”, “No, I’m not”, “Yes, you are”, “No, I’m not”. Even G.’s pleading glances and my angry outbursts can’t calm them down. 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.

• Quaking- shake or tremble
• Staked- bet, chanced
• Pleading- to make an emotional appeal
• Glances- take a brief or hurried look
• Outbursts- a sudden release of strong emotion
• Dummies- an object designed to resemble and serve as a substitute for the real or usual one
• Unpredictable- not able to be predicted; changeable

On June 20, 1942, Anne begins writing in her diary, addressing it as "kitty," her friend. She mentions how nervous her entire class is about their results. It is unpredictable and will be decided by a meeting of teachers who will choose which students will be moved to the next class and which will be held back. Many students were placing wagers. Some had staked their entire summer savings. She and her friend G made fun of the nervous boys as well. They kept saying to each other, "I'm not going to pass!" while others consoled them, saying, "Yes, you would." G was polite as she tried to keep them quiet while Anne scolded them, but nothing worked. Anne believes that about a quarter of the class should not be allowed to pass because they rarely respond or participate in any of the activities. They are referred to as "dummies" by her. However, this may not be the case because teachers' decisions are unpredictable.

I’m not so worried about my girlfriends and myself. We’ll make it. The only subject I’m not sure about is maths. Anyway, all we can do is wait. Until then, we keep telling each other not to lose heart.

• Not to lose heart- not be discouraged

The author claims that she is unconcerned about her friends because she knows they will pass. The only subject in which she is unsure is mathematics. She appears to be struggling with the subject. But all they could do was wait for the results and keep their spirits up.

I get along pretty well with all my teachers. There are nine of them, seven men and two women. Mr Keesing, the old fogey who teaches maths, was annoyed with me for ages because I talked so much. After several warnings, he assigned me extra homework. An essay on the subject, ‘A Chatterbox’. A chatterbox — what can you write about that? I’d worry about that later, I decided. I jotted down the title in my notebook, tucked it in my bag and tried to keep quiet.

• Old fogey- an old fashioned person
• Annoyed- slightly angry; irritated
• Chatterbox- a person who likes to chatter; talkative
• Jotted- write (something) quickly

She describes how she gets along well with all of her teachers except the math professor. The author's chattiness irritated him all the time. Despite several warnings, Anne continued to talk in his classes, prompting him to assign her extra homework as punishment. The first assignment was to write an essay about "Chatterbox," which she thought was an odd topic to write about because what could one write about that? For the time being, she jotted down the topic in her notebook, tucked it into her bag, and concentrated on remaining silent.

That evening, after I’d finished the rest of my homework, the note about the essay caught my eye. I began thinking about the subject while chewing the tip of my fountain pen. 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. I thought and thought, and suddenly I had an idea. I wrote the three pages Mr Keesing had assigned me and was satisfied. I argued that talking is a student’s trait and that I would do my best to keep it under control, but that I would never be able to cure myself of the habit since my mother talked as much as I did if not more, and that there’s not much you can do about inherited traits.

• Ramble- to talk or write at length in confused or inconsequential ways
• Convincing- capable of causing someone to believe that something is true or real; powerful
• Trait- quality
• Inherited- derived genetically from one’s parents or ancestors.

After finishing the rest of her homework, the author came across the note she made as a reminder for the essay. She began to consider the subject. "While chewing the tip of my fountain pen," is a sign that a person is deep in thought. While anyone could mention random things written to fill pages, she wanted to present concrete arguments in support of talking. She stated that she will try to improve herself as a student, but that talking is something that cannot be completely avoided. This is because she inherited it from her mother, which is how she ended up writing three pages on the subject.

Mr Keesing had a good laugh at my arguments, but when I proceeded to talk my way through the 2next lesson, he assigned me a second essay. This time it was supposed to be on ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox’. I handed it in, and Mr Keesing had nothing to complain about for two whole lessons. However, during the third lesson he’d finally had enough. “Anne Frank, as punishment for talking in class, write an essay entitled — ‘Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox’.”

• Proceeded- to begin a course of action
• Incorrigible- not able to be changed
• Mistress- a woman in a position of authority or control

The professor found Anne's arguments amusing, but when she did not stop talking in the following lesson, he assigned her yet another assignment as punishment. "An incorrigible chatterbox" was the topic. The term incorrigible refers to a bad habit that is difficult to break. He assigned her this topic because he was fed up with her constant chattering during his lessons. The professor did not say anything to her for a while after receiving this assignment, but when he lost patience, he handed her another assignment as punishment on the topic 'Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox.'

The class roared. I had to laugh too, though I’d nearly exhausted my ingenuity on the topic of chatterboxes. It was time to come up with something else, something original. My friend, Sanne, who’s good at poetry, offered to help me write the essay from beginning to end in verse and I jumped for joy. Mr Keesing was trying to play a joke on me with this ridiculous subject, but I’d make sure the joke was on him.

• Roared- laughed (here)
• Exhausted- completely used up
• Ingenuity- the quality of being clever, original and inventive
• Verse- writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme
• Ridiculous- deserving or inviting derision or mockery; absurd

The entire class burst out laughing when the professor scolded her for the third time and punished her. As a result, she was forced to pretend to be amused as well. She ran out of ideas after writing about the same subject twice. As a result, her poet friend Sanne offered to assist her in writing in rhyme. This entire assignment scenario was designed to make Anne feel embarrassed, but she made certain that she provided an effective response.

I finished my poem, and it was beautiful! It was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much. Luckily, Mr Keesing took the joke the right way. He read the poem to the class, adding his own comments, and to several other classes as well. Since then I’ve been allowed to talk and haven’t been assigned any extra homework. On the contrary, Mr Keesing’s always making jokes these days.

Yours,
Anne
[Extracted from The Diary of a Young Girl,
with slight adaptation]

• Contrary- opposite in nature, direction, or meaning

She completed her third assignment in the form of a poem, which turned out to be fantastic. She wrote a satire in which a father swan bites his three baby ducklings to death because they are too noisy. Fortunately for her, the professor dismissed it. The professor recited the entire poem in front of the class while also making his own remarks. As a result of this incident, the author was able to speak for an extended period of time without having to complete any additional homework as punishment. Also, Mr. Keesing, the professor, began cracking jokes in front of the class now and then.

About the Author

Anne Frank was a German Jew who lived from 12 June 1929 to February/March 1945. During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II, the twelve-year-old Jewish girl wrote 'The Diary of Anne Frank' while hiding with her family and four friends in Amsterdam. After two years in hiding, the group was betrayed and transported to Bergen, where Anne and her elder sister Margot died of typhus in 1945. Her father, Otto, the only survivor of the group, discovered her diary and had it published in English as 'The Diary of a Young Girl.'