From the Diary of Anne Frank: TBSE class 10 English notes

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Summary: From the Diary of Anne Frank is extracted from “The Diary of Anne Frank” that chronicles the life of Anne Frank, a German-born Jewish girl who wrote while in hiding with her family and four friends in Amsterdam during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. Her family had moved to Amsterdam after the Nazis gained power in Germany but were trapped when the Nazi occupation extended into the Netherlands. As persecutions against the Jewish population increased, the family went into hiding in July 1942 in hidden rooms in her father Otto Frank’s office building.

After two years in hiding, the group was betrayed and transported to the concentration camp system where Anne died of typhus in Bergen-Belsen within days of her sister, Margot Frank. Her father, Otto, the only survivor of the group, returned to Amsterdam after the war ended, to find that her diary had been saved. Convinced that it was a unique record, he took action to have it published in English under the name The Diary of a Young Girl.

The diary was given to Anne Frank for her thirteenth birthday and chronicles the events of her life from 12 June 1942 until its final entry of 1 August 1944. It was eventually translated from its original Dutch into many languages and became one of the world’s most widely read books. There have also been several films, television and theatrical productions, and even an opera, based on the diary. Described as the work of a mature and insightful mind, the diary provides an intimate examination of daily life under Nazi occupation. Anne Frank has become one of the most renowned and discussed of the Holocaust victims.

The chapter included in the NCERT Class 10 textbook, talks specifically about how Anne Frank begins writing in her diary at the age of 13, feeling like she has no real friends to confide in. She decides to call her diary “Kitty” and hopes it will serve as a friend. She provides a brief sketch of her life, including her family’s move from Germany to Holland in 1933 and her enrollment in a Montessori nursery school. She reflects on the death of her grandmother and the celebration of her own birthday in 1942. The diary is dedicated on June 20, 1942.

Anne Frank writes in her diary about her class’s anxiety over the upcoming meeting where teachers will decide which students will move up to the next form. Half the class is betting on who will pass, and Anne thinks that about a quarter of the class should be held back. She gets along with her teachers, except for Mr Keesing, who assigned her extra homework for talking too much in class. Her essay on the subject of a chatterbox led to more assignments and eventually a humorous poem that Mr Keesing read to the class. Anne is now allowed to talk in class and hasn’t been given any extra homework.

Oral Comprehension Check I

1. What makes writing in a diary a strange experience for Anne Frank?

Answer: Anne Frank found writing in a diary to be a strange experience because she was not used to writing down her thoughts and feelings in such a personal and intimate way. She also felt that she was writing to an imaginary friend, which made her feel self-conscious at times. She was also aware that her diary could be read by others, so she had to be careful about what she wrote.

2. Why does Anne want to keep a diary?

Answer: Anne wants to keep a diary because she wants to have a friend to confide in and share her thoughts and feelings with. She also hopes that writing in her diary will help her to become a better writer and to sort out her thoughts and emotions. Also, she wants to document her experiences and the events of her life, both for herself and for future readers.

3. Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people?

Answer: Anne thought she could confide more in her diary than in people because she felt that her diary was a non-judgmental friend who would listen to her without criticizing or interrupting her. She also believed that her diary would keep her secrets safe and that she could be completely honest with it without fear of repercussions. She felt that writing in her diary helped her to sort out her thoughts and feelings in a way that talking to people did not.

Oral Comprehension Check II

1. Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life?

Answer: Anne provides a brief sketch of her life in her diary to give context to her thoughts and experiences. She wants to introduce herself to her diary, which she calls “Kitty,” and to provide some background information about her family, her interests, and her daily life. This helps her diary to become more than just a record of events; it becomes a personal and intimate reflection of her innermost thoughts and feelings.

2. What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?

Answer: Anne’s statement “no one knows how often I think of her and still love her” tells us that Anne loved her grandmother very much. Anne’s decision to light a candle for her grandmother during her birthday celebration shows that she still remembers and honors her grandmother’s memory.

Oral Comprehension Check III

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

Answer: Mr Keesing was annoyed with Anne because she was talking too much in class and disturbing the other students. He asked her to write an essay on the subject “A Chatterbox” as a punishment for her behavior.

2. How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay?

Answer: In her essay on the subject “A Chatterbox,” Anne argued that talking is a student’s trait and that it is necessary for students to express themselves and communicate with others. She also stated that she would do her best to keep her talking under control and not disturb the class. Anne’s essay showed that she was able to think critically and come up with convincing arguments to support her point of view.

3. Do you think Mr Keesing was a strict teacher?

Answer: Mr Keesing was a strict teacher. He was annoyed with Anne for talking too much in class and assigned her an essay as a punishment. However, it is also worth noting that Mr Keesing seemed to have a sense of humor and made jokes with Anne after she wrote the essay. So while he may have been strict in some ways, he also seemed to have a kinder side to him.

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

Answer: Mr Keesing allowed her to talk in class after she read her poem to the class and several other classes as well. It seems that Mr Keesing was impressed with Anne’s poem and her ability to communicate effectively, which may have led him to give her more freedom to express herself in class.

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?

Answer: Anne’s statement that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old girl was not entirely accurate. Her diary, which was written when she was thirteen, has become a widely read and important historical document. It provides a unique perspective on the experiences of a Jewish family during the Holocaust and has helped to educate people about the atrocities that occurred during that time. So while Anne may have felt that her thoughts and feelings were not important, her diary has proven to be a valuable and insightful record of her life and the world around her.

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?

Answer: The diary of Anne Frank was originally written in Dutch. In comparison to the diary entries in the ‘Before You Read’ section, Anne’s diary is more personal and introspective. She writes about her thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a way that is very honest and raw. 

Anne’s diary is unique in that it provides a firsthand account of life during the Holocaust, which makes it an important historical document.

3. Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch about her family? Does she treat ‘Kitty’ as an insider or an outsider?

Answer: Anne gives a brief sketch about her family in her diary to introduce them to her imaginary friend, Kitty, and to provide context for her diary entries. She treats Kitty as an insider, as if she were a real person who is familiar with Anne’s family and their situation.

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

Answer: Anne has different feelings towards her father, her grandmother, Mrs Kuperus, and Mr Keesing. She has a close and affectionate relationship with her father, whom she admires and respects. Anne’s grandmother is strict and critical, which causes tension between them. Mrs Kuperus is a kind and caring woman who Anne looks up to as a role model. Mr Keesing is a strict teacher who Anne finds unpredictable and frustrating.

These feelings tell us that Anne is a complex and emotional person who has different relationships with different people in her life. She values kindness and respect, but also struggles with authority figures who she finds difficult to understand. Anne’s relationships with these individuals provide insight into her personality and character.

5. What does Anne write in her first essay?

Answer: Anne writes about her struggle to find a true friend in her first essay. She talks about how she has many acquaintances but no one she can truly confide in or trust. She also reflects on the importance of having a friend who understands and accepts you for who you are. Anne’s essay shows her introspective and thoughtful nature, as well as her desire for meaningful connections with others.

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

Answer: Anne describes teachers as the most unpredictable creatures on earth, but she does not specifically say that Mr Keesing is unpredictable. However, in her diary entry dated Saturday, 20 June 1942, Anne refers to Mr Keesing as an “old fogey” who teaches maths. This suggests that she may not have a high opinion of him as a teacher. Additionally, in her essay about Mr Keesing, Anne writes that he is strict and often unpredictable in his behavior towards students. For example, he can be kind and understanding one moment, and then suddenly become angry and harsh the next. This suggests that Anne finds Mr Keesing to be unpredictable in his behavior towards students.

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.

Answer: The statement “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” suggests that Anne Frank is introspective and self-aware. She recognizes that there is a problem in her relationships and is willing to take responsibility for her part in it. This statement also suggests that Anne values close relationships and is willing to work on them.

(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.

Answer: This statement suggests that Anne Frank sees her diary as a companion and confidant, rather than just a record of events. She wants to write in a way that reflects her personal relationship with the diary, rather than simply recording facts. This statement also implies that Anne values emotional connection and intimacy, and sees her diary as a way to fulfill that need.

(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.

Answer: The statement tells us that Anne Frank had a playful and humourous side to her personality. She describes herself as being “plunked down on the table as a birthday present for Margot” and as a “birthday present” which shows that she was aware of the significance of the occasion and was able to appreciate the humour in the situation. This statement provides a glimpse into Anne Frank’s playful and lighthearted personality.

(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.

Answer: This statement tells us that Anne Frank was a critical thinker who was not afraid to express her opinions. She describes some of her classmates as “dummies” and suggests that they should be held back a grade. Anne was not afraid to speak her mind and was willing to be honest, even if it meant criticising others. The fact that she refers to teachers as “the most unpredictable creatures on earth” suggests that she had a somewhat negative view of authority figures. Overall, this statement provides insight into Anne Frank’s independent and critical thinking personality.

(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: This statement suggests that Anne Frank valued effective communication and believed that it was important to have convincing arguments to support one’s ideas. She seems to be critical of those who simply “ramble on” without making a clear point. Anne was a thoughtful and articulate person who valued clear and persuasive communication. This statement provides insight into Anne Frank’s personality as someone who valued effective communication and critical thinking.

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